Weight Loss and the Buddha -- Part 4

It’s not exactly correct to credit Buddhism with this last principle because
it’s so universal that it is taught in all spiritual traditions and by secular institutions as well. Yet it is a Buddhist teaching that can support us on our weight-loss journey.

The principle is to breathe. Breathe deep, full, cleansing breaths.

Breathing deeply helps us focus fully on our bodies and our feelings. It
leads us back to the calm that is always at our core but difficult to find
in the busy-ness of the day.

Breathing deeply when we want to reach for food gives us a moment to connect
with our deeper motivations. We remember our desire to be peaceful and
choose not to get caught up in the frenzy. We remember our commitment to be
healthy and the chocolate doesn’t seem so appealing.

Try it a few times right now. Breathe in slowly and deeply, breathe out
just as slowly. Repeat.

Do you feel the difference? Do you feel the calm?

Remember this when you’re frazzled. Just breathe.

Weight Loss and the Buddha -- Part 3

My recent study of Buddhism has shown me so much wisdom that can be applied to weight loss. Today, I’d like to share the meditation practice of beginning again.

Meditation involves relaxing the mind and body so that the spirit can reach for enlightenment. We still the mind by focusing on something simple such as our breath. Thoughts will often invade the void in our mind and the Buddhist teaching is to begin again, without judgement or attachment. Notice the thinking and then let the thought go. Just begin again.

What a gift it would be if we could just begin again, without judgement or
attachment, whenever we notice that our eating is off-course. Just begin
again, in the next moment. Not tomorrow morning or next Monday or January
1, but right now, in the next bite. Just begin again.

Can you sense how powerful this is? Can you feel the self-compassion?

Can you commit to giving it a try? When you notice that your eating isn’t
what you’d like it to be, begin again. Without judging or blaming yourself,
just begin again.

Weight Loss and the Buddha -- Part 2

I wrote last week about a Buddhist teaching that could be an effective weight-loss strategy. Today I’d like to focus on another one, a fundamental principles of Buddhism – compassion.

Specifically, self-compassion, which Buddhist nun Pema Chodron defines as unconditional friendship with oneself.

Pause for a moment to deeply feel the compassion you would have for a good friend who is facing a challenge. Can you feel the warmth, the love, the forgiveness? Can you imagine the encouragement, the pride, the absolute knowing that she can do whatever she sets her mind to?

Self-compassion is turning those feelings on yourself. All the time. Even
when you mess up. Especially when you mess up.

Weight loss is not easy. It involves changing thought patterns we’ve had
for decades and listening to our bodies when we’d rather have the brownie.
Imagine what a difference it would make if you had a compassionate,
unconditional friend with you every step of the way. Imagine that friend is
you.

What can you do today to show yourself the warm, loving, compassionate
embrace of unconditional friendship?

Weight Loss and the Buddha -- Part 1

As part of my studies to become an interfaith minister, I have been reading about Buddhism this week. A key element of the Buddhist teaching is the Eightfold Path toward enlightenment. Two of the eight steps on the Path are “right speech” and “right conduct,” focusing on developing language and behaviour that are truthful and kind.

What struck me was the way students are instructed to grow in these areas. The first step is to notice. Just to notice where words and actions may deviate from compassion and truth. The second step is to gradually
change behaviours in the direction of the desired qualities.

How enlightened would we be if we used this process with weight loss?

What would it be like to just notice when we feel like binging? Just notice
that we’re full but we want to keep eating? Nothing to do. Nothing to
change. Just notice.

What would it be like to just move in the direction of healthy eating? No
crash diets, no declarations that we’ll never eat chocolate again. Just
small precious little steps in the direction of health.

I invite you to try it. Just notice. Then just take tiny steps in the
direction of health.