BurlingtonHypnosis.com
Obesity is a national epidemic. 58 million Americans are overweight and 80% are
more than 25 lbs overweight. 70% of heart disease and 80% of all type II
diabetes is directly attributed to obesity. 15% of children are obese and 70%
between the ages of 6-8 believe that fast food is healthier than home cooked
meals. Today’s children could be the first generation whose life expectancy is
less than that of their parents. (Time)
Much of the problems associated with obesity begin in childhood. We make
concrete decisions about self-image, what food means to us and how active a life
we will lead, very early in our lives. There are also cultural influences which
can dictate the nutritional paths we take.
Another factor is the emotional and compulsive connections to food. Millions use
food to feel good or to at least feel better. Food offers temporary relief from
symptoms of depression, loneliness, anger and stress. Another factor is how
productively our body’s function which can have a major influence in how we
look. A hypoactive thyroid slows down the metabolism making it next to
impossible to lose excess weight.
In addition to all of this there is the problem of social hypnosis or
advertising which bombards us with a never ending stream of useless,
unproductive and unhealthy information 24 hours a day, everyday. To make matters
worse advertisers aren’t even consistent with their manipulative message. On one
hand they say we need to be anorexic to be beautiful, and on the other they say
that ‘happy meals’ qualify as healthy nutrition.
Long term problems begin when these unhealthy patterns are repeated over time.
We are creatures of habit, we are what we think. Consistently repeating patterns
of unhealthy nutrition and sedentary living ensures that they will continue.
It’s the repetition that gets them deeply rooted in our long term memory, or
subconscious mind, where they take on a life of their own.
When an individual attempts to alter the path of an established pattern conflict
results. This is what a smoker goes through when trying to quit on a conscious
level. They experience mood swings, cravings and palpitations. Conflict with
dieting occurs when an individual eat things they really don’t want to eat and
does things they don’t really want to do, like exercise.
When the subconscious doesn’t get what it expects individuals become
uncomfortable and stressed. The only way to make things right is to give the
subconscious mind what it wants. Intellectually they know the changes they
should make and the type of body they want to have but when this inner conflict
arises the individual feels powerless and more often than not they revert to
their old ways.
Hypnosis melts away the conflict. It helps uninstall old patterns and rapidly
download new applications supporting new positive thoughts, actions and results.
By stepping into this peaceful inner daydream world individuals have the unique
opportunity to take control in way they never thought possible.
Mental imagery is one of the most powerful benefits of hypnosis. The hypnotist
taps into the client’s imagination which is in the subconscious. This enables
clients to create powerful images of ultimate health and fitness. Then the
hypnotist offers suggestions supporting how easy it would be to make a few
changes if this is the reward. This establishes a linear subconscious connection
between action and positive results, and by routinely reinforcing this peaceful
message clients easily go from concept to reality.
Making changes on the subconscious level makes new thoughts seem automatic. It
speeds up the learning curve. A good clinician will record your session so you
can listen to it on your own. Repetition rules with the problems and solutions
as well. It took years of repetition to create the problem but the good news is
that hypnosis dramatically speeds up the process to success.
With hypnosis an individual can disconnect from patterns of compulsive or
emotional eating. One method directs the client to regression back to where
compulsive or emotional eating began. Usually there is a general idea of how and
when such patterns began.
Then they imagine a past event is replayed and they can see and feel the stress,
concern or compulsion with food begin. It’s important to recreate the anxiety
because then they get to make it go away.
They picture a thick glass dome being lowered over the past event and the lower
it gets the more freedom and relief they experience. In moments the doom locks
down into the floor completely preventing this experience from ever affecting
their adult life again. Once they are free from the past they move forward and
freely begin to choose new paths supporting fitness and fulfillment.
Success with hypnosis depends on how open the client is to relaxing, whether
they are truly committed to creating positive change and if they give themselves
the opportunity to become proficient with the process. Serious minded
individuals with a strong desire to learn and grow usually do very well.
In addition to weight loss clients become more relaxed, centered and focused.
They are much less affected by the day-to-day stress of life. This type of
routine relaxation produces more smiles, laughter and an easy natural
progression to shaping the body they were meant to have.
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Paul Gustafson, R.N., C.H. is a Clinical Hypnotherapist in Burlington, MA. His
11 years of acute cardiac and hospice experience offer a solid foundation
supporting his empowering and creative use of hypnosis.
Visit
BurlingtonHypnosis.com
or call toll free at 888-290-3972.
©2004 Paul Gustafson - all rights reserved
