As writing became a frequent part of my life, I noticed something curious that I wanted to share. For several years, I struggled to lose weight, spending countless hours in the gym, always opting to walk instead of drive, and choosing fruits over sweets. However, after having my daughter, everything seemed to fall into place. I continued to work out and walk for miles, but I stopped obsessing over the scale because I felt good about myself.
While writing my first book, “Luna and the City of Shadows,” I lost several pounds without even realizing it. I have to admit that my eating habits weren’t the best, yet the weight seemed to shed itself. Now, as I work on my second book, “Before the Light,” a prequel to the first, I can’t help but notice that the weight keeps coming off quite easily. This led me to wonder: could mental workouts actually outweigh physical ones when it comes to weight loss?
After doing a little research, here’s what I found:
1. Mental Workouts Burn Calories (Sort Of):
Our brains use about 20% of our body’s energy daily, mainly for basic functions. Intense focus—like writing or problem-solving—can increase glucose consumption by up to 50 calories per hour, equivalent to a short walk! While it may seem minimal, those calories add up over time.
- Fun Fact: Chess players can burn up to 6,000 calories a day during tournaments due to the intense focus and stress involved.
2. Writing Helps Curb Emotional Eating:
Journaling about cravings or stressors can significantly reduce mindless snacking. A study found that individuals who wrote about their emotions before eating consumed 30% fewer calories than those who didn’t.
- Why does this happen? Writing activates the prefrontal cortex, helping to override impulsive urges.
3. Stress Writes Belly Fat... Writing Reduces Stress:
Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, which can lead to fat storage around the abdomen. Writing has been shown to lower cortisol by 15–20%, according to NIH studies.
- Your Hack: Try writing while walking (using dictation apps!), which combines mental engagement with physical activity for even greater fat-burning potential.
In conclusion, when you’re mentally engaged—whether through writing or problem-solving—you’re likely to:
- Distract yourself from boredom-eating.
- Reduce stress (lower cortisol levels mean less belly fat).
- Reinforce discipline through goal-setting.
While physical workouts build muscle (which burns calories at rest), mental work optimizes the behavioral side of weight loss. Together, they create a synergistic "mind-body" effect.
When I write, I experience intense emotions that are comparable to real-life events—like a first kiss, the birth of a child, or the joy of a parachute jump. These moments make my stomach twist, and I often lose track of time, with my body never truly easing. It’s fascinating how our minds work.
As neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt wisely states, “Your brain is the most powerful weight-loss tool you own.” So, keep leveraging that mental edge!
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