Weight Loss with Hypnosis
By: Kevin Linehan
The title of this article is Weight Loss with Hypnosis. I prefer an alternate title like “Fit and Healthy with Hypnosis” or “Developing the Lifestyle of a Fit and Healthy Person”. It seems though that people prefer to read about losing weight rather than becoming fit and healthy. It just seems like too much work to change. Well, with hypnosis the changes are made at the subconscious level and once that change to internal programming has been accepted the new behavior becomes effortless.
When people try to lose weight what happens? Well they get excited; they make some changes in their eating habits, maybe even join the gym. The weight comes off especially at the beginning and that success keeps them on track. Then they hit the first plateau, the will power wavers. Even though they are still eating properly and exercising the weight is “stuck”. Disappointment sets in and pretty soon the old habits are back. Before you know it the weight is back, maybe even more. Constantly going up and down in weight becomes a pattern, a habit in itself. Your mind knows to just hold out and wait for the opportunity to sabotage your efforts and before long the opportunity presents itself.
When using hypnosis, a suggestion to lose weight is often difficult to accept. The subconscious mind is very literal and no one really wants to “lose” anything. Also, no matter how much you consciously wish to change the subconscious believes that it is benefiting you in some way by maintaining current behavior. Suggestions that address benefits and desires such as improved health, looking great in that new dress, energy to keep up with the kids, etc. will work well and the side benefit becomes easy and effortless weight loss!
Hypnosis is NOT a magic bullet. Seeing the hypnotist and expecting that you’ll be 30 pounds less the following day is not realistic. So how does it work, and what can be done to become fit with hypnosis? In the first session the hypnotist will ask a lot of questions. The intent is to find out what your goals are, what is likely to motivate you, eating habits, exercise habits etc. Each person will work with the hypnotist to develop a specific plan that when implemented will lead to the lifestyle changes required to become fit and to stay fit. The number of sessions will vary with the number of changes sought and the extent of the changes. The average is 4-6 sessions spread out over a 3-month period of time. We have program pricing making this extremely affordable.
When a hypnotic suggestion is accepted by the subconscious mind it becomes a part of your internal programming. In order to be accepted it must be perceived by the subconscious mind as beneficial to you. To be perceived as beneficial your wants and desires are made a part of the suggestion. For example, a suggestion that by eating healthy nourishing foods in the right amounts you are able to wear that size 10 dress to your reunion three months from now is much more readily accepted than a suggestion that you will lose weight. A suggestion that you are fit and healthy as you dance with your granddaughter at her wedding is better than the suggestion that you will exercise.
As I said above this is not a magic bullet. It takes time to reach the level of fitness you desire. It also requires effort. Hypnosis can smooth the way by embedding the desire for the needed changes in lifestyle. It is so much easier to make a change that is wanted both consciously and subconsciously. The good news is that once accepted by your subconscious your actions will support the new you and over time your fitness level will increase. We would still measure progress although we prefer to do it in inches or in increased energy level, not in pounds. Lean muscle weighs more than fat and since lean muscle burns calories more efficiently you could potentially eat more than you do today once you become fit. With lean muscle you may also weigh more than your ultimate goal yet look, feel and be very fit.
The full hypnotic program for becoming fit and healthy will vary in some aspects from one person to another. Areas to address will include, eating habits, emotional eating, exercise, sleeping habits, water consumption, stress levels, etc. You’ll have the opportunity to look into the future at the fit and healthy you and, if needed, the past can be recalled to address beliefs formed during childhood or other emotional times when you were especially open to the “suggestions” of parents and others. Has anyone told you to eat everything on your plate because there are people starving in the world? A comment repeated often enough or even once but said with enough emotion can become accepted by your subconscious mind. Twenty years later you wonder why you keep eating long after your hunger has been satisfied, often without even realizing it.
