If you think that dieting and exercise is all there is to fitness and weight loss, think again. Aromatherapy is the latest buzzword that thousands of fitness enthusiasts are swearing by. Essential oils can now make the pound-shedding process easier and faster than before.
Before you begin to expect an abracadabra out of essential oils, let's do a quick reality check before we proceed. To work wonders on a weight-loss regimen, aromatherapy must essentially be used in conjunction with an appropriate diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Essential oils work as a catalyst by curbing food cravings, detoxifying the body and revving up metabolism.Weight loss has more to do with the mind than the body. Issues like depression, comfort eating, poor body image and lethargy often keep us from achieving that perfect body we have always dreamt of. Aromatherapy harmonizes the mind, body and soul in a way that allows people to prepare better for a weight-loss program and derive the maximum benefit. Therefore it comes as no surprise when people who combine aromatherapy with their fitness routine, end up with visibly better results.A client who used an aromatherapy product for detoxification ended up a few inches slimmer and several pounds lighter after a period of regular use. She states that she worked out two to five times per week for one hour and improved her diet. For three days, she drank one cup of wheatgrass, four ounces in the morning and four ounces in the evening, taking one day off after every 3-day cycle. She noticed the sides of her legs no longer hurt and the tissue underneath her skin was considerably smoother. She even noticed cellulite disappearing on the backs of her thighs. She lost a total of 10 inches.
Essential oils help shape up the body through a multi-tiered approach. While some oils purge the body of toxins and retained fluids, others energize the mind so that you are less tempted to skip your workout routine. Some essential oils infuse a sense of positive energy and help boost up confidence and body image. When you feel all fresh and charged-up, you have little reason to flop on the couch with a tub of ice cream.Effective and sustainable weight loss happens after several stages. In the course of this article, we will see how essential oils aid the process at every stage, from controlling appetite to feeling confident about your body.
Have you noticed how the aroma from a barbeque grill makes your tummy rumble and beg for food? It is because the nose sends a message to the brain that in turn signals the stomach to feel hungry. Now that we know how the phenomenon works, we can turn it around and make it work for overeating, sniff and stop.People may over eat for a multitude of reasons. Most of us tend to reach for sweet, cheesy or starchy foods when we are bored or stressed. This explains why some people end up morbidly obese after a bout of depression or grief. Poor eating habits may also result from something as simple as poor or inadequate knowledge of nutrition. Just like some smells enhance appetite; there are some smells that curb it. When you start eating with a sense of fullness and satisfaction, you will naturally end up eating less.Essential oils like fennel, grapefruit and spearmint stimulate the hypothalamus, which is the center of hunger and satiety in the brain and thus neutralizes the urge to keep stuffing our body with food. These oils also promote a sense of positive energy and well-being that negates all factors that lead to comfort eating.Oils like Litsea Cubeba and Clary Sage have an uplifting scent that helps combat depression blues and draw attention away from food.
Unhealthy food, lack of physical activity and hormonal fluctuations can cause body cells to retain excess fluids and fats. This hampers the normal lymphatic flow that makes one feel bloated and lethargic. Toxins and water-retention also give us something that we love to hate, cellulite.Oils of rosemary, cedar wood and geranium are potent detoxifying agents that enhance lymphatic flow and eliminate excess fluids and toxins from the body. Lemon oil improves blood circulation thus speeding up the process of detoxification. Grapefruit oil has a toning effect on the skin and is quite effective in treating cellulite when combined with nourishing carrier oils. Orange oil stimulates the liver, enhances the flow of bile and aids fat metabolism.
Sluggishness and lethargy are the most common reasons that stop people from being regular with their exercise routine. Citrus scents like lemon, orange, litsea cubeba and grapefruit are very energizing and uplifting. Inhaling these scents will cause a wave of energy to pass through your body and workouts will not seem like a chore anymore. Spearmint, peppermint, cardamom, eucalyptus and rosemary oils have invigorating properties and help improve concentration and alertness.Mandarin and Ylang-Ylang are some scents that calm the senses and alleviate stress and anxiety. Lavender and Palo Santo oils possess confidence, boosting properties and work as potent relaxants. Geranium and clary sage oils help immensely in improving self-image and confidence. Peppermint, cardamom and rosemary oils are other effective mood-lifters.
Stress and depression trigger a vicious cycle of fat accumulation in the body by increasing the level of cortisol in the blood. People battling the bulge are often plagued by feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. It is commonly observed that self-pity coupled with a lack of confidence can throw a fitness plan completely off-track. Once the mind is healthy, a fit body will not be far out of reach. A self-assured and positive person is more likely to stick to a weight-loss regimen because positive energy inspires determination and a will to succeed.
