Low-Cost Hands-on Hobbies that Help You Lose Weight

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Guess what?  "Grandma hobbies" are growing in popularity, and they might even help you lose weight!


These cozy hobbies include things like knitting, crochet, embroidery, baking, and gardening.  You could also add "Grandpa hobbies" such as jigsaw puzzles, whittling, and leatherwork.


(I'm not trying to be sexist, but I know plenty of men wouldn't try embroidery, and a lot of women wouldn't consider whittling.  Whatever.)


Even if you don't become a master of any hobby, scientists say there are a lot of benefits gained by pursuing them.  "When people immerse themselves in a hobby, they often find an escape from daily pressures, creating a space where they can unwind and recharge," says Patricia S. Dixon, a licensed clinical psychologist from Florida.


Of course, many hands-on hobbies allow you to create useful and beautiful items for yourself, for your home, or for gifts.  That's why many of us craft jewelry or make candles.  With the simple skills of hand sewing, for example, you can mend, embellish, and personalize your own or thrift store clothing, adding new buttons, trims, patches, embroidery, and more.


* Yay for no ads! This blog is partially supported by your purchases, since I earn a small commission if you buy through my links.


hand embroidery



Even more benefits


Working with your hands is fun, calming, and can help slow down your too-busy thoughts.  When the brain is "offline" like this, it may deal with problems subconsciously, allowing you to have a breakthrough idea or solution that seems to come "out of nowhere."


Other benefits of hand-on hobbies include:

  • learning a new skill, which increases cognitive function, memory, and problem-solving
  • practicing and improving skills, which helps with concentration and goal-setting
  • making progress and finishing projects, which boosts pride and self-confidence
  • sharing the interest with others, which leads to meaningful social interactions and feelings of connection and belonging

Cozy hobbies don't just improve brain function and help create good feelings, however.  They can also help reduce bad feelings.  According to Emma Palmer-Cooper, a research psychologist in the UK,

Engaging in activities we truly enjoy helps build resilience – the ability to adapt to challenges and manage stress.  When we are fully absorbed in a creative task... we focus entirely on the present moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.




How hands-on hobbies help you lose weight


Yes, I know this is the part you've been waiting for, so here goes.


When you consider hobbies that will help you lose weight, you don't have to limit yourself to hiking, cycling, swimming, or other sports.  Cozy hobbies can help too.


Keeping your time and your hands occupied certainly helps control mindless eating.  Unlike sitting in front of the TV, which seems to invite snacking, crocheting a baby blanket or playing the piano doesn't leave a hand free for pretzels or M&Ms.


But beyond that, origami, coloring, or scrapbooking can stimulate the release of serotonin (which helps regulate sleep, memory, and appetite) and reduce the production of cortisol (which controls hunger signals and triggers the release of insulin, which can lead to increased fat storage).  And like any form of fidgeting, a hands-on activity increases dopamine, keeping you focused and motivated.  Those are useful mindsets for any endeavor, including your diet!


Hobbies are essential for mental health and physical well-being.  It's not about doing something perfectly, but about reducing stress, keeping your hands and brain active, and finding joy.  So go ahead – pick up your paint brush, practice your instrument, or play a game.  It may even help you lose a few extra pounds.





Coming next week, and on sale now!



THE MINIMALIST DIET book
I hope you enjoyed this post, because it's adapted from a chapter in my newest book, The Minimalist Diet: Simple Steps to Healthy Weight Loss. 


Now, I don't outline a specific program for you to follow, with calorie and/or carb charts and a month of menus (though I do share dozens of tips and even a couple of recipes).  Instead, I write about how to develop a healthier relationship with food, your body, and your habits.  I talk about addiction.  I explore motivation and maintenance.  And I do all of it as a fellow traveler, not as someone who is perfect in any way.


The Kindle (e-book) edition of The Minimalist Diet is available for pre-order now at a special price.  It will be delivered next Tuesday, June 3, which is when the paperback and hardcover editions go on sale.


Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 29, 2025 at 10:21 AM

    Another frustrating thing about getting old: arthritis in my hands is keeping me from participating in many of those hobbies. Unfortunately, reading does not prevent snacking. :(
    Linda Sand

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen TrefzgerMay 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM

      That is a challenge, Linda! I've read that knitting or crocheting with large needles and thicker yarn can actually be therapeutic for arthritis. How about digital scrapbooking, or even writing your memoir? (Use voice-to-text if typing is too hard.) Maybe you'd enjoy caring for houseplants or making terrariums/fairy gardens with thrifted bowls, etc? Maybe you could volunteer to read aloud to little kids at the library, or to vision-impaired persons. Bird watching? Chair yoga? I'm sure there are other ideas... that's just what I came up with.

      Delete

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