Weighty Issues

As I've mentioned previously, weight is one of the top two issues people inquire about. It has been my privilege to have helped people achieve weight goals from 10 lbs to 100 lbs. 

First and foremost, hypnosis is about learning to use your mind to support a personal goal. Thanks to movies and TV, the myth that causes the most confusion is that a hypnotist uses mind control to make you do something. Many people who contact me have the preconceived notion that I can make them stop overeating, make them exercise, make them stop smoking etc. What I actually do is help people minimize resistance to making changes that are in sync with their goals. 

You might think of the reasons we resist making changes as "crossed wires". Somewhere along the way, our feelings inadvertently got connected to thoughts and beliefs that rub us the wrong way. It's natural to avoid discomfort so we resist or avoid.  

Some examples of counterproductive thoughts and beliefs that cause resistance are:

I won't be able to enjoy my favorite treats.

No one wants to feel deprived and deprivation can trigger overindulging. I recall a young mom and attorney who realized she no longer craved the "reward" of her daily scone and latte once she realized it had just become a habit. Letting go of that single habit helped her drop two sizes. 

I helped one woman gain control over her "sugar addiction" by uncrossing the wires of a childhood memory. She said, "To be honest I would only enjoy the first bowl of ice cream. I could barely recall finishing the whole gallon. It was like I was in a zone." 

This is going to be hard work. 

Weight reduction doesn't always take going to a gym. In reality, people I work with often discover or rediscover enjoyable activities like the 60-year-old woman who dropped 100 lbs. in part because she went back to enjoying bike rides.

The first person I ever helped with a weight issue dropped 30 lbs after she realized how much she missed performing. She had given up part-time singing gigs because she thought her boyfriend preferred she stay home. 

Then there was the single lady who remembered how much she loved swing dancing. She decided to brush up on her steps and joined a dance group. 

I don't have time for this.

After years of hearing this excuse, I've come to understand that what women are really saying is "I can't in good conscience make my own self-care a priority without judging myself selfish and feeling guilty." By the nature of our gender, we are conditioned from birth to caretake others by putting our needs last. 

It comes down to this. Extra weight is a symptom of what is really weighing on you. I mean emotional stress. Relieving this emotional load goes a long way toward achieving your desired weight. When we feel lighter emotionally, we make better choices.

If you'd like to know more about how you might benefit from hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Techniques contact me by phone or email.