In this new era where obesity is on the rise, so is the various slimming and weight reduction, exercise and diet plans on the rise. Still there is a major deficit in accomplishing a fool proof success formula to achieve an assured weight loss in a stipulated time frame without any surgery.
Hypnosis is a highly impressionable, focussed state of mind where in there is heightened capacity to respond. Hypnosis is a highly receptive state of mind where the awareness of external environment is reduced. It is usually carried out by a hypnotherapist using verbal repetition and mental images. Being in a highly receptive state the therapist delivers repeated suggestion aimed at changing the life style to achieve weight loss (1)
Ideally the weight loss responds to an organized diet and exercise program aimed at achieving specific weight loss. Hypnosis can be added as an adjuvant to accelerate the process, but independently hypnosis alone does not lead to any significant weight loss.
Hypnosis can be tried in people who have hard time eating low calorie food and make certain food choices to suit their weight loss goal. Hypnosis gently and slowly persuades the mind to start liking those food, thus achieving a healthy eating habit.
Hypnosis can make people feel and experience a state where they are more fit and in control of their temptations. It makes them want to achieve it in reality. Hypnosis also makes realise the hindrances in their path towards regular exercise regime, if at all there is. It allows one to introspect into any persisting or lurking psychological concern that may act as an obstacle to weight loss. Awareness leads to handling such issues in a more controlled, organised manner.
Hypnosis changes the way one thinks of food and eliminates the flaws in the eating habit. It helps to attain more peace and calmness in their lives. It can be of help in people who are impulsive binging due to anxiety or depression. Hypnosis works in such situations by enabling people to create distinction between food, eating and their emotional life (2)
An upcoming possibility of assisting weight loss program while following indicated diet plan and exercise regime is an innovative hypnotic gastric banding and gastric sleeve surgery – or “virtual gastric banding” via hypnosis (3). In Gastric band hypnotherapy, the hypnotherapist creates a scene of hospital by noises and suggestions and persuades the client that they have actually under gone gastric banding, thus limiting their stomach capacity to retain food (3).
The results may vary from person to person. However, the therapy works best in clients who are open to suggestion and are hypnosis-friendly. Hypnosis in combination with relaxation and mindfulness can help the client come out of negative self image, past trauma or self sabotage thoughts, all of which can contribute towards unhealthy eating (3).
The good thing about hypnotherapy is that it’s not invasive, it works in synergy with other weight loss treatments, no internal medicine or any pills, powders or other supplements are required. The worst it can do is no effect at all (2).
RESOURCES –
(1)https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/weight-loss-hypnosis/faq-20058291
(2)https://www.shape.com/weight-loss/tips-plans/everything-you-need-know-about-hypnosis-weight-loss
(3)https://www.choice.com.au/health-and-body/diet-and-fitness/weight-loss/articles/hypnosis-and-weight-loss