Weight management in Ayurveda is a major part of a larger goal of disease prevention and management. Ayurveda takes a holistic, sustainable, and important individual approach to weight management. A comprehensive ayurvedic consultation considers a person’s state of mind, health, genetic and social history, emotional and mental well-being, current imbalances, and lifestyle. It addresses the major cause of weight loss and conditions that recommends a combination of short-term and long-term changes in diet and lifestyle. This is how Ayurveda helps people lose weight and keep it off.

Common issues with dieting

Several studies suggest that diet is not effective in treating obesity and repetitive weight gain and loss are linked with cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and diabetes and alter the immune system. Every diet focus on some nutrients and other gets ignored and can be the supplementary one leading to nutritional deficiencies. The best diet incorporates a balance between nutrition, exercises leading to stress relief, and a healthier lifestyle.

The key to Ayurveda for weight loss success

Ayurveda's diet is not like the usual diets which are difficult to follow and often break in between due to unrealistic standards it sets for the person. It is a complementary and alternative medicine that originated years ago but is still followed today by many people.

Four keys make Ayurveda successful for weight loss-

Natural- Ayurveda promotes natural and sustainable changes in lifestyle and nutrition intake for proper mind-body-spirit wellness balance.

Personalized- Ayurveda meets the person’s level where he/she is and helps her grow from there. It fosters self-awareness by emphasizing the levels that aren’t realistic to achieve. Personalized solutions are provided for all three pillars of lifestyle modifications (sleep, diet, and exercise) and recommended therapies as well.

Health prevention- Ayurveda doesn’t help you treat any disease but empowers an individual. In Ayurvedic consultation, the individual discusses personal goals, health, and family health. The Ayurveda practitioner utilizes the holistic management of imbalances, from thyroid to anxiety to stress and depression.

Stress targeting- Ayurveda focuses on stress management through practices like yoga, meditation, palliative herbs, and cleansing therapies.

Ayurvedic tips for weight loss

Prioritizing health to maintain an optimum weight- The first step of weight loss is to make health a priority. As you focus on your health with dietary and healthy lifestyle changes, a steady, sustainable weight loss is just a natural byproduct.

Make sure to get good sleep- Several studies prove that poor sleep leads to weight gain. Ensure that you get enough sleep by avoiding late nights as it is equally important to avoid daytime sleep which leads to weight gain.

Hydrate properly- Just like solid food, Ayurveda recommends how, when and what you should hydrate.

• Have one or two glasses of warm water with lemon and honey in the morning on empty stomach.
• Sip lukewarm water throughout the day as it helps detoxify the body.
• Try herbal tea or ginger or CCF (cumin, coriander, and fennel) tea
• Sip water around 45 minutes before meals. Don’t sip water right after meals and wait for at least half an hour.
• Cut down on beverages like caffeinated tea, coffee, and aerated drinks.

Cultivate new rituals for eating- How you eat is as important as what you eat. Adapt some of these in your eating ritual for mindful eating.

• Follow regular eating timings and avoid snacking
• Try to eat more natural food by following a daily and seasonal regimen
• Eat in moderation
• Sit down to eat in a peaceful environment
• Cleanse periodically
• Take a short walk after your meals

Choose food that supports weight loss and avoid foods that block it

Break a sweat- A balanced lifestyle includes exercise, meditation, and breathwork. According to Ayurveda, exercise brings lightness, the ability to work, and a good appetite. It gets rid of excess fat, tones and shapes the muscles, and firms up the body. Regular exercise also helps with other health conditions, improves mood, digestion, and sleep, and generally boosts energy.

Reduce stress- It is easy to focus on diet and exercise, the long-curated goal is weight management.

• Set a slow, steady, sustainable plan for weight management instead of feeling guilty and stressed about the weight.
• Set positive and realistic intentions and meditate for weight loss
• Try yoga and breathwork

Ayurvedic herbs for weight loss- Many herb formulations impact weight. Don't take any herbs without consulting an ayurvedic practitioner as it can harm your health. Personalized herb supplements are effective with nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Specialized Ayurvedic therapies- Ayurvedic cleansing is generally done with bodywork therapies which offer personalized detox and can be done at home as well.

Seek an Ayurvedic consultation for a personalized weight management plan- Your optimal weight loss plan is unique as you are and your ayurvedic consultation will help you understand your needs.

Ayurvedic recommendations help the person lose weight by correcting the metabolic factors to maintain an optimum weight. Ayurveda always encourages self-awareness about inherent differences and tailored health goals.