How can hypnotherapy support weight management goals?

Sometimes people may have an in-depth knowledge about nutrition, the latest healthy trends and ideal calorie intake but still opt for the worst possible food choice! But why does this happen? What holds them back from reaching their weight goals?

While calorie intake and metabolism are often seen as the primary factors influencing weight, at my hypnotherapy clinic in Bristol, I guide my clients to understand the additional factors that may be influencing their food choices.

The role of stress in weight managment

Prolonged exposure to stress can greatly influence our food choices and, ultimately, our weight. While some people lose weight during stressful periods, most tend to crave more carbohydrates to meet the body’s increased energy demands. When stress and anxiety levels rise, the body produces more cortisol, a hormone that provides us with energy in times of perceived threat. This cortisol production signals the body to store visceral fat, a survival mechanism dating back to when early humans needed to conserve fat as a precious resource.

At Oakes-Wilson Hypnotherapy clinic in Bristol, we address these deep-rooted responses, helping clients to reframe their relationship with food and manage stress more effectively. Through hypnotherapy, clients gain the tools to make mindful choices aligned with their health goals, helping them to build lasting habits that support their desired weight. By choosing hypnotherapy for weight management, you’re investing in a holistic approach that doesn’t focus on diet but addresses the subconscious drivers behind eating habits.

Randomised, controlled, parallel study of two forms of hypnotherapy (directed at stress reduction or energy intake reduction), as opposed to dietary advice alone in 60 obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea on nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment.

J Stradling, D Roberts, A Wilson and F Lovelock, Chest Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK

 Anxiety

 Longer exposure to stress may further affect our physiology by encouraging anxiety. Anxiety stems from negative thinking and worrying about the future. The more we engage in such an activity, the more our body responds by producing stress hormones. Consequently, it reduces the levels of “happy hormones” serotonin and dopamine which perpetuates this unpleasant situation. We try to compensate that by medicating ourselves with food! At our first hypnotherapy session I will show you how to train your mind and get on top of things.

Sleep pattern

Once anxiety builds up, our sleep pattern becomes affected – often resulting in us waking up at night, unable to get back to sleep. Interestingly, lack of sleep influences the production of the satiety hormone – leptin.

As a result, instead of feeling refreshed and ready for the day, tiredness takes over and it becomes hard to choose food wisely. The longer these patterns last, the more they become hardwired and the harder it is to break away the habit. Furthermore, our emotional appetites may increase.  Hypnotherapy for weight management can help regain intellectual control and reduce stress level so we can start sleeping better. 

Beliefs

Some people believe that they have to be overweight just because it runs in the family. Or they have been juggling with diets or appetite suppressants for so long that they can’t imagine that the real tools are actually within?

Epigenetics is the study of biological mechanisms and factors that influence genes and DNA. It explains how our body can be manipulated by our beliefs and perception. 

Once we know that our thoughts influence our physiology we can take full responsibility for our health.  Bruce Lipton, author of the “Biology of Belief” and internationally known scientist and stem cell biologist, further explains: 

“Medicine does miracles, but is limited to trauma. The problem is that while they have an understanding that the mechanism isn’t working, they’re blaming the vehicle for what went wrong.

They believe that the vehicle, in this case our bodies, is controlled by genes.
But guess what? They don’t take into consideration that there’s actually a driver in that car.  The new science, epigenetics, reveals that the vehicles – or the genes – aren’t responsible for the breakdown. It’s the driver.”

 What does science say about hypnotherapy for weight loss?

According to a 2012 study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, people who engage in hypnotherapy show significant improvements. These involve better coordination between brain areas that integrate attention, emotion, action and intention.

“An analysis of five weight loss studies reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 showed that the weight loss reported in the five studies indicates that hypnosis can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches.”

Everything starts in the mind where all our patterns of behavior evolve and embed. As our subconscious mind is not innovative and doesn’t like change, we need to take control of our decisions.

How effective is hypnotherapy for weight loss?  

Hypnotherapy for weight management gives us valuable insights into the workings of the brain and the body-mind connection. This is very empowering as once we have the knowledge and are ready to make a change – the process can start.

Moreover, hypnotherapy reduces stress and anxiety and improves our sleep patterns which allows us to regain control. Once we are in control, it becomes so easier to understand the underlying patterns and reprogramme the subconscious mind.  Hypnotherapy sessions can take place in person, in our hypnotherapy clinic in Bristol, Clifton or online, via Zoom.

Can I lose weight with hypnotherapy? 

Losing weight is usually the first thing that people have in mind when starting a hypnotherapy programme. Hypnotherapy for weight management is a natural and safe way that can help you harmonise emotional and physical appetites.  Moreover, it facilitates change in your relationship with food, so weight loss happens naturally .

Hypnosis Over 30 Times as Effective for Weight Loss

Investigated the effects of hypnosis in weight loss for 60 females, at least 20% overweight. Treatment included group hypnosis with metaphors for ego-strengthening, decision making and motivation. Plus ideomotor exploration in individual hypnosis, and group hypnosis with maintenance suggestions. Hypnosis was more effective than a control group: an average of 17 lbs lost by the hypnosis group vs. an average of 0.5 lbs lost by the control group, on follow-up.

Cochrane, Gordon; Friesen, J. (1986). Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492.

How about giving yourself a real treat and starting your personalised weight management hypnotherapy programme* which consists of 6 weekly sessions?!

During the course of these six weeks we will work together to

1. identify habits and triggers that affect your food choices
2. remove the emotional charge from the events that may have caused you to start medicating yourself with food
3. build up your confidence and positive expectations
4. train your mind to adopt new habits and support your positive decisions
5. learn how your thoughts influence your physiology
6. help you create a healthy relationship with food and find motivation to carry on with your healthy lifestyle. 

Here’s what B.N. said:

 ‘I wasn’t sure what to expect from the hypnotherapy sessions, but I found them both uplifting and also empowering as Silvia showed me that for the issues I had (weight management and coping with exam stress) the solutions were already within me – she just helped me to tease them out.’ (for full testimonail please click here)

Have any burning questions or would like to start your personalised hypnotherapy weight management programme? Contact me via this form or by calling 07827061637.

*Results may vary from person to person. Full client commitment is important.