3 Good Weight Loss Breathing Techniques

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If you are like me, you may not think of breathing as having anything to do with weight loss.  In fact I was skeptical when I first became aware of this during a late night infomercial.   Weight loss breathing techniques, however, can be extremely helpful in a number of ways. First of all, dieting and losing weight can be stressful, and deep breathing is a well-known method of relaxation. Breathing deeply can also help neutralize emotional cravings for food, especially when they are triggered by fear, anxiety, sadness, or boredom. Finally, breathing deeply helps strengthen and expand your lung capacity, which also helps you work out more efficiently.

Below are 3 good weight loss breathing techniques you can use for specific purposes. Important note: breathing techniques like these should be perfectly safe for healthy individuals, but be sure to check with your doctor if you have a lung disease or other ailment that might be aggravated by deep breathing exercises.

Weight Loss Breathing Technique for Stress

Stress is undeniably one of the biggest challenges you may face as you improve your lifestyle habits and lose weight. Stress has the power to overwhelm you, depress you, and beat you down so that your weight loss goals no longer seem so important. Deep breathing can bring your stress level down almost instantly, keeping you in full control of your eating and exercise plan. Start by finding a quiet place to be alone for a few minutes; the fewer distractions the better. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4, expanding your lungs completely. Then exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 6. As you release the breath from your lungs, allow all of your muscles to become loose and limp. Repeat 4-5 times, breathing very slowly so you don’t hyperventilate. In no time you should feel as if a heavy load has been lifted off of you.

Weight Loss Breathing Technique for Energy

When you feel sluggish and groggy, deep breathing is an excellent way to energize yourself. Again, find a quiet place where you can focus, and inhale more quickly through your nose, filling your lungs completely to the count of 2. Then exhale more forcefully than you did with the stress breathing exercise, blowing the air out of your mouth to a count of 4. Pause for 3 seconds, then repeat 4-5 times more. Make sure you pause for a few seconds after each exhale because this forceful in-out breathing can make you dizzy if you do it too quickly.

Weight Loss Breathing Technique for Cravings

The next weight loss breathing technique can quickly neutralize cravings for just about anything; not just food but also alcohol, cigarettes, sugar – anything you feel a strong craving for but don’t want to consume. The first thing to do is spend 1-2 minutes doing the stress breathing technique. This helps relax your body so you are better able to focus instead of feeling tied up in knots with the craving. Then, picture in your mind the item you are craving. See it in full detail, even imagine that you can smell it, if you can. While focusing on this object, inhale slowly through your nose to a count of 4, expanding your lungs fully. Pause for one second, and then forcefully exhale through your mouth while thinking the word, “RELEASE”. Imagine that you are blowing out your desire for this object, expelling it from your body and letting go of it for good. Repeat as many times as necessary, but usually 3-4 times will completely neutralize the craving.

Filed under: Weightloss

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