“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein
Did you know that the average American spends about 90 percent of his or her life indoors? In our modern society, many of us go from home to car to office without much time spent in between, living out our lives in hermetically-sealed areas that keep out the dangers (and thrills) of the world outside.
During medical weight loss in East Brunswick, you may feel the pull of the great outdoors, especially if you’ve considered hitting some nearby trails as part of your fitness routine. As it turns out, this is a healthy yearning—spending time outside has many proven benefits, from boosting your vitamin D levels to improving your mood and concentration. However, you don’t have to trek deep into the mountains, woods or prairie to experience these boons during medical weight loss. The world outside your back door can be a wilderness in and of itself—especially if your yard hasn’t had much TLC recently.
Tending to a garden will help you burn calories, alleviate stress and help you stay on the path to a healthier life. Your garden can be the perfect place to grow the nutritious foods you need for your medical weight loss diet, and become a respite for quiet relaxation.
Are you ready to add gardening to your plan for medical weight loss in East Brunswick? Here’s how growing a garden can benefit both you and the planet:
- Connect with Earth. Food, sunlight, oxygen—we’re constantly taking things from the world around us, but gardening is the perfect way to give something back. By planting seeds, trees, flowers and shrubs, you’ll make your world a more beautiful place to live. Though the sapling you plant this month may stay small for many years, it will eventually grow into a towering tree, offering shade and fresh air for years. If you stick to organic gardening, you’ll give back even more; as every plant will help to improve the health of the soil you’re digging in and prevent the damage caused by toxic fertilizers and pesticides.
- Connect with yourself. Gardening can be an exceptionally meditative practice, helping you spend time in quiet reflection to let go of the day’s tensions. Gardening will, quite literally, keep you grounded, bringing you down to Earth as your hands dig wrist-deep into it. The therapeutic nature of gardening is so profound that an entire psychological discipline has arisen around it: horticultural therapy. Because gardening can benefit us physically, psychologically, socially and educationally, it is increasingly being used as a form of treatment for veterans and disaster victims—but you may find it beneficial during your medical weight loss journey as well.
- Connect with others. Gardening in solitude can be a relaxing experience, but gardening with others can be an exciting one. Imagine your garden as a yard-wide canvas, just waiting to be shared with other hands eager to paint it. Sharing a garden with your spouse, children or friends can be a great way to connect with those people on a deeper level. You’ll be creating something beautiful together and building intimacy in a more meaningful way than watching TV. Gardening can even help you connect with the community at large—community gardens are becoming more and more common across the country, offering a place for anyone in the area to contribute to a sustainable way of life.
If you’ve never had the green thumb, your medical weight loss program gives you the perfect opportunity to change that. Along with giving you the benefits above, an hour of tending to your garden will burn an average of 300 calories, while putting your back into some more serious work will burn a whopping 600 calories each hour. So, what are you waiting for? Get gardening!
How has gardening helped you during medical weight loss in East Brunswick? Share your tips, experiences and questions with us in the comments below.
