Hypnosis, Weight Loss and the Scientific Community

By Tom Nicoli, BCH, CI

With the years of research, case studies and documentation regarding hypnosis, which goes back centuries to Mesmer and beyond, one would assume there would be sufficient work done in the area of hypnosis for weight loss, especially when you consider weight loss is an area people seek hypnosis services for more than almost anything else. More work is needed in this area, but there are some very interesting studies available.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings - Studies of hypnosis as a single treatment for obesity show variable success. A critical review of hypnosis for obesity in studies from 1958 through 1978 concluded that hypnosis may be of benefit but that standardization of methods was needed. In a subsequent trial with 156 participants, results from participants who received 9 weekly individual hypnosis sessions plus behavior-modification treatments were compared with results from those who received behavior-modification treatment alone. On average, the hypnosis group had lost 7 kg of weight more than the control group at the 2-year follow-up.

This fact is important to keep in mind for it is common that though people may be successful in losing weight, it's maintaining their health by keeping the weight off that becomes the challenge. By incorporating hypnosis into your lifestyle it becomes an easier task to simply not want to go back to the old, unhealthy eating patterns.

Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. - Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, usually achieved with the help of a hypnotherapist. With hypnosis, your attention is highly focused and you're more responsive to suggestions, including behavior changes that can help you lose weight. Over the years, numerous studies have evaluated hypnosis for weight loss. Most found positive, but modest, results.

It is obvious there is no direct physical correlation to hypnosis and reducing fat / losing weight. There are 2 separate yet indirectly connected processes involved. Hypnosis is a way of working with the mindset, thoughts and emotions about eating patterns, food and activity. Once the internal barriers are removed to engage in healthy behaviors, then a person can do what we all know is needed in order for the physical process of weight loss to happen. Hypnosis is a proven adjunct to successful weight loss and maintenance of healthy behaviors for quality living.

So the next time you decide to get healthy, lose some of that nagging weight and are ready to remove the struggle of will power and the losing battle in your mind, use the proven method to assist you to achieve your personal goal to be your best... Hypnosis.

Fear of Public Speaking?

Have you ever been asked to give a speech in front of a group of people? And how did you feel?

Many faced with being asked to give a best man speech, or to give a presentation at work, are faced with sheer dread. The fear of public speaking is one of biggest fears faced by people in modern day society.

I remember many years ago, when I was an accountant, I was asked to give a presentation to my colleagues on some subject related to taxation. I felt very nervous and uncomfortable. I've no idea what the audience thought.

So what causes this? And how do we overcome this?

Well we know consciously that there should be nothing to be afraid of, and that there is no real threat to our lives when we are about to give such a speech. However at the unconscious level the body is going into "fight or flight" response. Basically it's fear of being embarrassed in front of others, or fear at making a fool of oneself.

The fear may be rooted in some past event, maybe long forgotten. And it would have been reinforced each and every time you were asked to speak in front of others. But we don't necessarily need to find what started it for us to be able to overcome the problem.

In order to feel at ease when giving public presentations one has to overcome the fear and feel comfortable in speaking. To this end, combining hypnotherapy and public speaking practice will benefit you.

At Hypnotic Solutions we use a combination of hypno-analysis and NLP to help clients overcome fears and phobias. Collapsing the negative feelings and replacing them with feelings of confidence.
In hypnosis we ask the client to mentally rehearse giving the speech and feeling good.

We also recommend those who want to improve their speaking to go along to their local group of Toastmasters International. I was first introduced to Toastmasters a few years ago by one of the speakers at the National Guild of Hypnotists annual convention in Boston, MA. The speaker commented how Toastmasters had given him the skill to do public presentations. So on returning to the UK I joined London Communicators and completed the Competent Toastmaster manual. I now use my public speaking skills in my training school, Hypnotic Solutions Training, to help others in becoming hypnotherapists.