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Even though weight gain is not thought of as a disease, overeating and obesity can contribute to a number of serious health problems, including type II diabetes, stroke, various kinds of cancer, and heart disease. Maintaining a healthy weight is a key contributor to overall health.
A holistic weight-loss program helps you discover and release the underlying causes of your weight problem. Why do you eat more than you should? How can you make better choices and eat in a healthier way? How can you get motivated to exercise? What factors—physical, psychological, social—are inhibiting your diet and exercise program?
Most diets fail to address the most important aspect about weight loss and that is stress. If it was just the food that was an issue, you could easily reduce your intake and lose all the weight. According to Dr. Pamela Peeke, a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland who has studied nutrition and hormones, “elevated cortisol levels during stress trigger an uncontrollable appetite.”
With a combination of Hypnosis and the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) we are able to release the feeling of stress and uncover the reasons for overeating and address the triggers that cause the weight gain. We create a personalized plan to change the beliefs and contributing behaviors to weight gain.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology 1), regarding the effectiveness of using Hypnosis for Weight Loss, Participants were 17-67 year olds who completed a behavioral treatment for weight management either with or without the addition of hypnosis. Results show that, at the end of the 9-week program, both interventions resulted in significant weight reduction. However, at 8-month and 2-year follow-ups, the hypnosis subjects showed significant additional weight loss, while those in the behavioral-treatment-only group exhibited little further change. More subjects who used hypnosis also achieved and maintained their personal weight goals.
In a study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (2), the effects of hypnosis in weight loss was investigated for 60 females at least 20% overweight and not involved in other treatment.
There were two experimental groups (hypnosis with and without audiotapes) and a control group. The groups were assessed immediately after treatment and at 6-month follow-up. Ability to be hypnotized, use of audiotapes, and other variables were not predictive of weight loss. But, when the follow-up was conducted it was found that hypnosis was more effective with results of 17 pounds lost in the group that was hypnotized versus a 1/2 pound lost for the group that was not hypnotized.
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a natural state of relaxation and focused attention, and, even though it is 100% natural and normal, it remains one of the most fascinating phenomena of the human mind. You have actually experienced the hypnotic state if you have driven home safe and sound but don’t remember part of the journey.
Your subconscious mind took over and got you safely home. The subconscious mind holds all the programming that helps you operate in your daily life. With hypnosis and the Emotional Freedom Technique we can access the subconscious mind and install new programming to over-ride past ineffective programming so that you feel more confident, sleep better, exercise more, eat less, give up bad habits like smoking or eating junk food, and become more relaxed in communications and take the steps to succeed in your career.
The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is based on Ancient Chinese Acupressure power points in the body and we tap on these points to release negative emotions stored in the mind and body and get startling results. EFT is very effective in reducing stress and anxiety as reported in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. After a 30-minute EFT tapping session, the EFT participants showed statistically significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and the overall severity of symptoms.
The Emotional Freedom Technique has been used effectively to reduce cravings and addictions, release grief, anger, procrastination, feelings of failure, symptoms of illness, and to release emotional trauma. Each client is taught the EFT tapping protocol and is able to apply it in the moment of stress, anxiety or life event.
In a research study conducted by Dawson Church, PhD, participants found their craving levels dropping by 83% within 20 minutes while applying the EFT protocol. In a few rare cases,
this simple procedure has also collapsed the overall addiction.
EFTs long-term successes are due to its ability to address an important cause of addictions: the need to tranquilize the anxiety caused by underlying emotions like anger, fear, and guilt. EFT helps reduce the intensity of the emotionally troubling memories that underlie many of addictive behaviors. Once they’re resolved, the need to tranquilize with addictive substances often goes away.
Bolocofsky, David N.: Spinler, Dwayne; Coulthard-Morris. Linda (1985). “Effectiveness of hypnosis as an adjunct to behavioral weight management.” Journal of Clinical Psychology, 41 (1), 35-41.
Cochrane, Gordon: Friesen, J. (1986). “Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492.
Sherry Hardt is the President of Healing Power Within, LLC and is an expert in Hypnosis, the Emotional Freedom Technique, and Leadership Development. She is a Certified Hypnotherapist, AAMET Emotional Freedom Technique Level 3 Practitioner.
Certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator, and Certified Professional in Human Resources. Sherry has 22 years of experience in the Human Resource Management field and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Healing Power Within, LLC
385 Tequesta Drive, Suite 6, Tequesta, FL 33469
561-714-9513 • www.efthealingfl.com
