Hypnosis can be an effective weight loss tool, especially when used in conjunction with a healthy eating plan and exercise. Many people have reservations about the use of hypnosis due to a variety of misconceptions stemming from its portrayal in the media, movies, and stage hypnosis. Before discussing the specific benefits and uses of hypnosis for weight loss, let’s consider the typical questions the average person has about hypnosis.
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a safe and proven technique that has been used for thousands of years. It is a trance state or altered state of consciousness, not unlike any other trance state you experience on a daily basis. In fact, all of us go in and out of trance states every day. Daydreaming is a light trance state. A deeper trance state occurs just before sleep, when one is very relaxed.
Hypnotists achieve a trance state by helping the client relax the body and conscious mind and focus attention so that one can more fully access the subconscious mind. This allows one to go to the source of difficulties and create change on a deeper level.
How does hypnosis feel?
During hypnosis some feel heaviness in the body, while others describe feeling lighter. What is most commonly experienced is feeling very relaxed, comfortable and at peace. When under hypnosis a person is not asleep and can open their eyes at any time. Although sounds become more distant with deeper trance, a person may be aware of noises inside and outside the room.
How does it work?
One of the goals of hypnosis is to keep the conscious mind on the sidelines while we work with the deepest part of the mind, the subconscious mind. When the body is in this relaxed state, the subconscious mind is more open to suggestions.
What is the subconscious mind and how is it different from the conscious mind?
The conscious mind operates when we are awake and aware of our surroundings. It is also the analytical and chatterbox part of our mind. The subconscious mind contains everything that is not in our current consciousness. This can include beliefs formed at a young age, as well as memories and knowledge that are not needed in consciousness. It is also where our dreams come from.
Can anyone be hypnotized?
We all go in and out of trance states every day of our lives, so it is a natural and normal state for us. There are times when an individual does not enter a hypnotic state because there is not enough trust and rapport between the client and the hypnotist.
One point worth noting is that an individual is not “hypnotized.” The client agrees to accept or reject the hypnotist’s suggestions, while maintaining full control.
Isn’t hypnosis used to control people? I’ve seen stage hypnotists force people to do some pretty dumb things.
Although a person is more open to suggestions while in a hypnotic state, they cannot be forced to do something that goes against their moral or ethical code. Stage hypnotists have done much to foster the appearance of control over a client. The hypnotist carefully chooses the subjects who participate, whether they appear obedient, cooperative, or extroverted. Subjects understand that they are on stage to be entertained and are not likely to “spoil the show.” While stage hypnotists use hypnotic techniques and many participants are in a trance state, the element of control is an illusion.
The bottom line is this: while you’re in a state of hypnosis, no one can force you to do something that doesn’t feel right to you. It is your choice to accept or reject any suggestion.
What is hypnosis for?
Hypnosis is used in two different ways. First of all, it can be useful to get information about the source of a problem or about the locks to solve a problem. Many of those with chronic weight problems have subconscious blocks to losing weight, and there are reasons for the extra weight and overeating in the first place. Hypnosis can be an excellent tool to identify and remove these blocks.
Second, hypnosis can be used to give suggestions about desired changes. Changes can sometimes be achieved in a single session. More commonly, permanent changes require repeated suggestions over time. The goal is to convince the subconscious mind that the desired changes are real.
Can’t the hypnotist just put me into a trance, say a few words, and stop me from eating too much?
If the hypnotist “just says a few words,” the client is not encouraged to take an active role in the change process. When the relationship between hypnotist and client is one of mutual alliance with clear, shared goals, the client can feel empowered and accountable for the progress made. The hypnotist provides the tools of hypnosis and the client uses what is appropriate and meaningful.
How can hypnosis help me lose weight?
Now that we have a clearer understanding of what hypnosis is, let’s talk specifically about how it can be successfully used for weight loss. An effective use is repeated mental rehearsal of the desired future behavior. The client can rehearse a variety of eating situations in which healthy food choices are made over and over again. The customer then imagines pushing the food away when they are no longer hungry. Once again, the goal is to convince the subconscious mind that this is reality. The subconscious mind is more likely to respond accordingly in daily life.
While the client may be motivated to eat healthier foods and smaller portions, suggestions may include being repulsed by fattening, high-calorie foods that don’t meet their weight loss goals. Food cravings can be addressed by helping the client gain insight into the emotional needs that the food craving satisfies. The client can try different and effective ways to satisfy those needs in a healthier way.
Other uses of hypnosis may include suggestions that increase motivation to enjoy exercise. The client can be seen exercising regularly and experiencing multiple benefits as a result.
Clients can rehearse a healthy life in the future where goals have been achieved, extra weight has been lost, and they are healthy and feeling great. They can imagine all the benefits to achieving their goals thus creating greater motivation and incentive. This can make maintaining the long-term effort required to lose weight more attainable.
All of us consciously rehearse future behaviors and events, not always in ways that serve us. We have all imagined ourselves making mistakes or doing something wrong. We also regularly make suggestions to ourselves that do not help us. Too often we tell ourselves that we can’t do something or we criticize ourselves too quickly. By using hypnosis, we are tapping into that deepest part of our mind and tapping into resources we may not have known existed. By using hypnosis we are simply being aware of our goals and using that deepest part of our mind to reach those goals. We are always giving instructions to our mind. We might as well be mindful, directive, and resourceful about it. Hypnosis can help us do that.
