Weight Loss & Management

Obesity is one of the fastest growing health problems in the UK today with more and more people are trying to find an effective way to lose weight.

Many people turn to the latest diet trends but then find themselves regaining the weight later down the line, losing heart in their ability to maintain the weight they want and often eating to comfort themselves, creating a self-defeating cycle. In fact, studies show that around 95 per cent of all people who lose weight through dieting alone subsequently put it back on again.

The majority of diets rely solely on restriction of food intake and therein lies a problem. By relying solely on food restriction, these diets often overlook the need for healthy eating and accompanying lifestyle changes. What’s more, the subconscious mind will seek to ‘find’ what it has ‘lost’ and hence the focus in hypnotherapy is on healthy weight management.

Taking the safe route to the body you want

Whilst you need to look at what you eat and how much you consume, weight loss and weight control do not solely rely on restriction of food. For effective weight management, the following should apply to whatever route you take:

• It must not be arduous. There is nothing worse than having to force yourself to do something. If you are forcing yourself too much it becomes a drag. In the end it is much easier and enjoyable to slip back into your old ways, and any weight you may have lost slips back on. Remember that losing weight is your choice and that means you have to put in some effort to accomplish it. However, with the help of hypnotherapy, the whole process can become something that you can enjoy.

• It must be flexible. Don’t be rigid. Just because eating chocolate can make you put on weight doesn’t mean you have to give it up completely. Control the amount you eat. Reduce it, but don’t ban it. Prohibiting something leads to desire.

• It must be realistic in terms of weight loss and time. Most experts agree that 1 to 2 pounds a week is a safe and effective amount to lose.

• It must be nutritionally balanced. Ideally you should be eating as much fresh, organic food as possible. Eating fresh and healthy food provides your body with a quality source of fuel. That means your body runs more efficiently and burns up fat. You also feel fitter, have more energy, are less prone to illness – the list of positives goes on and on.

• It must include exercise. This doesn’t necessarily mean having to take out a membership to your local gym, but rather it means that you should be prepared to increase your levels of daily activity. The more active you are, the more fat you burn off. Simple steps such as walking more, climbing the stairs rather than taking a lift, and walking up the escalators all help you to lose weight and keep that weight off, not to mention the good it does your heart. If you haven’t taken much exercise before and are thinking about starting to work out at the gym, or go running, or whatever, get checked to make sure that you are fit enough to do so.

• It must promote behavioural change. This means that your lifestyle needs to change. If you take on board all the preceding points, you find that behavioural change occurs naturally and your weight drops. Remember it was your old behaviours and habits that led to that weight piling on in the first place. Source: (Bryant M, Mabbutt P). Hypnotherapy, Wiley & Sons, 2006

How hypnotherapy helps with losing and managing weight

By accessing and working at the level of your subconscious mind, eating habits can be altered more effectively freeing you from the battle of willpower that most diets rely upon. Hypnotherapy is a proven route to maintaining your chosen body weight naturally and sustainably.

Whilst hypnotherapy is not a magic wand, it does help you make changes to your eating and exercise habits, as well as help you enjoy the process of managing your weight. All in all, it helps you to change your lifestyle to one that keeps you slimmer and fitter and looking great. To talk about your goals for weight loss and mangement, contact me for an initial consultation.