The Key to Changing Our Body

The State of Our Nervous System Greatly Affects Our Body's Functioning, Including Body Changes and Weight Loss.

When we live in a state of chronic stress, our body produces an excess of cortisol, the stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels can lead to weight gain, especially around the abdomen, and make it harder to lose weight. Cortisol affects appetite, encouraging us to eat high-calorie foods and disrupting metabolism.

Instead of intense, exhausting workouts that can further strain the nervous system and raise cortisol levels, it's better to focus on gentler forms of movement like Pilates, yoga, meditation, walking, or spending time in nature. These exercises not only help burn calories, but also calm the nervous system, lower cortisol levels, and strengthen the immune system while nourishing the body energetically.

Pilates and yoga, with their gentle, controlled nature, work in harmony with the nervous system. These forms of movement teach body awareness, improve posture, strengthen deep muscles, and increase flexibility. At the same time, they promote emotional balance, which is crucial for achieving health goals.

With regular, yet gentle exercise, the nervous system isn't overwhelmed, allowing the body to respond better to effort. When the body isn’t in a constant state of stress, it’s easier to burn fat, and regenerative processes become more effective. Additionally, regular practice of such movements helps increase body awareness, which in turn makes it easier to adopt healthier eating habits and a better attitude towards oneself.

A calm mind and a balanced nervous system are key to lasting changes. Less intense but consistent movement that doesn't overburden the body can lead to better results in shedding pounds than exhausting workouts. Health isn't just about the number on the scale; it's about the balance of body and mind. When the body and mind work in harmony, health goals become easier to achieve.

Humans as a Whole. As human beings, we have our limits in terms of how much energy we can use each day. Imagine your body operates at 100% capacity—you can't exceed that limit and function at 150%. If you use more energy than is available, your body will need more sleep, recovery, and rest. No matter how hard you train, you won’t burn more weight than your body is capable of losing in a day, because there is a natural limit to the energy we can expend and replenish within 24 hours.

When you go beyond that limit, your body prioritizes recovery. Instead of burning extra fat or losing weight faster, the energy you’ve used will be directed toward repairing and healing. As a result, you may lack energy for everyday tasks—simple things like talking, cooking, or going for a walk. Your body will focus on recovery after overexertion, leaving you fatigued and less able to carry out vital functions.

Understanding and accepting this fact is crucial. When we push our bodies, thinking that more intense workouts will bring faster results, we don’t realize that our body, in its wisdom, slows down. Instead of burning fat, it focuses on protecting itself from overexertion. That’s why it’s so important to respect your body’s limits and not push beyond what it can handle.

A light workout lasting 20-30 minutes a day is enough to strengthen the body, improve well-being, and contribute to weight loss. It's not the intensity or duration of the workout, but its consistency and balanced approach that matter most. When our body doesn’t feel overwhelmed by stress and excessive effort, it’s more ready to burn fat because it doesn’t feel the need to protect itself from future threats.

A body in a state of constant stress and worry reacts differently. The body, as a smart survival mechanism, senses danger and stores energy as fat for "tough times"—another exhausting workout, low-calorie diet, or fasting. In such a state, even the most intense physical effort won’t yield the desired results, as the body will protect its reserves.

This is why taking care of our nervous system is so important. Providing the body with a sense of safety, harmony, and a supportive space full of acceptance is key to lasting change. When the body feels safe, it’s easier for it to let go of excess fat. Accepting where we are now—even if we aren’t happy with our current weight or fitness level—is the first step to success. It's the acceptance of where we start that opens the door to lasting change.

Change doesn’t begin with fighting the body but with understanding and working with it. When we are in harmony with ourselves and give our bodies space to breathe and regenerate, weight loss becomes a natural side effect of health and balance.