How Nature Helps You Lose Weight | outdoor boudoir photographer

As a woman in the second half of her 30th year, I thought the other day how I have remained the same size for the last 10 years. Now hear me out before you call me a skinny bitch and close your computers down! Before you hate on me, I owe nature for still being able to fit in the same jeans. I love being outside so much that I built my whole business around it and am teaching others the healing powers of it! Today this blog post is about how nature helps you lose weight, or in my case stay healthy and the same size.

Nature has a special way of reducing stress and making the body relax. When you relax, much like sleeping, your body has time to recalibrate and heal itself. When your body has time to do this, you immediately begin to feel better, lighter, and with more energy. More energy leads to more physical activity and more physical activity leads to a healthier waistline.

Soak up that sunshine and vitamin D! Vitamin D is a master hormone and helps all the other hormones in your body function properly. If you are experiencing mood swings, fatigue, general muscle pain, weakness, headaches, restless sleep, or poor concentration it could be the lack of Vitamin D in your life! Of course, consult your doctor and get your blood tested before you webmd diagnose yourself. When your body is out of alignment it has to work harder to function and keep a healthy weight. So step outside and soak up 15-20 minutes of sun every day!

Nature regulates your hunger. When you are busy soaking up the trees, you aren't thinking of your next meal or mindlessly consuming potato chips at your desk. Your natural hunger will kick in telling you when your body needs fuel. Even if you do not eat right away, your body inherently knows to take fuel from your fat storage. Being outside makes you more aware of your body and mind. You can really ask yourself, am I hungry or am I just bored? When you figure out this distinction, you begin to live a healthier lifestyle.

Nature provides the greatest gym ever! When taking a hike, you are walking over raised tree roots, big rocks, hopping over water streams, and building those glutes while going uphill. You use muscles that are rarely used in every day life. By building these muscles you gain better balance and posture, which will keep us more active in our older years. A hiking trail is also random. Your body can easily start to recognize the movement you make while on the treadmill, but on a hiking trail it is always guessing and uses more energy to keep up with the constant change, which helps you lose weight.

Take a big breath of fresh air! If you are constantly surrounded by concrete and car fumes, your body is working hard to fight off all the toxins in the air instead of maintaining a healthy weight. Not only does breathing fresh air calm the mind and uplift your mood, it can recalibrate your body. Also with a more uplifted mood you have more energy to be active!

Increasing serotonin with nature instead of drugs. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain and is responsible for regulating mood, hunger, sleep, memory, and learning. A lack of serotonin plays a role in depression and depression can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain. Serotonin also talks to a separate part of our body, our gut, which has 7 serotonin receptors. This can account for having an upset stomach if you are nervous or have anxiety. When you are surrounded by nature you begin to relax and your body can replenish its serotonin levels, balancing your mood and stomach!

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Ready to jumpstart your weight loss with the ultimate outdoor weekend?