Hypnosis for Weight Loss?

[Topaz]

Years ago I went to a hypnotist and he asked me to choose a food for which I would like to lose all craving. I was in grad school at the time and I had a terrible habit of eating chocolate chip cookie dough when I was stressed out before exams. He did the hypnosis session and I paid him, then I drove straight to the grocery store, bought a tub of cookie dough, went home, and ate the entire thing. I felt like a total loser!

More recently, I tried the Tom Nicoli tapes after seeing them on a news show but I don't think self hypnosis is for me. Lots of people recommend him, though.

[jhlcomp]

I have used hypnosis and tapes - sad to say they are only temporary fixes. After many years I have learned 4 things about losing weight 1) it needs to come from within and 2) selecting the right foods 3) portion control 4) exercise. Good luck and save your money.

[sablebaby]

Apparently, some people don't understand hypnosis very well and how it actually works. It DOES work, if you want it to work. I've been a hypnotherapist for the past 3 years (as well as a psychotherapist). I wish people would not reply to topics when they have no knowledge. Leave it to the professionals.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Apparently, some people don't understand hypnosis very well and how it actually works. It DOES work, if you want it to work. I've been a hypnotherapist for the past 3 years (as well as a psychotherapist). I wish people would not reply to topics when they have no knowledge. Leave it to the professionals.

Besides having a cookie dough addiction, I also have a Ph.D. in a social science. This is from the July 2001 issue of Scientific American:

"When used as a primary treatment method, hypnosis has proven to be ineffective in the treatment of addiction and other mental disorders. Hypnosis, however, can improve the effectiveness of cognitive therapy and certain techniques can be useful in resolving specific problems related to recovery from addiction and other mental disorders."

Effectiveness is NOT solely dependent on patient motivation...there are a host of other variables involved. It is completely simplistic and wrong to say with a blanket statement, "It DOES work." And the ethical code of all helping professions mandate that effectiveness statements be qualified...if I simply said something "works" without qualification, I could be reported to the Board that licenses my profession.

[laji01]

Originally Posted by Topaz

Besides having a cookie dough addiction, I also have a Ph.D. in a social science. This is from the July 2001 issue of Scientific American:

"When used as a primary treatment method, hypnosis has proven to be ineffective in the treatment of addiction and other mental disorders. Hypnosis, however, can improve the effectiveness of cognitive therapy and certain techniques can be useful in resolving specific problems related to recovery from addiction and other mental disorders."

Effectiveness is NOT solely dependent on patient motivation...there are a host of other variables involved. It is completely simplistic and wrong to say with a blanket statement, "It DOES work." And the ethical code of all helping professions mandate that effectiveness statements be qualified...if I simply said something "works" without qualification, I could be reported to the Board that licenses my profession.

Your will power is important in weight loss, as well as in other things. Hypnosis changes your sub-concious so you have more will power to change your bad habit. When someone says it works and others not, it's all about their will power and resolve when trying to do things challenging.

You may not need a PhD degree to understand this, but here is a great book I read, reviewed by a blog:

Cheap Weight Loss, My Way » hypnosis weight loss

[LillyLillyLilly]

Originally Posted by VegasGrace

I did that, once. I was so psyched about it and just knew it would work. Even when registering they said I could go to any of their sessions IF I kept my original receipt.

Well, it was neat....but didn't work. In the middle and at the end Vitamins and such were sold.

They came back to town a few months later and I did keep my receipt...just wasn't worth my time.

Heh heh, you must have gone to the same seminar I did. I'm not sure if they ever came back to my town, but it was not worth going back anyway. I think if I were to try it again, I'd go to a local reputable practitioner. A couple ladies I work with quit smoking using a local hypnotist.

[laji01]

Originally Posted by laji01

Your will power is important in weight loss, as well as in other things. Hypnosis changes your sub-concious so you have more will power to change your bad habit. When someone says it works and others not, it's all about their will power and resolve when trying to do things challenging.

You may not need a PhD degree to understand this, but here is a great book I read, reviewed by a blog:

Cheap Weight Loss, My Way » hypnosis weight loss

Actually here is the link to that review:

Cheap Weight Loss, My Way » Blog Archive » Hypnosis Weight Loss Book Review: Real World Hypnosis

Wish you all good luck with hypnosis weight loss program!