"Being fat makes you stupid"

I am aware that the title of this post is somewhat provocative, but then again, it's not my statement. In fact, scientific studies prove it: As the weight goes up, the physical function AND size of the brain goes down. In other words, you might have been concerned with your weight for different reasons respectively had different motives to shape up, but how about losing weight to save your sanity?

The truth is, weight issues have never been a concern for me or my family, but I can't help but see people struggle with their weight management. Losing weight and shaping up is a topic I won't further investigate in this post, but I truly belief that once your shift your motivation to be in good shape, you are more likely to succeed. And I don't know about you, but being aware that your brain shrinks in size and operates less effectively when you put on weight is a pretty good reason not to.

What I am giving you in the following is a list of things that are crucial to good brain health according to Dr. Daniel Amen. Again, the healthier your brain the healthier your body and mind.

1. Learn how to deal with chronic stress (good ways are daily meditation, for  

instance with Holosync, Reconnective Healing, releasing (of negative emotions), 

walks in nature, exercising, eating a more balanced (and less acidic) diet) 

2. Know your numbers: know how many calories you eat per day (if you are not engaged in regular exercise and/or activities, there's no reason to spoil your body with excess calories, especially not junk calories such as sugars, saturated fats, soda drinks, alcohol)

3. Optimize your Vit. D levels: vitamin D has been shown to play a vital role both in optimal brain function as well as physical, emotional and mental health. The most natural way to boost your vitamin D level is sun exposure (approx. 10 - 30 minutes a day suffices). Contrary to common belief, we know today that it's not really the sunrays that cause skin cancer but rather a number of available sunblockers. If you live in an area where sunlight is scare or have other inevitable reasons why you can't get enough sunlight, a vitamin D supplementation may be recommended. As usual, remember though that many synthetic vitamins are not the most apt to be absorbed by the body.

4. Journaling has shown to double your weight loss (and boost your brain function) in 10 weeks. Keep track of what you eat on a daily basis and you'll reach your goal much faster and get healthier.

5. Know where being overweight starts: measure your waist. The diameter shouldn't be more than half of your height.

6. Get rid of cravings by having a healthy breakfast and eating on a regular basis.

7. Essential fatty acids, in essence omega 3, 6 and 9 are important key components of a healthy brain. You might want to think about fish oil supplementation.

8. Engage in regular physical activity: we are not made to live a sedentary lifestyle, but rather need to move throughout the day. A daily walk in the fresh air, two to three times jogging or fitness per week will work wonders for your brain health and boosts your overall sense of well-being.

9. Most importantly, change your beliefs and stop nourishing your excuses (I don't have time to work out, I will start next month, Obesity runs in my family, I have tried everything and nothing works, It's not that easy to lose weight, bla, bla, bla). You are a radiant being and your thoughts are like radio waves broadcasting out into the universe. Very much like a radio station runs on a given frequency, your physical appearance runs on your frequency. If you choose a negative frequency (that of excuses, negative thinking and victimhood), your body will resonate in that frequency and ultimately mirror it through its physical appearance. If however, you change your frequency (thoughts of hope, inspired action, making the necessary changes to your life style), your body will resonate in that frequency eventually mirroring it by a changed physical appearance and newfound sense of well-being.

10. Get enough sleep: According to Dr. Daniel Amen, the brain needs a good night's sleep to recover and function properly. In essence, Benjamin Franklin put it perfectly: "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man [or woman] healthy, wealthy and wise."

11. It's not normal that your brain function deteriorates with age. A profound statement that's verified by Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist who has spent many years studying brain function and health. In  other words, if your memory, concentration and conscious capacity is anything but sharp, it's probably a great idea to look into some of the points mentioned above.

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Visit http://www.lukastobler.com to download a free copy of my ebook "5 easy steps to feel good" today.