The brain nervous system is essential in control of weather you lose or gain weight. The autonomic nervous system controls heart rate, digestion, perspiration, respiratory rate, salivation, urination, metabolic rate, detoxification and blood pressure. When the autonomic nervous system is unbalanced, each of these things can be effected and can therefore effect your weight loss efforts.
The Toxic Effects of Carbs on the Brain Nervous System
Popular diets such as Atkins and the South Beach Diet have been promoting low carb eating for years. Following a low carb diet has helped people lose weight. Aside form the added calories and fat associated with carbs, they also cause bloating, heart burn, lightheadedness, fatigue, sweating, flushed skin, constipation, and frequent urination. “The toxic effect of carbohydrate consumption is resulting not only in disease associated with insulin resistance but is also damaging our autonomic nervous system,” according to Dr. Patrick Nemechek.
Carbs also hamper the body's ability to perform heavy exercise and weight training. When the brain nervous system is balanced, fat loss can occur through heavy exercise. When the nervous system is unbalanced, however, it is in a state of stress. The goal is to reduce the stress on the body to restore balance. Heavy exercise, therefore, is an ineffective weight loss tool if the nervous system is unbalanced because it adds more stress to the body.
The Autonomic Nervous System and Heavy Exercise
How to Balance the Autonomic Nervous System and Lose Weight without Heavy Exercise
The brain nervous system is made up of two parts, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.People tend to have one of the systems more dominant than the other and that throws off the balance. That's why the same diet won't work for everyone and sometimes our best efforts at diet and exercise leave us exhausted and frustrated. The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system need to be balanced for the body to function properly and respond to your dieting efforts correctly. Rather than focusing on heavy exercise to burn more fat, however, a better weight loss approach is to balance the autonomic nervous system first.
- Reduce Stress. Stress is often the cause of an unbalanced autonomic nervous system. Find ways to reduce stress and you can restore balance.
- Eat a healthy diet. A high carb diet is toxic for the brain nervous system. Following a low carb diet will help restore balance and promote weight loss.
- Get plenty of rest. Getting enough sleep is critical to allow your body to repair itself. Sleep deprivation adds to the stress on the body and worsens the imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, making it more difficult to lose weight.
- Avoid heavy exercise. Instead of trying to burn more fat, focus on calming exercises like yoga, tai chi or walking. These activities are less stressful on the body, improve flexibility and help clear the mind.
The bottom line is that you have to restore balance to your autonomic nervous system before you can perform heavy exercises and work on your weight loss goals. Reducing the toxins and stress in your body will help restore balance to the brain nervous system and help you lose weight.
Resources:
- Ground Report. "Weight Loss and the Autonomic Nervous System," Larry Miller. Jan 2008.
- Check, Paul. "The Autonomic Nervous system and Fat Loss," 2006.
Tracy Rose - Tracy Rose is a powerflifter who holds the state record in deadlifting and has had success in her own weight loss journey.
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