MASSAGE AND WEIGHT LOSS

I  was recently asked by a client if I knew whether massage can help with weight loss. I felt this was a great question and started my quest for an answer.  It turns out that massage, when used as a supportive technique, can be a great way to achieve your weight loss goals. But let’s be clear: to lose weight you need to exercise more, reduce calories, and eat high quality foods. No massage will help you if you’re not doing those things. But like supplements, specific eating regimens, and other techniques, massage falls into the area of a number of things you can to help optimize your body’s capacity to lose weight.  Here’s how it helps. Controlling Hormones.Cortisol is the stress hormone. When you’re stressed out and your body is flooded with cortisol, this causes an appetite spike. Not just for any food, but specifically the carbs and sweets that are more likely to be taken directly to your fat cells rather than used as energy in muscle tissue.  And can you guess where this kind of “stress fat” tends to accumulate?

That’s right, your tummy, which is already a problem spot for many people. Regular massage can greatly decrease levels of cortisol in your body, which in turn will allow for better control of your appetite. What you want instead of cortisol is serotonin, the happiness hormone, not because it makes your mood better (although it does, which is a nice side-benefit) but because it is a natural appetite suppressant in your body. With more serotonin, you feel satisfied even though your stomach isn’t full, you have fewer cravings and less binging, and you’re actually happy about it! Massage has been clinically shown to increase serotonin levels. Massage that focuses on stress-relief and relaxation can be enhanced by the right aromatherapy products put into service during the session.

Flushing Out Toxins. Environmental toxins can wreak havoc on your metabolism and cause weight gain. Much of the highly processed foods offered in grocery stores are full of toxins in the form of byproducts, preservatives, and chemicals. The air we breathe and the water we drink can also be sources of toxins. Their primary impact seems to be that they interfere with our ability to regulate blood sugar levels and metabolize cholesterol. This can contribute to insulin resistance and the eventual onset of diabetes. The plain fact of the matter is that our bodies are under a constant barrage of chemicals that can have deleterious effects on our health. The good news is that we can help our bodies flush out the toxins, and having a regular massage is a primary way to do that. Regular massage will assist the body in releasing toxins.  The key is to drink plenty of water after each session. (see blog post dated February 17, 2013)

So maybe it can be considered an aid to help you achieve weight loss, but ultimately, I believe it is more a combination of what you eat and exercise that will move the scale.

Essential oils that may be beneficial for a person wishing to loose weight:

Slim and Sassy, Grapefruit, Elevation, and Patchouli.

Wishing you Peace, Harmony and Balance.