Author: Robert Bremer

A journey begins with a single step, especially if that journey is losing weight.

Planning to lose at least 100 pounds is a daunting task. Often, long-held lifestyles, exercise, and eating habits must be significantly adjusted and then sustained.

Robert Bremer of Ohio reports that the National Institutes of Health recently looked at 29 weight loss studies and found that over 50% of any weight lost through a diet is gained back in as little as two years. After five years, that number jumps to over 80% regained weight.

While attempting to lose any amount of weight is challenging, shooting for shedding 100 pounds takes very serious commitment and discipline. The good news is that it can be done.

Target Calorie Intake

Any type of weight loss requires that someone burns more calories than they take in.

Tracking calorie intake often helps those who have set a specific time frame for dropping 100 pounds and losing it faster. One study found that over 7 more pounds may be lost each year if a weight loss strategy included calorie tracking compared to those which did not.

One can even determine exactly how many calories to consume to lose weight. Pairing controlled calorie intake with consistent exercise makes achieving that goal move even faster.

Pinpoint a Preferred Exercise Method

Even without a 100-pound weight loss goal, regular exercise is essential for overall physical health and well-being.

Those not used to exercise may want to start with walking frequently and then moving on to jogging and eventually running Cardio not only strengthens heart health but is particularly effective for burning calories and fat — even potentially on its own as a weight loss strategy.

Lifting weights and other forms of resistance training can help burn calories faster and develop muscle mass as it increases metabolism. A doctor is a good person to consult before launching an exercise regimen.

Get Help From a Dietician

Eating habits are very hard to break, so guidance from a professional dietician may be essential if a weight loss goal is lofty.

Registered dieticians are especially effective in helping someone get a weight loss journey started. They will learn more about past eating habits and current weight goals to tailor a diet plan that is manageable for the short- and long-term.

Stay Realistic

Everyone who wants to lose weight wants to lose it fast. That is likely not possible with goals like losing 100 pounds — losing too much weight too fast can be dangerous.

More often than not, a strategy that focuses on losing weight a few pounds at a time is more effective than rapid loss and even makes it easy to maintain weight loss.

Instead, expect that safely losing 100 pounds may take six months to a year or more. Losing 1-2 pounds of fat or shooting for dropping 1% of body weight a week is often recommended.

However, some strategies can lead to quicker weight loss, such as a diet that is low in carbohydrates that lowers water weight.

Spirituality is a largely subjective field, with the term eliciting different meanings from person to person. But regardless of the way individuals practice spirituality, it’s been shown to have positive neurological and psychological effects.

Although it’s raised some issues regarding the importance, relevance, and need for research on the impacts of spirituality, Bob Bremer Ohio says that the field is expanding in line with the rise of health and wellness.

Experts are currently attempting to find objective measures of spiritual experiences on the mind and body. And those who have are impressed with the positive results they’ve stumbled upon.

Neurological Changes Triggered by Spirituality

Historically, EEGs were used to measure electrical activity in the brain when studying meditation practices’ effects. However, functional neuroimaging studies are now performed for more reliable results.

The number of neuroimaging studies using a wide range of techniques continues expanding, with many researchers concluding there are coherent findings with the parietal lobes, frontal lobes, limbic system, and thalamus in people who practice spirituality.

Experts note that the type of spiritual practice changes which areas of the brain are utilized, resulting in various imaging scans. For instance, trance practices often show decreased frontal lobe function, while meditation-based activities increase frontal lobe function.

In fact, one study conducted by Beauregard et al in 2009 showed the brain imaging scans also changed when a person actively reflected on a previous spiritual experience.

One of the most recent studies performed in 2021 by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital involved lesion network mapping, which identified that spiritual acceptance is localized to one specific brain circuit. This circuit is found in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) — the same region that handles fear conditioning, altruistic behaviors, unconditional love, and pain modulation.

That said, more research is needed to establish the true neurological changes that occur in the brain during and after spiritual practices.

Psychological Effects of Spirituality

The psychological effects of spirituality are somewhat easier to ascertain as they’ve been reported for thousands of years. Again, it’s subjective to the practice and the individual, but many mental health benefits reside within performing spiritual activities.

The most notable psychological effects of spirituality are purported by various experts and include:

• Improved self-esteem, self-control, and confidence
• Enhanced support networks (applicable when a person is involved in a spiritual community)
• Healthier relationships with the self and others
• Gained inner strength
• Achieved a higher sense of hope, meaning, purpose, and peace

The mental, emotional, and social effects of spirituality are so widely accepted that a psychotherapeutic method dubbed Spiritually Augmented Cognitive Behavior Therapy has been designed to treat a range of mental health disorders. This meaning-based approach focuses on four primary areas:

• Hope
• Acceptance
• Forgiveness
• Achieving purpose and meaning

It examines the unavoidable parts of life, including death, before finding ways to confront them and seek a divine purpose.

Acquiring Spirituality’s Neurological and Psychological Benefits

Those looking to obtain the above-mentioned benefits must discover the type of spirituality that suits them for the best results.

People learn from repetition, and this applies just as well to the development and maintenance of ongoing spiritual practice as it does to any mundane task a person might perform. But what is it that makes rituals and traditions such an integral part of the spiritual experience?

As a person develops deeper connections with spiritual rituals, they undergo a transformation of both body and mind. Not only does the brain change to increase serotonin output, but the connection to their practice translates into a greater sense of connection with the world around them.

Robert Bremer of Ohio says that many people may wonder how to reap these benefits themselves. Luckily for such people, it’s actually rather easy to achieve.

Spiritual Rituals Are Transformative

Most of the credit for the transformation undergone by those who engage in regular spiritual practice belongs to the sheer symbolism many people attach to ritual in general. For instance, psychologist David Feldman uses graduation as an example. There’s nothing special about walking across a stage, yet it’s highly meaningful to the graduates and their families. It is timeless tradition (or ritual) that indicates the successful completion of academic achievements.

Regardless of the ritual or tradition chosen, practitioners can discover a number of benefits. Just a few of these may include:

• A greater sense of stability as a result of regular practice
• Inner peace and a general feeling of well-being
• Feeling more attuned with one’s own emotions
• A non-dualist sense of connection with the world
• Feelings of gratitude and respect for the spiritual lifestyle

How Spiritual Tradition Affects the Brain

While many of the proposed benefits above take root in the mind and soul of the practitioner, spiritual tradition actually leads to neurological benefits as well. Studies on clinical depression suggest that meditation and other spiritual rituals can lead to greater long-term mental health.

Some of these studies focused on white matter, the collective name for the nerve fibers that connect the brain’s neurons. As long as those at high risk of depression engaged in routine spiritual rituals, researchers found their white matter nearly impossible to distinguish from that of those at lower risk.

These subjects also experienced an increase in their serotonin levels, which made it easier for them to regulate their mood. Additionally, they experienced a decreased rate of thinning in their cerebral cortex, helping to reduce future risks of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Choosing the Right Spiritual Ritual

Bearing in mind the benefits of engaging in spiritual tradition, all that remains is for practitioners to choose the form of spiritual ritual that works best for them. A few types of spiritual practice many choose include:

• Aromatherapy
• Prayer
• Yoga
• Eastern meditation
• Rhythmic breathing

Some even create their own spiritual rituals by creating new traditions, either on their own or with loved ones. Anything from charitable service work to visiting a location of personal significance can be transformed into a spiritual ritual simply by identifying what makes it personally sacred and practicing the convention on a regular basis.

Conclusion

Observance of rituals and traditions can play a major role in spiritual practice, provided practitioners develop deep personal connections to the ritual in question and continue observing on an appropriately regular basis. The level of personal significance will vary depending on both the ritual and tradition, but all who practice can achieve transformative results.

Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to focus full-time on Microsoft. Walt Disney was once branded as “unimaginative” and fired by his newspaper editor for not producing good-enough ideas. Vera Wang was 40 years old before she started her fashion line.

Robert Bremer of Ohio explains that these are individuals from various walks of life, who knew their value and found their life’s purpose by not being afraid of finding — and embracing — their passion.
And that’s something that’s not just for famous folks.

Fulfilling a Passion

For far too long “career” and “passion” were considered separate concepts. As Oprah once said, “do what you love, and the money will follow.”

That’s what makes the concept of finding purpose through passion so intriguing. It’s also something that can be accomplished, though it’s made a bit difficult when life sometimes gets in the way.

But turning a passion into a career is often worth the struggle. Here’s how others have accomplished this often sought-after practice:

Understand What Passion Is

Being good at something doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re also passionate about it. The same goes for enjoying an activity. Some things are best left as hobbies. A person may love to sing and draw when they have the time, but it doesn’t mean they necessarily want to pursue either as a career.

Merriam-Webster defines passion as “a strong liking or desire for, or devotion to an activity, object, or concept.” But passion is more than just a textbook definition.

Instead, think about the elements of life that would be difficult to bear if they vanished tomorrow. For instance, gardening – but it should be something tangible that is an emotional driver in one’s life.

Translate it to Something Tangible

This is where the concept may get a little tricky. Once the passion has been determined – now what? How can the concept or idea be translated into a career or business?

What about seemingly natural abilities? How can a person turn a raw skill into their life’s work?

For starters, the elements need to fit well together — and almost effortlessly. When it comes down to it, a successful career shouldn’t be deemed lucrative based on salary or accomplishments alone. Rather, a successful career is one where true passion don’t fade, can provide stability, and is enjoyable throughout the duration of the person’s life.

Commit to the Process

Of course, uncovering a true desire is just part of the journey. When an individual is ready to turn that passion into a full and fulfilling career, there are a few key steps to take:

• Plan

Wanting something to happen and making something happen are two very different tactics. That comes in the form of figuring out how exactly a passion can be a lasting career. Think about if there is a specific role or industry that would be the best fit and if there is a demand for it. Does it mean joining a company or becoming an entrepreneur?

• Patience is Key

Switching jobs, especially whole careers is not easy. What pays off, in the long run, is resilience. Don’t let setbacks detract from exploring a desire. There will be a learning curve but one that is easily navigable through patience.

• Focus on Improvement

Chances are, there may be some vital steps to take before jumping all in with a new gig or career. Is there training to benefit from? Will certain industries require certifications? Are there ways to make the transition even more seamless?

• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Life changes are difficult to make without the unique support received from friends, families, colleagues, or other professionals. It’s OK not to know all the answers and to ask questions. Never be embarrassed to seek advice, especially when it comes to embracing a personal passion as a new beginning.