Fat Loss with Hypnosis
I had experience with self-hypnosis myself when I began my fitness journey. I spoke with Scott Nelson, a former transformation champion, who shared with me the power of visualization. I bought a self-hypnosis kit and found that I could break through many personal barriers. The most vivid example is with pull-ups. I had hit a plateau and could not for the life of me do more than eleven pull-ups. I brought myself into a state of self-hypnosis, and visualized performing twenty pull-ups with perfect form. The next day, I stepped to the bar and started doing repetitions. While I did not hit 20, I did break through my personal record and finished 18! It is not that I received strength, but I got out of my own way and realized my true potential.
This month, I'd like to clear the fog and eliminate some of the myths about hypnosis. To do so, I conducted an interview with Roberta Temes, Ph.D. "Dr. Roberta," as she is known throughout the world, has a wealth of experience. Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hypnosis, Dr. Roberta has the unique ability to communicate the complexities of hypnosis in a way that is easily understandable as well as highly effective.
Dr. Roberta has helped thousands of people resolve sleep and weight-loss issues through education and hypnotic suggestion. She has worked with some of the world's most prestigious sleep labs and weight-loss professionals to ensure that her work is always on the cutting edge. She currently lectures at medical schools, graduate programs, and health spas around the world. She is a contributor to the Hypnosis Network, a site that provides information about hypnosis as well as several audio programs. Click here to learn about hypnosis and weight loss.
JL: What began your interest in weight loss and helping others achieve it?
I became interested in weight loss when I saw so many psychotherapy clients, as well as friends, neighbors, and family members, struggle to lose weight and then re-gain it. I figured out that there must be a way to keep it off. I was right, of course. There is a way to maintain a weight loss and that is to change habits - not many, just a few. I knew that hypnosis is the most effective way to change habits so I began simply by asking weight-loss clients to change one habit a week. I reinforced the change using hypnosis and at the end of one month there were 4 new habits in place and there was no weight gain. This success continued and I was convinced that hypnosis is the way to go for weight loss.
JL: How has your view of successful weight loss management changed through the years?
The more I focus on hypnosis and habit-change the less I advocate psychotherapy for weight loss. Emotional eating is more a myth created by psychotherapists than a reality. Fear of being thin is another such myth. People eat because food tastes so good and is readily accessible. Changing the habit of overeating and creating the habit of careful food selection is now my priority. Both habits, thankfully, respond well to hypnotic suggestion.
JL: When did you learn about hypnosis?
I became interested in hypnosis decades ago when my young daughter needed some intricate oral surgery and wanted to cooperate with her doctors, but couldn't override her reflexive response to their oral intrusion - clamping shut her mouth. One of my colleagues at the mental health center where I was then working as a psychotherapist suggested I permit him to hypnotize her. The very next day Karen and I sat on John's couch while he softly spoke to her for about ten minutes. It all seemed so silly to me. But, the next day, when we showed up at the hospital, doctors actually accused me of drugging my child. They could not believe that Karen could suddenly become so cooperative and unafraid. That's when I decided to learn everything I could about hypnosis. Little did I know it would take over my professional life; I practice hypnosis, write about hypnosis, lecture about hypnosis, and make hypnosis CDs.
JL: Share with us what exactly hypnosis is and means — can you control people and make them do things they don't want to do?
Hypnosis is a cooperative mental endeavor. I function as a coach to guide my client toward his/her goal. Unlike in the movies, hypnosis is not an adversarial relationship. The hypnotic suggestions I offer to a client are specific, persuasive statements that will help that client achieve success.
JL: When did you begin using hypnosis as a tool to manage weight loss?
From the day, decades ago, when I began using hypnosis in my practice, people have come to me to lose weight. I've always understood that the urge to overeat is often inborn and difficult to override without some kind of extra help. Willpower is not necessary when hypnosis is that extra help. Hypnosis really works!
JL: Why do you feel hypnosis is so powerful for weight loss?
Food is good. Food is plentiful. We all need something to counteract the lure of excessive food. Hypnosis is a good technique to combat that lure because it creates powerful unconscious scripts that the client can always access. Words said to you during hypnosis remain within your grasp.
JL: If someone uses hypnosis as a tool for weight loss, will they have to keep using this as tool for the rest of their life?
Most hypnotic suggestions stay with the person and do not need regular reinforcement. But, that said, it is good to know that a technique as simple as words, and not pharmaceuticals, is always available and can be used whenever necessary. Clients play my weight loss CD often at first, and then perhaps only before leaving for a restaurant, or heading out to Thanksgiving dinner.
JL: Why do you feel obesity and overweight is such an epidemic today?
There is no shortage of food in our country today. There is a shortage of time, though. So, fast food, which tastes good with all its fat and salt, becomes so appealing.
JL: How can people who are successfully managing their weight approach others they are concerned about?
If you're concerned about the health of someone who is obese, simply give them a gift of a weight loss CD and say nothing. When they are ready they will play it and prosper. Until then, please remember that overweight people are not stupid and they are not blind. If it were easy for them to eat less, they would. Respectfulness is in order, here.
JL: What do you feel the connection between weight loss and health is?
People who are overweight have significant health risks if they have genes for diabetes, stroke, and heart conditions. Perhaps someday the the human genome project will permit us to know who can be overweight and not suffer consequences. Until then it's too risky to take a chance.
JL: Do you feel food is true addiction, like alcohol or cigarettes? If so, are there other places or hypnosis programs overweight people should use to supplement their goal?
What we know so far is that certain people have a pancreas that creates very strong 'eat now' commands, which are extremely hard to ignore. Changing eating habits to follow an individualized program created by a nurtitionist or dietician seems to be the only way to combat those urges. Hypnosis makes it easy to follow such an individualized program.
JL: How does hypnosis differ from goal-setting and affirmations?
The hypnotic process creates an altered state of consciousness called a hypnotic trance. When in that trance state the client can absorb an affirmation and can agree to and visualize achieving a goal. Without hypnosis the goal and the affirmations are only words; with hypnosis they become realities.
JL: What is the difference between hypnosis in an office with a hypnotherapist, and self-hypnosis in someone's home?
You're invited to come to my office. You'll wait weeks for an appointment, battle traffic on the day of your visit, and pay a hefty fee. If you feel you need reinforcement days or weeks or months later you'll need to do the above all over again. If you decide to use my CD you'll settle into your cozy chair, in the privacy of your home, at a time of your convenience. The one-time cost is less than that of an office visit, and you can play the CD as often as you wish. The effectiveness is the same whether you listen in your home or come to my office.
JL: Are there any side effects to self-hypnosis that users should be concerned with?
The only side effect to hypnosis is that some people become extremely relaxed after their session and their mellow feeling may interfere with their plans if they are scheduled to run a marathon or compete in an agressive business situation. Such feelings are not universal and do not last more than one or two hours, maximum.
JL: Is there anyone who won't benefit from hypnosis? If not, why?
People who have a history of psychotic disorders are not good candidates for hypnosis. Once they achieve their delicate balance and are in good mental health, it's not a good idea to alter their brains, even with as sweet an experience as hypnosis.
There you have it — the "scoop" on hypnosis. To learn more, visit The Hypnosis Network and be sure to check out their Weight Loss CD.