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It would be nice if losing weight was a simple matter of willing it to happen. Unfortunately, life doesn’t quite work that way. Wanting it is only a part of losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle; you have to take action and do something to bring the changes about.
Over the years I have had several conversations about hypnotherapy and its applications in health maintenance. Hypnotherapy is most closely associated with smoking cessation and weight loss which makes most of these discussions yield a variety of insights.
If you come to me and tell me “My biggest desire is to drop the weight, and I have done so much in the past.” At this point, “buts” tend to appear in the conversation. The word “but” is dramatically insidious, it implies that the person doesn’t have a choice in their actions, or that they are unable to effect control. Just by using the word, you are relinquishing the power you hold over your mind and body. Here are a few signs that you may have a “but” problem:
- I want to get in shape “but” I don’t have the will power
- I want to fit into my clothes “but” there is no time for the gym
- I want to get rid of my extra fat “but” I can’t avoid the junk food isle
You get the idea right? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to say that every use of the word “but” signifies an excuse. Most of the people I deal with actually do carry feelings of being powerless. However, they are simply slaves of the negative beliefs they have trained their minds to accept. By focusing on things they don’t want, they are increasing their sense of disempowerment.
Things don’t have to be this way. If you think you might be afflicted with the “buts’ try writing down your thoughts in a journal or on a simple piece of paper. This is a constructive way to isolate your negative thinking and realize how this type of thinking has created the unhealthy lifestyle you are stuck in today.
In order to achieve a goal, all you need to do is want it, and have the information needed to make it happen. If you want to have a healthy body weight, you just need to want it bad enough to put a plan into action to bring the result forward. You have to want it enough to get out to the gym, you have to want it enough to pass up the junk food aisle, and you have to want it enough to eat properly. When you find yourself faced with a dieting road block, ask yourself exactly how much you really want to get in shape. If you find out you don’t really want a change right now, or you are caving under the pressure of your partner, or even that you are just afraid of failing you need to re-evaluate your position and make changes accordingly.
The most important part is taking that first step, but it can be overwhelming if you try to do too much at once. Take small steps to ease your mind and your body into a healthy pattern. Instead of having fast food for breakfast, take fresh fruit and a bottle of juice. The next time you stop in for coffee, steer clear of whipped cream and choose low fat milk instead. Every step you take in the right direction will help you get closer to your weight loss goals.
Another of my clients had this problem; she was slim her whole life but had trouble getting rid of a few extra pounds around her midsection. She really couldn’t fathom why it was so hard for her. We looked over her diet and lifestyle and discovered a few more ways to reduce the calories. After a little bit of research, we found out that the extra calories originated from the 8 cups of full cream and sugar coffee she took daily. Just by making a few adjustments to her diet, she was able to lose the weight in two months that she had been struggling with for two years- all by taking things in small doses.
The best way to maintain lasting weight loss success is to build up your bank of small achievements until you reach your ultimate goal. Stop with the ‘buts’, ‘if onlys’, and ‘should haves’ and in no time you will find success just around the corner.
About the Author
Sonia Devine is a clinical hypnotherapist based in Melbourne, Australia. For more information visit her website at: www.soniadevine.com.au