Hypnosis for Weight Loss Question

[sjm1027]

I want to a Hypnotist , 2nd session... scheduled for 3.
Last week was my first and today my second. I don't want to get anyone upset with my question but I have lost 11 pounds the first week and I think it's great... after today's session I felt so good I came home had a good dinner and worked out for 1 hour, Not like me at all... My question is this... I feel weird not knowing why I am doing so well... is it me or the hypnosis? Do I want this so bad I am doing it myself... How do you know?I need someone to explain this to me... I love the feeling, the relaxation but I need to understand. Sometimes I feel bilked... but I don't mean to feel like that... I want to believe but am a skeptic at heart. I am so confused, but happy I lost 11 pounds in 1 week.
Thanks
Steve

[Connie]

Hi, Steve! Congrats on the success! I'm sure you'll keep it going!

You ask: Is it me or is it the hypnosis? The answer is: yes. It's both, YOU are doing it. The hypnotherapist is a guide, you are the power. It's a collaboration. If you didn't want it, it wouldn't be happening.

Focus on the results, not consciously dissecting how/why. You know how you feel, and it's good, right? You're getting the results you want. Be happy!! Continue, and watch the pounds melt away.

[Don]

Hi, Steve.

Along with Connie, I say, Congratulations!

Also, I agree with Connie, it's both you and the hypnosis. However, I wanted to give a bit of a different approach to that answer.

Have you ever said to yourself, "A part of me wants to do X, but another part of me wants to do not-X?" For example, you might have said, "A part of me wants that hot fudge sundae, but another part of me says I don't need it and don't want it."

You see, many years ago--I don't know when, and I don't know why--a part of you discovered that a certain way of eating (perhaps too much, perhaps foods that were calorie dense without being nutritious, perhaps as a reward, perhaps as something else) was good for your well being. It was good, at that moment in time.

But as time passed, instead of that part of your unconscious mind going (it was positive for me to eat that way [and live that way, without appropriate exercise] at that time, it just started directing you to function that way all the time.

On a conscious level, you may have known that something was wrong, but that aspect of your unconscious mind thought, incorrectly, that it was helping you. The more you consciously realized something was wrong, the more your unconscious tried to help you by directing you to behave in ways that didn't help. The result was a vicious cycle. You may have gone on diets or exercise binges for a short time, but eventually, that "helpful" part of your unconscious directed you to the unwanted behaviors. It may have encouraged other parts of you, such as your autonomic nervous system, to do things that you wouldn't want, too, like making you think you were hungry when you were not, making you think you desired foods when you didn't really want or need them, turning down your basal metabolism rate so it would be more difficult to use the calories, making you think your body wanted to sit on your butt by yourself when it really wanted to move and have fun and be with others.

All the hypnosis has done is return the power and control to you. It's not "making" you do anything. It's allowing your body to do what it really wants and needs to do. It's allowing the parts of your unconscious mind to really work together for your benefit. It's allowing your unconscious to make manifest the desires of your conscious mind. It is making manifest the concept of "self-empowerment" that we often hear about. It is giving you the power that is yours and that you didn't know you had.

The reason I am stressing this is because I don't want you to think that the hypnotist has some sort of power over you. I don't even want you to think that hypnosis has some sort of power over you. The hypnosis and your hypnotist have simply helped you to unleash your own inner powers to achieve your goals. As Connie put it, "It's a collaboration. If you didn't want it, it wouldn't be happening." You are the power--not the hypnosis, not the hypnotist. They simple help you manifest the power.

Why am I saying this? Well, first, because it's true. Second, because I believe it is very important to understand it. After your next session, it does not mean that with no more hypnosis sessions and no more scheduled trips to the hypnotist that there is some sort of "magic power" in the hypnotist that is going to fade. That power is you. It's all you. The hypnotist and hypnosis merely helped you release it.

Now I want you to know that it is highly unlikely (and possibly unhealthy) that you will continue to lose 11 pounds a week. It's more likely that you'll lose less weight per week. Some weeks you may lose nothing or might, depending upon when you weigh yourself and the foods you immediately consumed before weighing, might even appear to have gained a pound or two. It doesn't matter. You are now on course to lose weight, safely and gradually, until you reach your ideal weight. Then you will easily maintain that weight. Every aspect of your body, mind, and spirit will be working with you to achieve your goals. And perhaps the most amazing thing about this is--the effect of the change in behavior, spurred by the hypnosis, will continue to increase over time!

No, that doesn't mean you'll lose weight until you fade away. Rather, it means the power you realize you have over yourself, the power that manifests because of all aspects of your mind working together for your greater good, will "leak over" into other aspects of your life. You'll become happier, more successful, have better relationships and much more. It's not some magic power. It's simply that "success breeds success" and this will extend to all areas.

You wrote that you "think it's great." Me, too! Well, it's only beginning and going to get better.

I've explained what's going on "inside" to answer your inner skeptic. Now that the "part of you" that is, to use your words, a "skeptic at heart" has been answered, even that skeptic will work with you to achieve your goals.

Here's what I suggest. Go out an buy a pair of jeans that's half-way between your current size and the size you want to be. Also buy a pair that's the size you want to be. Every day, take out that pair that's half way between your current size and your desired size and hold them in front of you. Look at yourself in the mirror with them. Imagine what it will feel like when in a short time, you'll easily fit into them. Imagine how good it will feel to put them on and how proud you'll feel to accomplish it. If you ever think about doing something you know isn't good for you, grab that pair of jeans and repeat this practice. Do this until you fit into them, and then wear them whenever you like: they're a sign of your success! However, repeat this process with the jeans in the size you want to be, the size that is your ideal size and weight. If you have a lot to lose, you may want to have a couple of in-between sizes rather than just half way. Remember, success breeds success.

In some ways I envy you. You are embarking on a new journey of joy, success, and health. You're going to have more energy. You're going to be more desirable.

The best is yet to come!

[sjm1027]

Connie and Don,

Thank you both very much helping me understand this. This is all new to me and very (I call it) Weird but I love it. Like I said yesterday was my second session and I just can believe how I am reacting to it. I did figure it wasn't her putting a spell on me... But Connie, than you so much for taking the time to explain this to me. You can't believe how much your answer means to me. I have not told anyone about this because I don't know how to... All I know it's good for me... It is what I needed in my life right now. Your answer really helps me understand what is happening to me. So listen to this... I woke up, craved to exercise... and did. Then we had breakfast, I ate slower, enjoyed and appreciated the good food, got a full feeling and stopped as suggested to me. Usually I don't feel full, I am over well over 100 pounds over weight and need this because my health is going down hill every month, my doctor tells me my sugar is getting to a point where he will put me on medication very soon so I need this or I will die eventually. I am sick of hearing about this (lap band) surgery anyway!
So today I exercised on Sunday... never did that before... and Saturday night I might add :) so we went out and usually my day revolves around food... I plan my day around breakfast, lunch and dinner (fat people do) but today I didn't. Imagine that, I don't even care... we had lunch 2 hours later than normal and I didn't even think about it. I know some of you are thinking this guy is weird planning his days so he can have lunch and dinner on time but it is the truth, so hypnosis is working for me. Your reply was just what I needed to understand what is going on... I really never gave it any thought in 52 years.
So you mentioned my next and last session, I was thinking about this all day, I don't want them to stop right now... I think I am afraid to stop because I may fall right back into my old life but you said I will feed off of the good... you said success breeds success and those words will keep me going.
I don't expect to lose 11 pounds next week I understand that... so I will go with the flow and enjoy this... I am just worried it will stop for some reason that is in my head... But the weird thing is I can't wait to go exercise tonight :)

Thanks for taking the time today to help me, your reply really did the trick in fact I will use it to help explain to my wife what I am doing when the time comes. I printed it and will keep it with me to keep me charged.
Thanks again,
Steve

[Connie]

You go, Steve! I'm excited for you, too! Don gave you a wonderful, detailed explanation. Add our comments to what your hypnotist also has likely told you, and you begin to see the power. YOUR power. :)

Maybe your hypnotist will create a personalized CD for you to listen to at home, it wouldn't hurt to reinforce the work he/she's already done with you. I also lost a lot of weight with hypnosis, and let me tell you, when you get going, it's easier and easier to keep going. This is obviously the right time in your life, now, to do this!

When your friends all start to notice how great you look and how you seem so "up," (and they will) you can tell them hypnosis is a tool you used!

[sjm1027]

Hi Connie,

I already have the CD you mentioned. I listen to it every day and there is also a track of affirmations. I didn't get the affirmations at first until I asked her about them yesterday and she said... (and I forget exactly) think what you want, think positive and be positive... She said it a lot better than me... Think it and be it type of thing.
It's like, you did it, picture yourself, your done, you lost all the weight... I do it... it's all good.

:)

Thanks Connie

You go, Steve! I'm excited for you, too! Don gave you a wonderful, detailed explanation. Add our comments to what your hypnotist also has likely told you, and you begin to see the power. YOUR power. :)

Maybe your hypnotist will create a personalized CD for you to listen to at home, it wouldn't hurt to reinforce the work he/she's already done with you. I also lost a lot of weight with hypnosis, and let me tell you, when you get going, it's easier and easier to keep going. This is obviously the right time in your life, now, to do this!

When your friends all start to notice how great you look and how you seem so "up," (and they will) you can tell them hypnosis is a tool you used!