One aspect of dieting we might not want to confront, especially when embarking upon a weight loss plan, is the fact that it can be very stressful. Keeping your resolve, gritting your teeth through hungry periods, keeping your mind on the positive, weigh-ins (private or public) and all the ups and downs of losing weight take their toll on us psychologically.Low fat diets have been linked to depression, perhaps on low fat diets we are not getting the necessary fat-soluble nutrients to stay happy. We need to stay occupied and take our minds off brooding about what we can - and especially can't - eat.
So, a hobby is a really good idea. A hobby is a pleasurable pursuit you do just to pass the time and to feel you have achieved something. It has to be something which really appeals to you and also it really helps if that thing is creative. A creative hobby might involve building something, or making things, or learning a complex skill.
Knitting, writing, modeling, sewing, embroidery - all of these are great creative hobbies.
A hobby that combines creativity with exercise is ideal, so all forms of dancing qualify. Belly dancing is a great one, because you can never say you have entirely mastered every form of the dance, there is always some new style or move or choreography to conquer. Takes the mind off dieting too! Associated with this is costuming, and if you want to make some of your own costumes your hands will be kept busy and your mind occupied on the evenings you are not dancing. You can also do lots of study of belly dance and its fascinating history online and in books, or through your teachers. You can travel around and have weekends away learning more belly dance and meeting new people. You can devise your own choreographies. A great hobby which actually assists you in tightening up your muscles and losing weight.
This might apply to greater or lesser degrees to other forms of dance, but to qualify as a real hobby and not just exercise for the sake of losing weight, there must be other aspects to the dance form such as cultural interest and costuming. If your hobby is just aerobics or going to the gym, chances are it is just another aspect of your weight loss program, at the heart of it. Fine in itself, but hardly taking your mind off the losing weight and dieting stuff!
So, any hobby is good because it absorbs your mind and takes your mind off the fact you might be feeling a bit hungry or down. Studies have shown that if you indulge in your hobby for 30 minutes each day, your mood is elevated and you are better equipped to face the day - and a dieting day at that!
