Can Hypnosis Really Help You Lose Weight?

Trying to lose weight is one of the toughest challenges most of us will face in our lives. It can make you feel pretty desperate. I personally have felt so desperate at times that I would have been willing to try just about anything. Unfortunately, countless disreputable marketers bank on this desperation to sell their weight loss products, most of which do not deliver what they promise. One controversial therapy promises a lot. Besides weight loss, companies offering hypnosis programs claim they can help you quit smoking, cure anxiety, and even fear of flying. But does hypnosis really work for weight loss? I decided to take a close look at hypnosis to find out what is really possible.

While hypnosis companies tout big numbers, scientific research does not, for the most part back up these claims. While some subjects have had moderate success with hypnosis, the majority of people who have lost weight through hypnosis, did it in conjunction with lifestyle changes and other behavioral therapy.

Experts on real hypnosis say that most people expect too much from it because of these outrageous marketing claims. They say that people have a misconception of what hypnosis really is. Real hypnosis does not brainwash you, and it does not take away your free will. True hypnosis simply puts a subject in a highly focused and suggestible state. These same experts say that hypnosis can be a useful tool toward weight loss when it is incorporated into a well-rounded weight loss program.

So what is it about hypnosis that does work? Hypnosis can help people to focus on the goals they want to accomplish. It forces you to relax and envision where you want to be days, months, and years from now. Well I have a suggestion. Save your money and “hypnotize” yourself. Yes, the mind is incredibly powerful, and it has been proven that relaxation, visualization, and focusing on your goals can help, but I don’t think you necessarily need a hypnotist to do that.

Keep your mind on your goals by writing them down. Look at them every day and ask yourself what you will do that day to get you one step closer to achieving them. Meditate and practice yoga to reduce stress and stay focused. Talk yourself through emotional eating triggers and keep a journal to help you recognize these triggers in the future.

I am not saying that hypnosis is a myth. I just see it as one way among many to get your head in touch with the things your heart wants. If you feel that hypnosis might be helpful for you, give it a try, but keep your expectations realistic. There is no such thing as a magic bullet for weight loss. We each have to find ways to make everything we do in our daily lives work together toward making our goals realities.