Subjects will be randomized into two groups, an active group and control group. For the first 30 days, the active group will follow the movement/breath program and the controls will be instructed not to change their lifestyle (no change in diet, and no change in exercise / physical activities). The technicians taking measurements will be blinded as to which participants are actives vs controls. The following 30 days' intervention will consist of continuing the Phase I interventions combined with implementing the behavior change strategies on 2 to 3 habit changes self-selected from a list of 30 top bad habits that contribute to weight gain and undermine one's ability to lose weight with the control group again not changing any lifestyle activities. Measurements: Measurements will be taken at the start (baseline), 10 days, 30 days, and 60 days of intervention with the measurement days scheduled to evaluate people completing 10 full days of the program, 30 full days, and 60 full days respectively. Measurements taken at each interval to include weight, body composition (lean mass & fat percentages), anthropometric measurements (umbilicus, hips, right thigh, right upper arm), pO2, resting heart rate, HRV, blood pressure, pulmonary health (i.e., O2 max, spirometry), hunger, sleep, and depression rating (by self-assessment survey scale). Serum chemistry for basic metabolic panel, inflammatory markers, and lipids, hematology for oxygen carrying capacity and gross immune response, Human Growth Factor production via ELISA quantification, imaging ultrasound to measure subcutaneous fat thickness at the areas of girth measurements, DEXA for overall and targeted areas body composition, and resting metabolic rate via oxygen plethysmograph.
This study is to evaluate the physical and cognitive effects of a 15 min per day novel breathing and mindfulness moving-meditation program on metabolism, cognition, and emotion health. It is thought that the breathing and movement program will increase basal metabolism, facilitate fat loss, and decrease depressive behaviors. Anthropometric, blood chemistries, and cognitive measures of depression, sleep, and hunger will be measured over a two-month interventional program.