I am a clinical hypnotherapist and I find that one of my most popular requests is help with weight loss. Some people that are hoping for a miracle cure are disappointed when I tell them that hypnotherapy cannot take the weight off for them. I find it very important to stress this. A person looking for a miracle cure may well believe that you can buy a product, use that product, but make no actual changes to their lifestyle, and still lose weight.

Sorry but it does not work like that, despite what some products might claim. Weight gain and weight loss is dictated by calorie excesses or deficits. If you consume more calories than you burn, then you will gain weight. If you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. I stress this to a patient, and want them to understand and accept this with absolute clarity, before I even begin any trance work. This helps ground the patient into the reality of the situation, rather than allowing them to delude themselves with excuses about metabolism and genetics etc.

Hypnosis can help re-programme their unconscious minds to help reduce the impulse of behaviours which hamper weight loss. It can also help motivate them, and accept changes to their life styles, but cannot magically remove the weight. It is for this reason that I use both non hypnotic and hypnotic strategies when helping a patient lose weight.

Many over weight people do not realize, or do not want to realize, just how much they actually eat. They ‘forget’ about certain snacks, either intentionally or unintentionally, and conclude that they are unlucky to be over weight. This is very damaging to their chances of success as it is extremely difficult to remain motivated when you believe that efforts are futile.

I encourage them for at least one day, preferably more, to carry a small notebook with them and write down every meal, snack, and drink, that they consume. This includes items such as mayonnaise, butter, and even sugar in coffee. I stress the importance of total honesty here.

On their next visit we add up all the calories that they have eaten in the day. We then look over the list and decide which foods to cut out or reduce. I work WITH the patient on trying to find the most pleasing (or least disheartening!) foods to cut out. I do not try and be too strict here as a very strict regime usually leads to misery, rebellion and failure! I try to work with them to find the easiest ways for them to reduce calories and fat.

Reducing 500 calories per day from the calories you eat can typically help you lose around a pound of fat per week. Done consistently over a period of time, a relatively small change such as this can yield great results.

Here are some common changes that I often discuss after analyzing their habits:-

Cut down on beer and alcohol, or at least switch to light beers and/or drink small amounts of spirits.

Instead of drinking loads of fizzy drinks and cordial, increase your consumption of water, which has no calories whatsoever!

Replace whole milk for semi-skimmed, or semi-skimmed for skimmed.

Reduce sugar in tea and coffee, and/or reduce how many of these you drink.

Eat smaller portions when making a meal. Perhaps use a smaller plate to give it the appearance of a generous portion. Also avoid second helpings.

Reduce high calorie treats such as sugary biscuits, crisps and chocolate. Replace with nuts, and sucking boiled sweets. Although boiled sweets are very high in sugar, they can be eaten very slowly, giving a long sweet ‘fix’ for minimal consumption.

When eating snacks put a portion in a small bowl and then put the bag away so that you don’t unconsciously eat more than you plan to.

Increase consumption of Chicken and fish as they are both very low in fat, and decrease the consumption of beef and pork.

Grill or bake instead of fry.

Increase consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Bear in mind that food is actually a ‘fuel’ for the body.

Remember, you can lose weight either by decreasing your calorie intake or increasing the number of calories you burn, or both. If you really don’t want to take up a hectic exercise regime, then try and increase your exercise in your day to day life. For example use the stairs instead of lifts (elevators), and walk instead of using the car for short journeys.

In order to remain motivated, some of my patients benefit from having one day per week, often a Sunday, where they can eat whatever they want. I encourage them to enjoy this day, and enjoy it guilt free. This helps keep up motivation as they know that they have a day to look forward to. It’s surprising how, over time, they start to become less and less interested in this day as they become accustomed to healthier eating.

If a patient is having any difficulty in one or ore of the areas that they have agreed to change, then I can help with hypnotherapy. They may for example begin avoiding eating fruit and vegetables after a while. I will then help them accept that eating fruit and vegetables are enjoyable to eat. I have found a lot of success when using this type of a behavioral programme, and augmenting it with hypnosis. The hypnotherapy can keep them on track, but they must still make the effort. Promises of ‘miracle cures’ I fear, offer little chance of success.