Many overweight individuals turn to unconventional approaches like sleep hypnosis for weight loss when traditional methods don’t work.
Exercise and diet are vital for losing weight, but the reality is that both these things require concerted effort and discipline, which in itself is a big challenge.
You’ve probably seen hypnosis in TV shows and films– how it’s used to change perception and make people do things.
Well, it’s not exactly like the movies, but the idea is somewhat similar, which is to influence a person’s mind.
In this article, I’ll discuss sleep hypnosis for losing weight and explore scientific evidence to determine whether it works and to what extent.
What Is Sleep-Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy?
Sleep hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, is a centuries-old practice of inducing a deep state of consciousness that opens a person to suggestions or directions.
Delivered by therapists and hypnotists, a hypnotherapy session often involves mental imagination and verbal repetition to help the person reach a relaxed state of mind and focus on their unconscious mind.
It’s believed to help people tap into their deep emotions, thoughts, and perceptions to change them with the hypnotist’s guidance.
Although it’s practiced worldwide, it remains controversial in the world of science, with some experts finding it ineffective.
Hypnotherapy is used to treat a wide array of mental health issues, including stress, phobias, and sleep issues like insomnia.
Some research backs the use of hypnotherapy for medical purposes, attributing it as a viable alternative therapy.
Can Hypnotherapy Work for Weight Loss?
The idea behind using hypnotherapy for weight loss is to bring about lasting changes in habits and lifestyle through one’s unconscious mind.
Many overweight individuals struggle to lose weight because of their poor and unhealthy lifestyle choices, which can be hard to let go of.
Similarly, people with eating disorders like bulimia or binge eating find it difficult to control their food consumption and lose weight.
Hypnotherapy may be used to influence a person’s thinking and make them alter their behavior.
For instance, if someone is overweight as a result of overeating, a therapist may suggest using sleep hypnosis to fix such behavior and help them overcome the impulse to eat more than they should.
So, is there any evidence that hypnotherapy works for weight loss? Some studies have examined the efficacy of sleep hypnosis for weight loss.
An analysis from the International Journal of Obesity looked at complementary therapies for weight loss, including hypnotherapy.
The study found a small weight reduction in the control group who experienced hypnosis but concluded that more research is needed.
A more recent study that involved obese participants showed that hypnotherapy can lead to weight loss and doesn’t have any potential side effects.
However, this study, too, suggested that more studies are needed to confirm the effect.
Since research indicates that hypnosis can be used as an alternative weight loss treatment, it may be used if other efforts have failed.
I believe a stronger body of evidence supports using exercise regimes like weightlifting or cardio, a healthy diet, and even improving sleep quality for losing weight.
So, those methods should be the primary go-to for weight loss, and hypnotherapy can be tried as a complementary treatment.
It may be worth a try if you particularly struggle with weight loss because of your eating habits.
Who Is It For?
The benefits of hypnotherapy also depend on whether a person can be hypnotized.
As it turns out, some people are less likely to respond to hypnotherapy. In other words, they don’t quite get to the relaxed state. The relaxed state is where their subconscious can be interacted with.
Genes might have to do something with hypnotizability, as suggested by a study.
You’ll only know if it works if you try it. As I said before, hypnosis alone may not be enough to shed some pounds.
All hypnosis does is change the mindset and make it easier to stick to a healthy eating or exercise routine. So, you’ll still have to put in the effort.
Hypnosis may be a good choice for those who have tried losing weight but find it difficult to change their habits or be consistent with their diet.
Are There Any Risks?
Hypnotherapy is typically safe if performed by a trained professional. As such, there aren’t serious risks or side effects of hypnotherapy.
A possible downside is that it may not work, especially if you don’t reach that dream state.
That all said, experts do warn that there can be side effects like drowsiness, headache, or anxiety, but they are quite rare.
Also, hypnotherapy is not appropriate for people with severe mental health issues.
I highly recommend speaking with a licensed psychologist and your healthcare practitioner before giving hypnotherapy a try.
They can best advise you based on your current mental and physical health.
What to Expect from Sleep-Hypnosis for Weight Loss?
If you think that hypnosis will make you shed tens of pounds in a matter of days, you’re sorely wrong.
Even if hypnotherapy works for you, losing weight will take time, depending on how much you have to lose.
Also, you may need multiple sessions of hypnotherapy, which usually last up to an hour.
Some people may need 10 or more sessions before they witness a change in their behavior and eventually start losing weight.
Your therapist will guide you on the number of sessions required and what to achieve with each session.
The effectiveness of sleep hypnosis for weight loss depends on various factors. These include your hypnotizability and the therapist’s experience and techniques.
It also depends on your ability to follow directions and calm yourself to reach the state of hypnosis.
Working with a professional, preferably with experience in this field, is important.
So don’t hesitate to ask the therapist about hypnotherapy and their experience with others like you.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Does sleep hypnosis actually work?
According to a review published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in 2018, 58.3% of the 24 included studies reported benefits of hypnosis on sleep outcomes, with 12.5% reporting mixed results and 29.2% reporting no benefit.
What is the best sleep hypnosis?
Paul McKenna a world renowned Hypnotherapist has a 21 minute sleep hypnosis that works amazingly. You can listen to it here.
What is the 30 30 30 rule for weight loss?
This method first appeared in Tim Ferriss’ book The 4-Hour Body in 2010. It involves eating 30g of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, and then completing 30 minutes of low intensity exercise. It has gained popularity recently by nutritionist and wellness podcaster Gary Brecka.
