Weight Loss
Hypnosis
An
In-Depth Look
Some Key Points
Because
people vary on how easily they can be hypnotized, the success of weight
loss hypnosis depends on both the individual and the hypnotherapist.
Weight
loss hypnosis should be combined into a weight loss program that
incorporates other strategies. This includes behavioral
therapy.
Relaxation
Many
people who are overweight are tense individuals. They intuitively
try to relieve their tension by eating, which increases brain serotonin levels. Self hypnosis can be used to
help them relax and have an alternative to overeating. An audio tape,
CD, or MP3 can help with the self hypnosis.
It
has
even been found that hypnotherapy that focused on relaxation was
better at helping people lose weight than programs that focused on
changing
attitudes toward food.
Self Control
Overweight
people often tend to eat automatically, without thinking about it, and
very quickly. Unlike an alcoholic trying to stay completely sober,
someone trying to lose weight does have to eat to live. Complete
avoidance of food is impossible, which makes self control more
difficult. Using posthypnotic suggestions, hypnotherapists can help you
reduce the amount of food you eat, eat at certain times and places, and
keep you from buying too much food. They can even plant the suggestions
so that you have a sick feeling when you eat high calorie foods. These
strategies control caloric intake by establishing normal eating habits.
Exercise
Exercise
is a crucial part of any weight loss program. Hypnotherapy can help
improve your motivation toward exercising. There is a form of weight
loss hypnosis where you are actually hypnotized while exercising. This
kills two birds with one stone.
Personal Issues
For
many people struggling to lose weight, there are unresolved personal
and psychological issues that get in the way of their weight loss. For
these people, hypnotherapy that addresses only relaxation and self
control is not enough. There may be strong feelings of inferiority,
feeling weak and unable to address problems. Body image is
usually very negative. Also, perfectionism and compulsion when dieting
can cause people's self esteem to take some hits when results do not
come quickly or they stray off their diets. The same thing can happen
in extreme exercise programs. Hypnosis can help to build up self esteem.
Motivation
It
can be tough at times to stay motivated in the struggle to lose weight.
Small increases in weight can feel like you are utterly failing, when
really it is just a bump in the road. Weight loss hypnosis can address
and help strengthen your motivation.
Difficulty with Change
For
some overweight people, there are complex subconscious reasons that
being overweight may cover up traumatic events and emotional conflict.
This can lead to a fear about losing weight. This fear can cause
overeating or otherwise sabotage a weight loss program. Hypnotherapy
can explore these deep-seated conflicts on the mind.
Follow-up
It
is easy to get caught up in quick weight loss. However, there also
needs to be attention paid to preventing a relapse of the habits that
caused a person to be overweight in the first place. Weight loss
hypnosis should have follow-up for 1-2 years that consists of
encouragement and practicing hypnosis exercises.
Eating Disorders
Not
only can hypnotherapy help people trying to lose weight, it can help
people who are bulimic as well. Most people with eating disorders are
highly hypnotizable.
It
is important you discuss any weight loss or exercise plan with your
doctor. Only you and your physician can decide what is best for you.
Some people have certain conditions that prevent them from doing all
exercises, and goal body weights may be different for different people.
You need to discuss all these things with your physician before
starting any weight loss or exercise program.
This article was written by John
Vickery, MD.
References
Am J Clin Hypn. 1994
Apr;36(4):248-57
Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1998
Mar;22(3):278-81
Paediatr Nurs. 2003 Sep;15(7):42-5
Am
J Clin Hypn. 1992 Oct;35(2):109-18
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