Yoga is key to weight loss in the New Year

Weight loss is usually one of the main items on New Year’s resolution list, and is also the one  least likely to be successful.A recent study by cancer prevention researcher Dr.Alan Kristal, a member of the Hutchinson Center’s Public Health Sciences Division found there was a direct correlation between practicing Yoga, and weight loss and maintenance. A study published in 2005 reported regular yoga exercises prevents middle-age spread, and a later study in 2009 reported those who practice yoga tend to be more mindful of their eating habits, and such people are less likely to be obese.“These findings fit with our hypothesis that yoga increases mindfulness in eating and leads to less weight gain over time, independent of the physical activity aspect of yogapractice,” Kristal said. “Mindful eating is a skill that augments the usual approaches toweight loss, such as dieting, counting calories and limiting portion sizes. Adding yogapractice to a standard weight-loss program may make it more effective.”The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center employs world-renowned scientists and humanitarians to study prevention, diagnoses and treatment of cancers, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.Diet regimes that include yoga and mindful eating practices are less stressful and more likely to succeed over the long term, and yoga exercise plans are to be found easily at local community centers, on DVDs and even online as sites such as Amazon, as well as numerous privately-owned sites.However, Kristal had a few more tips to help make the commitment to healthier living and weight loss easier. While there is no instant magic pill to losing weight and feeling great, he acknowledged it does n’t have to be as difficult as many find it to be.Exercise is important said Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Hutchinson Center’s Prevention Center.“You don’t need to be athletic. Just brisk walking or dancing to your favorite music or using an aerobic exercise machine like a stationary bike or treadmill is all you need to do – just try to do it each day.”Keep a food journal. “By spending a little extra time to write down everything you eat and drink, you’ll be able to see where extra calories sneak in,” said postdoctoral research fellow Caitlin Mason, Ph.D., an exercise and health researcher in the Public Health Sciences Division of the Hutchinson Center. “There are lots of good online tools that can help estimate the calorie content of common foods and track your weight loss progress over time,” she said.Setting realistic and specific goals is a great way to keep things in perspective, Mason added. Persevering even if you have a bad day is also important, she said.“Don’t throw your entire routine out the window after one bad day,” Mason said. “Instead, try to identify the specific barriers that got in your way and think through strategies to avoid such challenges in the future.

By: Carol Anne Hunt 

Courtesy:INDIE PRO PUB