How effective is hypnosis for weight loss?

For some people hypnosis can be a very effective way to lose weight. The research in this area can often be misleading as it is hard to standardise hypnotic treatment as it is a very individual thing. We often work with people who experience a dramatic shift in their attitude towards food and their weight. The reviews from

Does gastric band hypnosis work?

Gatsric band hypnosis can be very effective. It is unlikely that it is specifically gastric band hypnosis that brings about the change and is more likely the weight focused hypnosis that is the effective part. The emulation of a gastric operation is more of a theatrical window dressing around the weight loss hypnotherapy. Read more about this on the gastric band hypnosis page.

Another diet is NOT the answer to losing weight

Changing how you think about food IS the answer

Carole originally wanted to 'lose weight' - Instead she 'let go of it'

In this weight loss review video by Carole she explains how she came to Focused Hypnosis in Sheffield to lose weight and to regain control of her diet. Carole is now able to eat a more healthy diet, she no longer sees sweet food as being a treat or a reward and she eats much better. As a result she is more positive, slimmer and happier.

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What could hypnosis do to help you address your weight issues?

Hypnosis could help you by changing thoughts, feelings and behaviour that you want to change. This means you could lose weight because you will be doing something different. This is NOT another fad diet.

It is possible to control your diet and size without things like lose weight loss pills. Nor is it necessary to go to extremely expensive (and risky) weight loss options like cosmetic surgery or options like the incredibly expensive Alevere calorie controlled diets

Happy woman who lost weight not by doing weight watchers but using hypnosis

Don't be one of the weight watchers. Instead, decide to be healthier and happier!

At Focused Hypnosis, we do NOT help people to "lose weight." This is because when you lose something you tend to want to look for it! We don't want you to go looking for the weight you get rid of when you work with us.

And you don't want to be one of those weight watchers either. There are more important things in life than weekly weigh ins and counting every single calorie! It gets boring and for most is unsustainable.

That is why the Focused Hypnosis approach is all about "weight management" NOT weight loss, you could say that it is a weight management clinic.

"I have lost the weight not through...making the right choices without actually realising it. I lost a stone in 4 weeks but I am now actually off my antidepressants"

Click to read all of Natasha's review

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Read the reviews

Amanda Jayne G.

Brilliant I didn't know what to expect but from the minute I meet Richard I felt at ease.Iwanted help with diet issues I'd been dieting most of my life and I'd had enough of not eating proper food ,counting points felling fed up tierd hungry not even wanting to have food as I'd lost intrest it was boring to me.But not anymore after 4sessions with Richard Ive opened up a new chapter in my life no more points being normal in what I eat were and when it's a great feeling anyone struggling with their diet should try this , Richard makes you feel at ease comfortable and the best bit he dosnt judge you he helps Ive noticed a big difference in myself I'm happy enjoying my life without constantly thinking of my diet Ive really enjoyed my session so a big big Thankyou richard.read more

Val B.

My problem was weight loss and not having the motivation to do anything about it. I contacted Richard Hennessy and after one chat and one hypnosis session I was on my way. The actual hypnosis was nothing like I imagined. I thought I would go into a trance like in the movies!! I was totally aware of everything the whole time and at the end felt completely relaxed. Before hypnosis I would eat because it was meal time regardless of whether I was hungry, but after, I only eat when I am hungry and I can leave food on my plate instead of clearing it - a flashback to childhood days when you couldn't leave the table until your plate was clear. I had one more recording from Richard, because I couldn't get to another appointment, and don't feel I need anymore. If I feel as if I am slipping back into old ways I listen to the recording and feel fine again. Richard provides a recording of all sessions to take away with you so its not like he is pressuring you to going back again and again.I would fully recommend him to anyone. Thankyou Richard!!read more

What are the other weight loss options available?

The diet industry globally is worth billions of pounds. There are countless ways to tackle your weight but they all boil down to 3 main approaches.

1. Restricting Calories

Creating a huge deficit in calories can lead to you becoming slimmer as your body uses the fat it has stored. It is difficult to maintain though because the hunger drives you to eat high calorie food to replace lost calories.

2. Surgery

Gastric band and bypasses are a drastic solution and are expensive and come with huge risks. There are still people who manage to 'eat around' a gastric band so it is not the perfect solution at all.

3. Exercise

Some people think that greater activity will lead to weight loss. Studies are starting to show though that exercising to reduce weight is pointless for a lot of people as it increases appetite. Also, our bodies adapt to exercise so over time the same exercises use fewer calories.

The Focused Hypnosis approach to weight reduction

Aiming to do an hour in the gym twice a week is not possible for many people (just look at how many people join a gym then never go again!) Trying to hugely reduce your food intake and deal with the hunger pangs is not realistic either. And going under the knife is just not worth considering for many people.

Our approach is different.

We look at the process of weight. Before you put anything into your body there are thoughts and feeling affecting the choices you make. When you take control of your thoughts and feelings you can find your choices can change much more easily.

You could eat a donut and then run on a treadmill for 3 hours to burn off the calories. OR you could just not eat the donut in the first place. Which is more efficient?

We help you to tap into your drive and determination, to be able to help yourself to deal with the choices you make on a daily basis about what you eat.

It is developing these tools and approaches that could improve the rest of your life.

Embarrassed about your appearance?

The negative thoughts and feelings you had about yourself in the past were trapping you in a body you hated.

Are you sick of counting calories?

My weight loss clinic is all about helping you to be in control of your head AND what you put in your mouth

Sick of fad diets that don’t work?

Doing another diet is simply keeping the method (you proved doesn't work) and changing the recipes.

How hypnotherapy in Sheffield could help you control your weight

Why weight for a fresh start to your life? Now is the time to take control of what happens in your head because THAT is what controls what you put into your body. We can help you with this in four main ways:

1. Stop lying to yourself

You aren't "big boned" and you probably don't have a "thyroid problem" - you have just learned what does not work for you so why keep doing it and blaming yourself?

2. Boost self confidence

When you stop telling yourself you are worthless you can begin to think of yourself as being worthy of better things. We could help you change.

3. Stop mentally or verbally beating yourself up

Your thoughts have a big impact on how you perceive yourself. Tell yourself that you are a "fat pig" and you will eat like a fat pig. This can be changed though.

4. Addresses the emotional reasons behind poor dietary choices

If you are upset, angry, bored, frustrated or any other emotion and then eating food you will not find what you are looking for. There are better methods to find what is missing.

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Your weight loss questions answered

In theory, yes you can hypnotise yourself to lose weight. In order for it to be as effective as possible though you would need to be a hypnotherapist. You might choose to listen to a recording of a hypnotic weight loss session but this is likely to be a standard, one size fits all kind of recording though.

A much better approach would be to see a hypnotherapist in person. This will mean that you get a specific a tailored treatment for your personal circumstances which would likely be more effective.

Eating when you are not hungry is an emotional issue rather than a hunger issue. Going on a diet will do nothing to tackle or change the beliefs you have built up through association with certain foods.

You could find that to stop overeating it could be valuable to address the underlying reasons for over eating. You may be looking for comfort, or a distraction or to punish yourself. Hypnotherapy could help you takles these emotional triggers which could lead to a reduction of over eating or may even stop it completely.