Weight Loss and Hypnosis
I am Jon Rhodes – a clinical hypnotherapist from the UK. As well as my private practice, I also run a hypnosis download site called HypnoBusters and a free hypnosis site at freehypnosistreatment.com
I would like to talk to you about hypnotherapy and weight loss. I am a big believer that hypnotherapy cannot actually make you lose weight. I have seen some hypnosis download companies trying to peddle sessions which claim to speed up our metabolism and thus help us lose weight without having to do anything.
However I have never read any scientific evidence that this actually works, and I personally feel that this is sending out the wrong message. Shouldn’t you be prepared to make some changes to your lifestyle in order to fulfill your goal?
Losing Weight Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult
The formula for losing weight is actually very simple. You must eat less calories than you burn off – simple. The human body is very efficient. I cannot remember the exact details, but I know that you have to run many miles just to burn off the calories of one small chocolate bar. Therefore the easiest way of losing weight is to eat less – simple. Many people confuse weigh loss with being fitter, or healthier. They are not the same things. People often become confused between these goals, and achieve little as they flit around between them. If you want to be fitter, then you must exercise more. If you want to be healthier, then eat a more balanced diet, and exercise. If you just want to lose weight, then simply eat fewer calories.
As hypnotherapists, you will often meet patents who become confused between these goals. I feel it is important to talk to them, and see exactly what they really want to achieve. If they want to lose weight, then simply work with them on eating less, as increasing there exercise motivation for example, will only yield small results towards that goal.
Once they have got in the habit of eating less, they may wish to increase their exercise motivation in the future. In my weight loss sessions I basically get them to listen to their body when they are genuinely hungry – not when they feel like eating. My sensible eating hypnosis download session also aims to achieve this. If we all listened to our bodies and ate when we were genuinely hungry, then we would all get to our natural healthy weight.
I also show them the following method to help them focus.
Where Do You Fit In On The Chart?
Look at the chart above. At 10 this is where you have eaten as much as you possibly can. At 0 is where you have not eaten for 24 hours. The idea is not to exceed 5. This is the point where you have taken the edge off the hunger, but you are not “stuffed”.
Ask yourself, honestly, which number are you at right now. Being honest is the key, as kidding yourself will only ruin the mind body connection. Anytime you need to eat, ask yourself honestly at which number you are at. If you are on 5 or more, then you do not eat. Drink some water, find something fun to do, or deal with any problem you might have (other hypnosis sessions may be able to help with this). If you are on less than 5, say 3, then it is ok to eat. Enjoy what you are eating, but stop when you feel you are at 5.
Let’s Get Honest About Our Eating Habits
As long as you stay honest, your mind will learn when you are genuinely hungry, and when you are not. This allows our natural mechanisms, which were developed over millions of years, to regulate our weight. Of course we are but human. Every now and then we may eat over 5. If you do, then again be honest with yourself, admit that you are indulging yourself, and still be aware of what number you eat to. That way you can return to your good habits with your mind body connection to hunger fully intact.
This method really helps enhance any weight loss session if it is followed with some honesty and effort, and sends out what I believe to be a healthy message of listening to and respecting your body. Anyway, that’s all for now folks. I would like to thank Josh for giving me the opportunity to become part of his fabulous blog, and hope to return in the not too distant future!
Bye for now.
Jon Rhodes
Wed, Jul 30, 2008
Hypnosis Training