Hypnosis for Weight Loss
Find a New Meaning in this Moment: Stop Emotional Eating and Establish Healthy Eating Habits Instead
What is hypnosis?
This Covid-19 experience has the potential to be one of the worst times of one’s life. So much uncertainty, so much confusion, so much fear. If you’re one of the millions of people who are locked into emotional eating, I don’t blame you. It’s a natural human response and you are not alone.
However, within reason, this challenging time also has the potential to be one of the best times. As long as we can find a new, more uplifting meaning for the series of events that we are in the midst of right now.
Uncertainty = Stress = Survival Response
We are all feeling the stress and strain of massive amounts of uncertainty and confusion, in part, because we don’t know what this time period is going to mean for us going forward. Both collectively, as a species, and individually, as unique persons, each with our own unique challenging situation. Some of us have very real stressors, such as financial pressures which are mounting by the day. Others are actually ill with the Covid-19 and are experiencing physiological stress on a level they have never experienced before. Some of us are okay but we are overwhelmed with worry about what the future holds and how we are going to get through this, minimally scathed.
We are all experiencing a mounting sense of uncertainty which produces stress in the mind, and by extension, in the body. This stress, in turn, shifts our survival response into high gear. It is this survival response which is responsible for increases in unhealthy coping techniques such as increased eating, smoking, drinking, etc. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
While many people may not have the luxury to do this, my hope is that you have at least a little bit of leeway to focus on self-improvement in terms of both your physical health and your mindset, so that when the confusion clears and the new path forward is obvious, you will be in a peak state, physically, emotionally, and mentally, to run towards the opportunities that present themselves.
Specifically, I recently learned that people everywhere are overeating on an unprecedented scale because of the worry and stress surrounding Covid-19. It totally makes sense and I am right there with you. However, it dawned on me earlier this week, that this is the absolute best time to establish healthy eating habits and lose weight.
People are in quarantine. A total pattern interrupt to their normal habits!
Restaurants, parties, seminars, and family gatherings are largely closed or canceled.
The door has been opened in a way that might not initially look optimistic, but in this moment of upheaval is massive opportunity for change. You can either stay home and gain weight or stay home and get healthy. The choice is yours.
Which will you choose?
Overeating is NOT a character flaw!
Unhealthy eating habits which lead to gaining weight, feeling sluggish, or experiencing health problems, is NOT a character flaw. There’s nothing “wrong” with you because you are eating too much or eating the wrong thing. Overeating and eating unhealthy foods is just a habit born from the 2-million year old “survival” brain, which we all have.
This pesky habit can be replaced with the habit of healthy eating. I know it’s something we’ve all struggled with before, but right now, during this Covid-19 crisis, it is the best time to get healthy again. Here are five reasons why:
1. You’re stuck at home and you have to eat every meal at home anyway.
There’s only so much variety you can have eating at home, especially when trips to get groceries should be limited. And then, there’s the cooking and cleaning aspect, which can get overwhelming. Having a plan to eat clean, lose weight and get healthy can alleviate a lot of the need to make choices/decisions. More decisions means more chances of bad choices and more overwhelm. Create a template to execute your plan with minimal need to make decisions.
2. The gyms are closed and you can’t get as much physical activity, generally speaking.
Physical activity is severely reduced as gyms close and trips outside the home are discouraged. What are you going to do about that? Among the general population, it’s nearly impossible to “exercise your way to a healthy weight,” even when physical activity is abundant. A healthy weight starts with healthy eating, first and foremost, especially when physical activity is limited. Start with food first.
3. Summer is coming, one way or another.
At the end of this quarantine period, we will either be healthier, both in terms of body weight and physical functioning, or we will be less healthy and have more dis-ease. There is very little middle ground. And let’s remember what’s around the corner: SUMMER. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to greet summer, at a healthy weight, feeling physically light and energized?
4. Being overweight can have a negative impact on immunity overall.
Scientists have found a negative correlation between obesity and the body’s ability to fight off infections. Achieving a healthy weight could be a great investment for your immunity against future infections and poor health. Does anyone out there really want a compromised immune system?!
5. There’s very little to distract from your goal.
While the news can be very distracting, you can reframe it to help you focus on getting healthy. That’s what I do in our HabitBreakerTM program and I know it works because I use it on myself to keep from diving into my stash of dark chocolate and wine on a nightly basis. But in terms of other things to do, places to go, people to see, etc., there’s almost nothing to distract from your goal!
Our clients typically report a significant decrease in the behaviors that led to weight gain in the past (e.g. emotional eating, boredom eating, cleaning their plates, etc.) after only one session.*
*Results may vary
The Program
Back in 2013, I was significantly overweight based on my body type and height and I started a clean eating program. With the help of that program, I went from eating oversized portions and tons of chocolate and wine to eating small portions of healthy food, 5-6 times per day. In this way, I lost 35 lbs and kept it off for years. My weight only started to go up again when I got pregnant.
Today, after giving birth to three kids, I have personally started back on that weight loss program (started on March 12, 2020) that gave me such good results seven years ago. I have been wanting to go back on that program for the last few months, but there was always some event to celebrate, or some cake to eat, or some new bottle of wine to try, etc. Now, that these aspects are no longer a factor as a result of the restaurant closures and social distancing taking place, I’ve found that it’s easier than ever for me to stick to a clean eating program. While everyone is different, I’m sure you might find it’s easier than ever to eat clean and lose weight. All that is needed is to decide to lose the weight and get healthy and then take appropriate action.
The program I’m doing, and to which I’m inviting you to join me, consists of three parts: 1) an eating plan (with three options to satisfy different preferences), 2) a personal transformation plan which we call The HabitBreakerTM System, and 3) a support system that includes HabitBreakerTM hypnosis and health coaching.
The three program options available include:
- Pre-planned Weight Loss program + HabitBreakerTM System + Hypnosis and Health Coaching
This system is for people who like to keep things simple, follow a proven path to weight loss and healthy eating habits, and who want to establish momentum quickly. This option includes a streamlined approach to learning how to enjoy smaller portions, how to train the body to crave less fat, salt and sugar, and how to cook delicious, healthy food easily. This program works reliably, with the health coaching and hypnosis serving to reinforce success and overcome limiting beliefs or resistance to change. This program is offered in increments of 3, 6, 9, and 12-month durations depending on desired weight loss goal.
- Your Own Food Weight Loss Plan + HabitBreakerTM System + Hypnosis and Health Coaching
This system is for people who prefer to do it their own way, rather than follow a pre-established food protocol for weight loss. While momentum will be established, it may take a little more effort and more time to do so. But this slower approach might be pleasing to people who like to get really creative with their food. Staying plugged in with the health coach is critically important on this program, as the variability in food choices can produce mixed results and needs to be constantly managed. Again, hypnosis and health coaching serve to reinforce success and overcoming resistance to change and limiting beliefs. This program is offered in increments of 3, 6, 9, and 12-month durations depending on desired weight loss goal.
- Weight Loss Combination Plan + HabitBreakerTM System + Hypnosis and Health Coaching
This system is for people who see the benefit of both options above and want to do a combination of both. A blend of options 1 + 2, more creativity is injected into the pre-planned weight loss protocol while the overarching structural integrity of the food program in Option 1 is maintained. It can be the best of both worlds but may produce slower weight loss than Option 1 alone. This program is offered in increments of 3, 6, 9, and 12-month durations depending on desired weight loss goal.
A fourth option is for those individuals who are not as concerned with losing weight but would rather focus on establishing holistic eating habits that help “heal” the body, mind and spirit.
- Holistic Wellness Food Program + HabitBreakerTM System + Hypnosis and Health Coaching
This system is for people who are not focused on weight loss but rather, on holistic eating. Instead of emphasizing the essentials of weight loss per se, functional nutritional concepts are the focus. While weight loss is usually a natural result of a shift to holistic eating, it is a byproduct of the process and not the main effort. This program is only offered in the 6 or 12-month options.
One University of Connecticut study reported that subjects who used hypnosis lost more weight than 90 percent of the other participants. Better yet, by two years later they had maintained the weight loss. Another study found that hypnosis more than doubled average weight loss among subjects.
The Overall Structure
While each of these programs has multiple customizations, both between each program and customizations put in place for the specific client, the overall structure is the same.
- Online group health coaching: weekly 45-minute via Zoom (Sundays, 9pm EST)
- One-on-one hypnosis appointments: monthly 90-minutes, for overcoming resistance to change and limiting beliefs (by appointment in the office or via Zoom)
- One-on-one strategic health coaching: monthly 45-minute for establishing new habits (by appointment via Zoom)
- 24/7 access: to your health coach via email + text
- The HabitBreakerTM Online System: for getting alignment between who you really are and how you live your life so there is less need for maladaptive coping and more joy, fulfillment and love in your life instead.
What is the next step?
If spending the next 90-days getting healthy, losing weight, and establishing healthy habits for a healthy life sounds like a great idea to you, please reach out to us and schedule your Free 15 Minute Phone Consultation with a certified consulting hypnotist. It’s possible that our weight loss programs might be a perfect match for your situation, or you might realize that you need something more. Please budget at least about 30-minutes for your consultation as the call is the opportunity for you to have all your questions answered and to get information regarding the best step to take next.