Meditation & Fat Loss: The Missing Link to Your Weight Loss Goals

Who'd have thunk? You can sit on your butt and it will help you lose weight. We kid you not. As little as five minutes of meditation every day can actually be one of your greatest weapons in the battle of the bulge.

But don't you have to exercise and eat healthy to lose weight?

Well, yes. Obvi. But meditation can help facilitate weight loss because it can help you become a less stressed, more focused and more mindful person. So, instead of skipping your sweat 'sesh, you'll smash it out. And instead of giving into the 2pm call of the vending machine, you'll resist temptation and eat the hummus and raw veggie sticks you brought from home. When a stressful situation at work or home arises, you’ll be less likely to panic and be more likely to deal with it calmly.

Meditation has also been shown to facilitate better sleep, which will help you lose weight by regulating your body's production of the hunger hormone, ghrelin and cortisol  — the stress hormone that (when produced in excess), can cause fat storage, especially around the midsection.

It's not too good to be true. It works. All you have to do is start.

Who doesn't have five minutes a day?

Seriously. If you can stand in the lunch line-up at Jamba Juice for 15 minutes, take a little of that time, find a quiet space, and meditate. Or, tag 5 minutes onto the end of your morning HIIT session.

Meditation Tips for Beginners

Learning to meditate properly is an art, and become a master of the practice takes time and patience. You're not going to be a pro by the end of this article. However, this is a good place to start! Here are some tips to help guide you into meditation so you can enjoy a rejuvenating, affirming, life-long practice.

Get comfy. This is important as you will want to free your mind of all the nagging thoughts of the day. If you're uncomfortable, you'll be too focused on that to really get deeply into the meditation. Lie on your back or sit. Invest in a good quality, comfortable yoga mat, meditation chair or pillow to really get into your practice.

Close your eyes and keep them closed. This will help you shut out the external world.

Find a private place. You will not be able to relax if you're self-conscious, so make sure you find a space where you can enjoy some privacy.

Focus on breath  — but don't force breath. Just breath naturally, tuning into how your body moves and feels with each inhale and exhale. Don't try to focus on anything other than your breath and if you're mind starts to wander, return it to your breathing.

Have meditation tips you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them! Share in the comments below.