For decades, people have turned to hypnotherapy to help them with all sorts of issues, from resolving hidden issues from childhood to major behavior modification. Hypnotherapy has been used with great success in helping people quit smoking, reduce stress and anxiety, build self-esteem, increase focus and memory retention, eliminate fears and phobias, sleep better, and more.  It’s no wonder people are turning to hypnosis in greater numbers to also help them lose weight.

Does it work, you ask? Hypnosis works on the unconscious mind through the power of suggestion, and the effectiveness with which a person can be hypnotized depends on how receptive they are to the experience. Put another way, hypnosis works best for people who come at it with an open mind and a true desire for change.

How does hypnosis help a person lose weight? The same way it helps modify any behavior, by targeting your habits. It is a person’s habits that lead to excessive weight gain, and it’s a change in those habits, (replacing old “bad” ones with new “good” ones), that produce the kind of changes that can be sustained.

To build new, desirable, and sustainable habits, it’s necessary to break down all those old associations regarding yourself, your weight, your appearance, food and eating, exercise, etc. and build new, positive and desirable associations. This is where hypnosis truly shines.

In a hypnotic state, you can more easily overcome those unconscious obstacles that can block your weight loss efforts. Most people already know full well that proper diet and exercise is the way to lose weight, and yet so many find themselves helpless to do what they know they “should” be doing.

Habits (whether good or bad), become so much a part of us we don’t even think about them most of the time, much less question them. But when we remove our conscious mind from the equation, we’re more easily able to access those deep-seeded assumptions and reprogram thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviors.

Successful weight loss is a state of mind. A person must be willing to release that weight – not simply be willing to diet and exercise, but deep down, willing to rid the weight. True success depends on a winning attitude on an unconscious level that permeates everything you do, in whatever you do.

Hypnosis can make adopting new, healthier habits so much easier and more pleasurable, as it can put you in the right frame of mind to reap the benefits of all you do to help you reach your weight loss goals.
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Hypnosis can help with building a new self-image, allowing you to envision yourself at your future, ideal weight. It can help build your optimism, enthusiasm and (most importantly) self-esteem for the task. And, hypnosis can help you experience some of the benefits of living at your ideal weight here and now, in the present, even while you live in the body in which you currently live.

​Maybe you're really good at planning balanced meals, but things go awry during the hours in between. Mindless snacking can put you over the limit of food you should be consuming in a day and fill you up with sugar and other things you want to avoid.
 
You can rid yourself of excess weight and protect your health by changing the way you snack. Check out this list for ideas about how to snack less and make smarter choices.
 
How to Snack Less

Be mindful. Are you surprised to find you've eaten half a cake when you really meant to have one slice? You'll probably be satisfied with less food if you pay attention to each bite. Turn off the TV and chew slowly.

Leave the table. It's difficult to tell when dinner ends and snacking starts if you sit around nibbling leftovers on the serving platters. Clear the table and go for a walk.

Drink up. Many people think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty. The next time you want a snack, drink a glass of water to see if the desire to snack goes away.

Sleep well. Chronic fatigue can also make you want to eat. Go to bed on time and practice good sleep habits.​

Chew gum or Drink Tea. Sugar-free gum or tea are ideal snacks. Satisfy your sweet tooth and enjoy chewing without consuming any calories. Gum even helps to clean up bacteria in your mouth in between brushing and flossing. Caffeine free flavored teas are great substitutes for snacking.

Keep a log. You may be snacking more than you think. Use your phone or a notebook to track what's really going on.

Manage stress. Are you eating as a distraction to deal with difficult emotions? Call a friend or listen to music instead. Run in the morning or go to the gym after work. And finally, listening to a hypnosis recording can change your state and have you relaxed and feeling in control once again.