How Deep Breathing Boosts Results
Taking a few minutes daily to relax is an essential part of any weight loss program. Why? A study published in the journal Appetite found that you're more apt to overeat when tense. Stress may also interfere with your sleep and cause you to store excess belly fat. No time for yoga or a bubble bath? Turn any task into a mini meditation session by following these steps from Andy Puddicombe, meditation expert and co-founder of Headspace, a project designed to demystify meditation for busy people.
1. Take 4 deep breaths, inhaling through nose and exhaling through mouth.
2. Continue to breathe deeply, placing hand over belly button. For 2 minutes, focus on the rise and fall of your hand. In public? Bring awareness to your lungs.
3. When distracted by your thoughts, focus on something specific, like a calming image or phrase or your sense of touch. "When you're fully engaged in the present moment, stressful thoughts will fall away," Puddicombe says.
—Bari Lieberman, Prevention
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