When it comes to weight loss, you probably already know the experts you can turn to: doctors, nutritionists, nutritionists, personal trainers, and even mental health coaches. But there may be someone you haven’t quite thought about yet, and that’s the hypnotist.
It turns out that another avenue people are venturing into in the name of weight loss is the use of hypnosis. And, according to Greg Garniak, a certified clinical and medical hypnotist practicing in Ontario, it usually takes off after all other last-ditch efforts (yes, juice cleanses and fad diets) have been tried and failed. Masu.
But that doesn’t mean someone will control your mind and make you do interesting things while you are unconscious. “Mind control and losing control – doing something against your will – are the biggest misconceptions about hypnosis,” he says. Kimberly Freedomterhypnotherapist, author The power of your subconscious mind: Use your inner mind to create the life you’ve always wanted. “Because of how hypnotists are portrayed in the entertainment industry, people are relieved to see me not wearing a black robe and brandishing a watch on a chain.”
Friedmutter also explains that when you experience hypnosis, you don’t lose consciousness, but rather it’s more like a state of deep relaxation. “It’s simply the natural, fluffy feeling you get before you fall asleep, or the dream-like feeling you get when you wake up in the morning before you’re fully aware of where you are or what’s around you. It’s a feeling.”
In such a state, hypnosis for weight loss may be effective because you will be more sensitive to change. “It is different from other methods because hypnosis directly addresses the causes and other factors at the subconscious level of a person’s mind, where memories, habits, fears, food associations, negative self-talk, self-esteem develop. ” he says. Capri Cruz, Ph.D., psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, author Make the most of your superpowers. “No other weight loss method addresses the underlying problem as well as hypnosis.”
But does hypnosis for weight loss work?
Although there are not many recent randomized studies available on this topic, what is available suggests that this approach is plausible. Early research in the 90s They found that people who used hypnotherapy lost more than twice as much weight as people who dieted without cognitive therapy.a 2014 survey A study of 60 obese women found that those who practiced behavioral hypnotherapy lost weight and had improved eating habits and body image. Additionally, a small 2017 study of eight obese adults and three children found that all of them successfully lost weight, and one of them was able to avoid surgery due to the treatment. Of course, none of this is definitive.
“The unfortunate part is that hypnosis is not easily covered by medical insurance, so hypnosis research is not as promoted as pharmaceutical research,” says Dr. Cruz. But with prescription drug prices seemingly continuing to rise, a long list of possible side effects, and a push for more natural alternatives, Cruz believes hypnosis may soon receive more attention and research as a plausible weight loss method. I hope that it will be accepted.
Who should try hypnosis for weight loss?
To be honest, Gruniak says the ideal candidate is someone who can’t break negative habits and struggles to stick to a healthy diet and exercise program. He says falling into harmful habits, like eating an entire bag of chips without stopping until you’re full, is a sign of a subconscious problem.
According to Friedmutter, emotions, habits, and addictions reside in the subconscious mind. And because hypnotherapy works on the subconscious mind rather than just the conscious mind, it can be more effective. In fact, a 1970 research analysis found that hypnosis had a 93% success rate and required fewer sessions than psychotherapy or behavioral therapy. “This has led researchers to believe that hypnosis is the most effective way to change habits, thought patterns, and behavior,” Friedmutter says.
Hypnotherapy also does not have to be used alone. Gruniak says hypnosis can also be used as a complement to other weight loss programs designed by experts to treat a variety of health conditions, including diabetes, obesity, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease.
What can I expect during treatment?
The length and method of sessions vary depending on the practitioner. For example, Dr. Kruse said her sessions typically last 45 to 60 minutes, while Friedmutter sees weight loss patients for three to four hours. But in general, lie back, close your eyes, relax, and let your hypnotherapist show you specific techniques and suggestions to help you achieve your goals.
“The goal is to train your mind to move away from unhealthy things and towards healthy things,” Friedmutter says. “Through the client’s history, we can identify the subconscious obstacles that caused the client to deviate from their original plan. [health]. Just as we learn to abuse our bodies with food, we can learn to respect them. ”
No, you won’t be crowing like a rooster or confessing your deep, dark secrets. “You can’t be hypnotized or forced to say or do anything against your will,” Garniak says. “You won’t act on the information you’re given during a trance if it goes against your personal values and beliefs.”
Instead, you’re more likely to experience deep relaxation while remaining aware of what’s being said, Garniak added. “People who are in a hypnotic trance state describe it as a state somewhere between fully awake and asleep,” he says. “They are in complete control and can stop the process at any time, because you can only hypnotize them if you want them to. We work as a team.”
Of course, the number of sessions required depends entirely on your personal response to hypnosis. Dr. Cruz says some people see results in just one to three sessions, while others need eight to 15 sessions. And again, it doesn’t work for everyone.
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Samantha Lefave is an experienced writer and editor covering fitness, health, and travel. She regularly interviews professional athletes, elite trainers, and leading nutrition experts in their fields.Her work has been published in Runner’s World, bicycle, outside, men’s health and women’s health, cosmopolitan, Glamourmore.
