The answer is well, maybe. . . Eating less combined with exercise will allow you to lose weight and keep it off, but there are also some approaches that involve mind-body therapies that are worth a try. These approaches help control eating binges by identifying what causes them, and helping reduce stress. Some of these programs are listed below:

Yoga. While Yoga may be considered exercise to some, it’s not as hard as getting on a treadmill at the fitness center, and may prevent middle-age spread. Research has shown that even doing Yoga for 30 minutes once a week can help lower weight gain and increase weight loss. Those two factors combined make for a lighter, healthier you as you age.

Guided Imagery: I’ve talked about Guided Imagery before as a way to help with Directed Dreaming, but it can also be used to promote weight loss. There was a study done with a controlled group of people; one half listened to Guided-imagery recordings that were used to promote weight loss, the other half listened to relaxing music. The Guided Imagery listeners lost an average of 8.5 pounds in eight weeks, while the other group only lost 4.25 pounds! The Guided Imagery group lost twice as much!

Acupuncture. I had acupuncture for knee tendonitis, and was surprised when they put a needle in my ear (seemed kind of far away from my knee). Anyway, some research suggests that acupuncture can help promote weight loss and reduce hunger. There are points on the ear that are used to suppress appetite and Acupuncture can help reduce anxiety, relieve pain and help you become physically active. I think the one in my ear was for pain, but who knows. . .

Massage. Last but not least there’s Massage and other types of bodywork that can help relieve the pain that might prevent a person from exercising. I think I’ll ask for a Massage for Christmas, I love the smell of Eucalyptus, and I can’t think of a better thing to do on a cold winter’s night!

So, there you have it! There are a few things here that don’t require exercising (like Guided Imagery), but overall, if you want to lose weight and keep it off, it’s best to use a combination of exercise and mental fitness.

For now, Enjoy the Holidays, Diets are for the New Years Resolutions!