In addition to diet and exercise, hypnosis for weight reduction is an effective option.
The hypnotherapist’s hand is grasped by the person in trance.
Hypnosis is designed to help the body lose weight in a healthy way and maintain the target weight over the long term – without a rumbling stomach or cravings. Say goodbye to dieting and the yo-yo effect and welcome to a beautiful figure. Is this idea too incredible to be true? In this article, we explore the history of one unconventional weight loss method and examine whether it really lives up to its claims.
Many women who want to lose weight quickly may experiment with a variety of diets or what may appear to be healthy dietary changes, such as restricting carbohydrate intake, keeping a strict calorie diary, or replacing meals with juice. However, as soon as the starvation diet is over, the dreaded yo-yo effect kicks in, the initial weight loss high quickly fades. In theory, it seems simple enough: a thoughtful, balanced diet and meaningful exercise are the keys to a slim figure and a healthy body. It is more difficult to replace chocolate, fast food and other harmful products with good ones or to go from being a “sportsman” to a “fitness instructor” overnight. Can hypnotherapy help you overcome the emotional barriers that keep you from sticking to your diet? We investigated the science behind hypnosis’ promise of easy weight loss to determine the viability of this psychological method for losing weight.
The scientific basis of hypnosis.
Pizza when you’re feeling blue, chocolate after a hard day’s work: everyone knows the craving for sweets, junk food, or other things that are said to soothe the mind in trying circumstances. I don’t see anything wrong with that, as long as poor nutrition is not the norm. Indeed, if the urge to comfort or reward oneself with food is more prevalent, this behavior can easily turn into an ingrained habit, or conditioning. The body begins to “expect” and “demand” unhealthy food when it doesn’t get it soon enough, which manifests itself in cravings and depressive states. As a result, one tends to gain weight and experience other negative emotions that are hard on the body and mind, such as anger, frustration and sadness. In this case, hypnotherapy can be beneficial: hypnotherapy attempts to replace negative habits with positive ones. The same concept that helps overcome a fear of flying or an addiction to nicotine can also help with weight loss: By focusing on healthy behaviors, such as eating healthy and exercising often, hypnosis can help you overcome cravings for sugary and other high-calorie foods. Instead of making the hypnotized patient feel hungry or like they need to restrict their food intake, the goal of the treatment is to revive their natural appetite. Because modern life and environmental adaptation have “reprogrammed” our subconscious brain, we all intuitively understand how this works.
Who can benefit from hypnosis for weight loss?
Anyone can undergo hypnosis and emerge with the physique they desire. However, hypnosis can be particularly beneficial for overweight people who have already tried unsuccessfully to lose weight using traditional dieting approaches. Working with a hypnotist you are comfortable with and who has a good reputation is a smart option if you want to lose weight through hypnosis. It is difficult to hypnotize someone against their will. Anyone who resists hypnosis or the state of complete relaxation, whether consciously or unconsciously, will not benefit from it and will not succeed in losing weight. But for anyone who really wants to lose weight without the burden of constant dieting, hypnosis is worth a try. Morbidly obese individuals should be examined by a physician before beginning hypnotherapy to rule out any underlying medical problems that may be causing their weight gain, such as a hormonal imbalance or a sluggish thyroid. In addition, using hypnosis to lose weight is not an appropriate therapeutic approach for treating extreme obesity.
How does a hypnosis session work?
In order to address and treat the underlying issues that lead to unhealthy eating behaviors, a hypnotherapist’s job is to help the patient enter a receptive state of mind. A reputable hypnotherapist will not perform during treatment and will not use techniques such as lightning induction, which quickly induces trance in the patient. Instead, the therapist will ask the patient about the cause of his or her weight problems during the first session. Before beginning any hypnotic treatment, the patient’s emotional and psychological state and eating habits will be carefully considered. In order to determine if emotional overeating is the cause of the patient’s weight gain, the therapist will ask questions at the beginning of the therapy. Negative emotions such as stress, sadness or dissatisfaction can cause mental hunger, which cannot be satisfied by food. The actual act of hypnosis can be performed with the person lying down or sitting up. The hypnotist has the subject repeat a single mantra or perform a mental exercise designed to sharpen his or her attention and concentration in order to induce a deep sleep. The hypnotized person enters a trance-like state that has been compared to a fully conscious dream, which occurs between waking and sleeping. In fact, when a person is hypnotized, the brain is more receptive, making it the ideal time to replace harmful habits with ones that will help the person achieve their weight loss goals. The hypnotist uses only his or her voice to guide the hypnotized person through a series of daily situations designed to reveal the underlying reasons for the person’s unhealthy food and lifestyle choices. For example, while being hypnotized, your hypnotist might persuade you that going to the gym two or three times a week is a typical, healthy activity. You may have decided that from now on you will only eat sweet foods when you are really hungry. Hypnosis treatments usually last between 30 and 90 minutes. Most people report feeling calm and refreshed after treatment. It is up to the therapist to decide if several sessions are needed to achieve ideal weight loss results, or if one session is enough.
Do self-hypnosis CDs and other tools really work?
Hypnosis CDs and YouTube videos make the promise of helping people lose weight quickly and simply, without having to leave their homes. On the other hand, when using audio or video instruction, statements such as “I will stop eating sweets from now on” or “I will only eat when I am really hungry” are beneficial. However, according to experts, individualized treatment is necessary for successful weight loss, and this is especially true when using hypnosis. Some listeners may find the lessons on the self-hypnosis CDs to be meaningful. However, self-therapy is ineffective and, at best, a waste of money if the cause of weight problems is anything other than, for example, overeating. All the research that has demonstrated the effectiveness of hypnosis in weight loss has linked the results to consultation with a qualified therapist. On the other hand, it may be beneficial to record (or have recorded) your hypnosis session so you can listen to the trance exercises at any time.
Is it true to say that hypnosis promotes weight loss?
Science has not been able to establish the effectiveness of hypnosis for weight reduction due to the lack of available data. However, hypnotherapy has been shown to be effective in several studies as a substitute for dieting and for weight loss. In a study conducted by the University of Tübingen, 43 obese women received support for their weight reduction attempts over a six-month period. Weekly behavioral therapy or weekly trance treatments and self-hypnosis instructions were given randomly to each research participant. Although both the hypnotic and control groups lost weight, the hypnotized women did so more quickly. In addition to its positive effects on weight and body fat, hypnosis also significantly improved the women’s quality of life and overall health. However, a person’s attitude towards this revolutionary weight reduction method also affects how easily the pounds disappear under hypnosis: Not all women who are hypnotized end up adhering to the method; others report major changes in their eating habits afterwards. According to some patient testimonials, hypnosis can even help you lose up to 14 kg in just five months, and this weight loss is long lasting.
Hypnosis for weight loss: a real approach or a marketing hype?
A hypnotist’s ability to help you lose weight and keep it off does not depend solely on him or her. The patient’s state of mind is at least as important to weight loss success as the hypnotherapist’s training and expertise. This can be advantageous for someone who is not interested in fad diets and is willing to try an unusual type of therapy. The good news is that it is up to each individual to choose whether hypnotherapy, an intense exercise program, or a long-term dietary adjustment is the best way to achieve their weight reduction goals. Those who wish to learn more about the use of hypnosis for weight reduction can consult with therapists.