It’s a Weighty Issue – Part I: Food Choice, by Connie Brannan, CHt.
It seems that a large percentage of the population is thinking about their weight and dieting at any given moment, reading about this new diet, that new food plan, purchasing diet products, and/or in the midst of dieting. Our weight truly is a national obsession.
So, why do diets and food plans fail so miserably to help people achieve a healthy weight and stay there? A “diet” is a conscious (thinking) endeavor. It involves analysis, logic, and willpower. That can’t cut it long term.
There’s more power in the mind beyond thinking.
Unconscious Drivers
We THINK we know why we do what we do. And we’d be wrong. Weight management and issues therein are a complex web beyond conscious choices They involve unconscious patterns of behaviors, and embedded beliefs about ourselves and the world that can limit us. These unconscious drivers are just that, unconscious, beyond our awareness. They get embedded in us and like a program installed on a computer they run and run and run.
What is the benefit of hypnotherapy for weight loss? We can actually get in there and address and change these patterns of unconscious behaviors and limiting beliefs. Update the programs running in us. Change how we feel and what we do. These changes lead to long-term sustained weight loss success and weight management.
Weight loss is a weighty issue. Yes, it is. There’s a lot involved. In my office working with clients we address a variety of changes that may be useful. I’m planning a series of essays which I intend to share here and on my blog, dealing with the issues hypnosis helps such as food choice, portion control, emotional eating, motivation to exercise, self image, negative self talk, limiting beliefs, time management and priorities, and more aspects of the weight management puzzle.
The number one change needed on everybody’s list is food choice — is there a predilection toward sugars and sweets? And/or too many carbs such as pasta, pizza, and potatoes? Not enough vegies? Drinking enough water? I’ve heard it all, uncontrollable attraction to unhealthy choices, such as cookies, chocolate, candy, cake, donuts, sugary sodas, French fries, chips, etc. And the gamut of ho-hum all the way to aversion responses to healthy choices.
Why Willpower Sucks
What is willpower? It activates during the “I want it” vs. “No, I’m not going to have it.” struggle. We’re torn between two competing desires. Willpower is the conscious mind taking control and activating a conscious decision. Usually, it’s the “no.” Willpower is weak. Willpower is difficult to maintain long term (yo-yo dieting proves this).
With skilled hypnosis, we erase the need for willpower altogether. Let me say that again. We get rid of any need for willpower. Willpower is forced to the surface when there’s a struggle. What if there were no struggle? What if your brain just said “no” automatically? There’d be no use for willpower and it wouldn’t even come into play. You’d just be doing something different because it feels right.
For example: I have no interest or desire to jump out of an airplane for sport. NONE. In fact, it’s not going to happen. It’s on my “no way” list. Do I obsess about jumping out of an airplane? Of course not. It never enters my mind. Do I struggle to force myself not to jump? Of course not. Do I jump? No. It’s not what I do. What if eating unhealthy became a “no” rather than a struggle? That’s what skilled hypnotherapy achieves. Will power goes back on the shelf. Don’t need it!
Beyond the Willpower Struggle
Here are some of my client results/comments regarding activation of this change:
“Hi Connie, Just had to send along this spread of the party I was at last night. All of the things I find the hardest to resist! Meats, cheeses, bread, crackers, nuts. It was so nothing to me! I didn’t have ONE THING! And the best part was I didn’t WANT one thing!
It’s just so amazing to me. I am sure it’s “another day at the office” for you but, for me…oh my goodness it was so awesome to not obsess over having it or not…wow. Thank you!!!” – Lori H., Mercer Island, WA
Is her willpower in play? No. The craving for these particular food choices is gone.
“I’ve lost 40# in 4 months… My sweet tooth and chip obsession disappeared overnight. My self esteem skyrocketed. It’s been months since I’ve seen you and yet I’m still right on track with my goals.” E. – Seattle. Is her willpower in play? No.
“I don’t crave ice cream at all now! Or chocolate. I am in shock!!!”– Saliha B., Issaquah, WA. Is her willpower in play? No.
I hope you get the picture here. These people are not “dieting” to avoid sweets and “temptations” and they’re not struggling, they’re just automatically choosing different in ways that serve their weight management success. That’s what skilled hypnosis can do. Hypnosis creates the positive changes that move people by addressing and changing the unconscious patterns. No diet can do that.
Keep reading here (The Monthly Trance) for continuing essays on the various aspects of the Weighty Issue of weight loss and weight management, and the successes to be had through Neuro Linguistic Hypnotherapy.