The following is an excerpt from the "Permanent Weight Loss with Self-Hypnosis" on-line course. If you would like to enroll in the course, click here.
Right now you are most likely beginning this with the mindset of being overweight or at least not happy with your body or life. Before we begin, I'd like you to take out a sheet of paper and write down the reason why you are overweight. Don't give it too much thought. Just write down the first thing that comes to your mind. It could be reasons such as, "I hate to exercise", "I'm lazy", "I don't have time to prepare healthy meals", "I don't like vegetables"... any reason which comes to mind. Okay great. When you are done, put the paper aside and put your pen down. We will be getting back to that later.
Since this is not a program on nutrition or fitness, but rather how to tap into the vast power of your mind to get healthy and live the life you want, I'd like to start off by speaking to you about the difference between your conscious and subconscious mind. The conscious mind is the logical, analytic, rational decision making part of your mind. It is the part of your mind that you reason with. It is with your conscious mind that you decided to make this change in your life. It's within your conscious mind that you have the reasons for wanting to be healthy and at your ideal weight. Why do you want to lose weight permanently? What does it mean to you?
As I mention to you now the reasons most of my clients tell me they want to lose weight I want you to be thinking of your own personal reason. Your motivation is the most important key to your success, so the first thing we need to do is increase your desire for a life of health and happiness.
HEALTH
One of the most important reasons most people want to lose weight is their health. That was certainly my strongest motivation. I didn't want to end up diabetic, like my father, and I had all the symptoms. Are you concerned that your overweight condition may one day lead to a serious illness or disease such as heart attack, diabetes, or stroke? Do you have a family history of these types of diseases? Or do you suffer from everyday aches and pains that could very well be related to your weight—bad back, sore legs, knees or ankles? Or maybe your energy level is low. Do you feel tired out during the day?
What other reasons do you have for wanting to lose weight?
LOOKING BETTER
Aside from wanting to feel better, most people want to look better! Are you tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what's looking back at you? Maybe you don't like opening up your closet and seeing so many clothes that just don't fit you, or going shopping and having to buy the next size. It can be depressing. Being overweight affects your self-image and self-esteem.
LEVEL OF COMFORT
Being overweight also affects your overall level of comfort. It's much more difficult getting in and out of things (such as cars for example, or your clothes). And of course age plays a very important role. Weight that you could carry around no problem in your teens, twenties, or even early thirties often becomes much more difficult as you get to be a little bit older. Perhaps what you think is a sign of age could really be this excess weight that you've been carrying around, weight that's bogging you down.
Motivation is a critical factor in your success.
The motivation that you have is like a vision. And when you have a goal or a vision that you are moving towards, it is a lot easier than thinking about all the small steps necessary along the way to help you achieve that goal. It's looking at the big picture and truly imagining what achieving your ideal weight is going to do for you in your life. The first think I want to do with you is to help you make this vision even more compelling for you.
So take a moment now, and on another sheet of paper, write down your own personal reasons for wanting to lose weight permanently.
Remember the more personal your reasons are for you and the more emotion you feel about the reasons, the more likely they are to motivate you to achieve your goal. Maybe you want to look better for yourself or someone you love. Maybe you want to be in better health so you can do certain activities, or spend quality time with a loved one. Perhaps you want to set a better example for your children or grandchildren ... Be specific ... I want my partner to look at me the way he or she used to ... I want to fit into that bathing suit ...I don't want to end up diabetic like Aunt Sharon (remember fear can be a very effective motivator, so use it if it's true for you!). Write down your own personal reason why you're absolutely determined to success and what that success means to you. Now write down, "I am willing to do whatever it takes."
Believe In Yourself
So in your conscious mind is your motivation. Also, in your conscious mind is the belief that it is possible to succeed. You would not be reading this if you did not have within you a belief that it is possible for you to begin the process of achieving your ideal weight. Yet if you are like many of my clients, you have tried and not succeeded in the past. So today I am asking you to do something a little bit different.
I'm asking you to not just "try" again. Because if you think about it, words like try and hope actually imply failure. Instead, I'd like you to please make a decision. Because when you make a decision to do something in your life, it is amazing how many internal resources become available to help you to achieve your goal.
These resources are always within us. They include strength, courage, determination, love and patience. But when we make a decision to do something in our lives these resources now become available to help us. The purpose of this is to help you to get in touch with these internal resources and harness their power.
When it comes to weight control, the only one who fails is the one who gives up. Every attempt you make, you are one step closer towards achieving your goal.
Research shows that most people who lose weight permanently have tried at least 3-5 times in the past. The fact that people often fail before they succeed has been seen over and over in history. Classic examples are such heroes as Babe Ruth (he had more home runs but more strike outs than anyone else in history), Thomas Edison who came up with a thousand ways not to invent the light bulb, and of course Abe Lincoln who had many setbacks before he became an American hero.
For me, I had many so called "failures" before I ultimately found the success I have had over the last 25 years of living at my ideal weight, free from the prison of sugar addiction. Before I was successful, I didn't know what to do. I made mistakes. When I first got sick and realized that I had to make a radical shift in my lifestyle and eating habits, I tried a vegetarian eating plan. Even though I loved the taste of the food and not eating animals, my body didn't like it. I gained weight and felt tired and always hungry. It didn't work for me. But I learned something valuable—how to cook delicious vegetables, whole grains, seeds and nuts so they tasted good.
Then, I went the opposite extreme and I tried the Atkins Diet. That didn't work for me either, but again I learned from it. I learned the value of eating animal protein to stabilize my blood sugar and avoid cravings. Also, over time, I learned the foods that were not an option for me—the foods that sent me right down that very painful road of addiction. So over time, I was able to take a little of this, and a little of that, and that's how I found the balanced approach that has worked for me for the last 25 years.
It's the same with you. Every so called "failure" of the past has led you to where you are—here and now—in this moment, ready to begin again, a little bit wiser.
Congratulations on your decision to lose weight permanently – you can do it!!
No comments:
Post a Comment