Have you tried everything to lose weight but nothing worked? Are you considering another crash diet, or perhaps surgery? Try hypnotherapy for weight loss before you make a drastic decision. What’s more, you can DIY it, too, i.e. self- hypnosis.
As an experienced clinical hypnotherapist, I have seen how amazingly self-hypnosis can change you. Your subconscious mind can help you handle addictions, fears, phobias, etc.
Can You Hypnotise Yourself to Lose Weight?
Yes, you can. It is one of the most desired uses of self-hypnosis—achieving sustainable weight loss. Self-hypnosis is a method that brings about change from the inside out. It changes your relationship with food and exercise.
The best part? Anyone can do it. Yes, that includes you! Self-hypnosis isn’t a skill limited to a select few but is something every single one of us can learn and benefit from, if you believe in the power of your mind.
The Intriguing Neuroscience Behind Hypnosis and Weight Loss
Hypnosis works by creating a deeply relaxed state of mind. Your conscious mind quiets down and your subconscious mind becomes more active. Positive suggestions can affect your subconscious more effectively this way.
Think of your subconscious mind as a vast database storing all your beliefs, habits, and behaviours. The art of hypnosis, then, is like being able to tap into that database and modify it, especially the parts that aren’t serving you well, such as emotional eating, binge eating, lack of motivation to exercise or low self esteem.
When it comes to weight loss, hypnosis can help by altering your mindset towards food and exercise, boosting motivation, and promoting self-love. It aids in replacing the negative thought patterns that often impede weight loss with positive ones that propel you towards your goal.
6 Important Pointers to Successful Self-Hypnosis for Weight Loss
You must know how to lose weight successfully before we discuss the steps of self-hypnosis for weight loss.
1. The Why:
You must know what motivates you. Your ‘why’ is pivotal.
Why do you want to lose weight?
Is it for health reasons, or to gain confidence?
A strong, personal ‘why’ can be the force that pushes you through the inevitable moments of doubt or temptation. Start by re-establishing why you want to lose weight.
What are the exact benefits you hope to gain when you shed the unwanted kilos?
Do you want better health, more confidence, improved physical fitness, or become a good role model for your kids?
2. Change Your Perceptions:
Hypnosis is an efficient tool to rewire and change your POVs. If your inner voice is always negative, like “It is too hard…I can never lose weight…I don’t like my body,” you must change the dialogues. These self-defeating thoughts will only despair you.
You can replace them with positivity through hypnosis. The most important pointer for this positive change is positive suggestions that resonate with you and your goals.
3. Engage Feelings:
Your emotions are very necessary in self-hypnosis. You must feel the change you want to see. Imagine how you would feel when you will achieve your ideal weight. Then, use those happy feelings during hypnosis.
4. Positivity:
A successful hypnosis needs a lot of positivity. Negative emotions will always work against you. Replace “I will not overeat,” with, “I choose to eat healthy meals in the right portions.”
5. Strong Belief in Yourself:
You must believe in the process of hypnosis… most importantly, you must believe in yourself. Remember, self-hypnosis is a skill. So, you won’t master it if you do not practise and learn through mistakes. Just trust in your ability to make a change.
6. Consistency:
You don’t see results after a single gym session, right? The same is true for self-hypnosis. You must be consistent in practising it. You will get better with time and get good results.
How to Hypnotise Yourself to Lose Weight: A 6-Step Guide for Beginners
This simple, beginner-friendly method of hypnotic suggestions will take you closer to your weight loss goals. So, how to hypnotise yourself to lose weight?
1. Find a Quiet Space:
The best time to do self-hypnosis is when you are in a somewhat dreamy state, i.e. just before sleep. Choose a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be interrupted. This could be your bedroom, a cosy corner of your living room, or even a peaceful spot outdoors.
Whether you decide to sit or lie down is entirely up to you. To create an even more relaxing environment, consider using essential oils, or playing quiet, soothing music in the background.
2. Enter the Hypnotic State:
When you’re ready to begin, start by rolling your eyeballs up as high as possible, as if you’re trying to look at a spot on the ceiling or your hairline. This will help initiate the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) state, a stage of deep relaxation that’s conducive to self-hypnosis.
Then, gently close your eyes and focus solely on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths, in and out. This act of focused breathing will clear your mind, preparing you for a state of heightened concentration.
3. Deepening the Relaxation:
Now, it’s time to use your imagination and take yourself to a place where you feel absolutely calm, safe, and relaxed. This could be a beach, a peaceful waterfall, a serene garden, or any other place that brings you peace. Engage all your senses to imagine yourself in this place.
For example, if you choose a beach, visualise the vibrant blue of the water, listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the shore, smell the salty ocean air, and feel the cool breeze brushing against your skin. Allow yourself to fully enjoy this calming, sensory-rich experience.
4. Envision Your Best Body Shape:
Next, you can start to use visualisations. Visualisations help condition your mind to believe that you have already accomplished your goal. By harnessing the power of your imagination, you can create virtual experiences and powerful future “memories.”
Visualisation isn’t just about creating beautiful mental images; it serves as a potent motivator, keeping you focused and driven towards your weight loss goals.
So, how do you visualise? Start by imagining a clear, detailed image of how you want your body to look.
What size do you want to be?
How do you want to feel about yourself and your body?
How would you like to move and interact with the world around you?
Try to picture yourself fitting into the clothes you’ve always wanted to wear, be it a pair of jeans, a dress, or even a bikini. Imagine how wonderful and satisfying that feels. Then go beyond the physical.
What do you see yourself doing when you’re at your ideal weight?
Are you enjoying a hike, dancing at a party, or perhaps engaging in a sport you love? What are people around you saying when they see your transformation?
Are they surprised, happy for you, or even asking for tips?
See yourself as the person you aspire to be. Feel positive about your body image and how your life has changed since reaching your weight loss goal. Engage all your senses in this visualisation to make it as vivid as possible.
5. Immerse In the Desired Feelings
As you practice visualisation, see yourself achieving your weight loss goal. Do you feel lighter or happier? Do you feel peaceful? Try to remember these feelings as you visualise.
You must make a vivid image in your mind—so vivid that your brain starts to believe it. It would work towards realising that image then.
6. Loop Hypnotic Positive Suggestions In Your Mind
Hypnotic positive suggestions / affirmations could relate to the healthy lifestyle you aspire to lead, the ways you wish to nurture your body, or the positive outlets you want to use for stress relief, rather than resorting to overeating. You might also want to include affirmations that revolve around your love for exercise.
Here’s an example to guide you:
“From this moment forward, I love and respect my body.”
“I commit to nourishing my body with only the healthiest foods it needs.”
“I am committed to my journey towards a healthier self.”
“I find joy in consuming nourishing and satisfying foods.”
“I respect and care for my body by making healthy choices.”
“Exercise fills me with energy and happiness.”
“Every day, I love and accept myself more.”
When creating your affirmations, keep them personal, positive, and attuned with your weight loss goals. They should resonate deeply within you and reflect the change you wish to see.
In your hypnotic state, loop these positive affirmations in your mind, visualizing how you will be, act, feel, and think as a slim person. Feel the excitement of becoming this envisioned version of yourself. This process will help shape your attitudes and behaviours towards food, exercise, and weight loss.
Keep repeating these positive affirmations until they are ingrained in you, until they become an integral part of your identity. Remember to really connect with the emotions tied to these affirmations, because it’s the feelings that give these words power.
Once you’ve finished with your affirmations and visualisation, it’s time to return to full consciousness.
Count from 1 to 5 to reorient yourself, and gradually return to your normal state of consciousness by the time you reach five.
Become aware of the room around you. The sounds and smells. Feeling motivated and confident of success.
Through these steps, you are not only visualising your success but also truly feeling it, thereby setting yourself on a path to achieving your weight loss goals.
You may create your own hypnosis recording that’s most suitable for you, and listen to it daily so that your mind gets more and more familiar with what you truly want.
For an extra boost, consider making a physical representation of your ideal self. Maybe that’s a photoshopped image of you with your ideal body, or a vision board full of images that represent your weight loss goal.
Place this reminder somewhere you’ll see it daily, like on your fridge or as your phone’s wallpaper, serving as a constant reminder and motivation to keep pushing towards your weight loss goals.
In a Nutshell
Hypnosis can help you lose weight and maintain it. This method shapes your mindset. It steers your daily habits towards healthier choices that can achieve your weight loss goals. Remember, weight loss is more of a marathon than a sprint.
If you ever feel stuck or unsure about how to hypnotise yourself to lose weight, our team of professional Hypno-Psychotherapists is here to help you.
