Scientific Research and Hypnosis for Weight Reduction
May 20th, 2010 // 6:59 am @ faykelly
The Research
The research is pretty clear that medical hypnosis supports weight loss, and more importantly supports long-term weight loss. There are three studies that present some of the research into why this approach can work:
Study One: 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. The first study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, divided 109 people into two groups for a 9 week study. The first group were treated with changes in diet and exercise habits (the approach we advocate and work to show how to do in a practical manner) without the addition of hypnosis. The second group was given the same diet and exercise treatment and was also given hypnosis for reinforcement.
After 9 weeks, not surprisingly, both groups lost weight due to the changes in diet and exercise while under supervision.
What happened after the 8-month and 2-year follow-ups was interesting. The group that did not have hypnosis did not lose any more weight and in fact most gained most of their weight back. The hypnosis group, however, continued to lose weight during both intervals and the studies showed that far more people in the hypnosis group met their long term weight loss goals.
The take away is that the hypnosis group continued the eating and exercise habits learned in the experiment while the non hypnosis group did not. There is no magic pill for weight loss and you simply have to follow a healthy eating and exercise plan that works for you. But this study demonstrates that hypnosis supports diet and exercise adherence.
Study Two: Cochrane, Gordon; Friesen, J. (1986). Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492.
The next study, published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, investigated the effects of hypnosis in weight loss for 60 females at least 20% overweight and not involved in other treatment. The researchers interviewed each participant this time about their family background, educational background, and their belief as to their hypnotizability.
The group was split into hypnosis and non hypnosis groups with both groups being given weight loss behavioral treatments and counseling. The results were very interesting. The group using hypnosis lost an average of 17 pounds at the 6 month follow up. The group that did not receive hypnosis only lost a half of a pound. They also found that “hypnotizability” and social and educational backgrounds had nothing to do with the results.
Study Three: Kirsch, Irving (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments–Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64 (3), 517-519.
In this meta-analysis, (which is when researchers look across multiple studies), the results In the studies of hypnosis versus no hypnosis the average short-term weight loss was 6 pounds for those not using hypnosis and 11.8 pounds with hypnosis.
Even more importantly, over the long term the average weight loss without hypnosis remained at 6 pounds, but with hypnosis it jumped to 14.88 pounds – indicating again that the effects of hypnosis seem to compound over time.
What is impressive about these results is that doing hypnosis under controlled conditions is extremely difficult, and to have the research indicate that people are losing anywhere from 2 to 17 times more weight under hypnosis than when they do not use it, clearly indicates that hypnosis should be used by anyone who is serious about weight loss.
If you would like more information on how hypnosis can work for you: contact Fay@Faykelly.com
Category : Blog
10 EASY TIPS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
May 20th, 2010 // 6:34 am @ faykelly
Each week pick one or two items from the following list and let them become a part of your life. As these new behaviors become a habit, just like brushing your teeth, you will find the weight easily falls away without you feeling deprived.
1. Deep Abdominal Breathing: Breathe slowly and deeply downward below your lungs into your belly, hold it for a moment and SLOWLY exhale out with a sigh. Stress causes people to eat more and deep breathing immediately reduces your stress load. You will also reduce the amount of cortisol in your body which is what helps us store excess fat in the abdominal area. Breathe deep and notice your desire for cravings flows out on the exhalation. Try for 2-3 times in a row every hour you are awake.
2. Water Before Breakfast: Drink about 16 ounces of water before your first cup of coffee or breakfast. You are slightly dehydrated when you wake up in the morning and this not only helps detoxify the body from the night before but will energize you and will over the long run help you to reduce by about 1 pound per month or 12/year.
3. Healthy Breakfast: Have some protein like an egg with whole grain bread or whole grain cereal/oatmeal with a few nuts and milk and a piece of fruit within 1/1/2 hours of waking. You are starting up your metabolism and fueling your bodyand brain for the day (your brain is the biggest consumer of energy) and those that skip breakfast usually weigh on an average about 15 pounds a year.
4. The 3 Hour Rule: Oh no!! Every three hours?– most people think if they eat this often they will get fat. The opposite is true. Eating small frequent meals maintains your blood sugar and energy levels and keeps you feeling full. Eating frequently helps reduce cravings and controls your appetite.
5. 3 Hours Before Bedtime: It’s magical how if you eat close to bedtime your body just seems to pile on the weight. Unless you have blood sugar instability, avoid eating after 7pm if possible. Your belly will be grateful.
6. Fresh Fruit: Replace fruit juices or dried fruit to increase your fiber intake. The more fiber rich food you eat the fuller you feel and it’s much healthier for your body. Leave the skins and peels on and you increase the nutrients and fiber you are getting even more.
7. Sleep 7-9 Hours: Studies show that people who sleep less than 7 hours a night actually store more abdominal fat in the belly and weigh more than those who get the ideal amount of sleep.
8. Eliminate “Whites”: When you stop or reduce eating white sugar and white flour, the pounds will melt away. Not only do they raise blood sugar levels fast but it is followed by a drop and your body wants MORE! Look at the labels of the crackers and breads you eat. Many that say whole grain are enriched and not truly whole grain. Look for the highest fiber breads and crackers with the least sugars – your stomach will be grateful.
9 Increase your Activity: If you move an extra 20 minutes a day – that equals an extra 1 pound/month or 12 pounds/year. Make it easy – a quick 10 minute walk in morning and evening or, 20 minutes at lunch.
10. Stop Dieting!!!!!! Your subconscious mind HATES radical changes and deprivation in any form. Focus on making small simple changes over a period of time. As you change your habits slowly, you are headed toward lasting and permanent success. Give yourself treats and rewards – just make sure they are healthy or fun. I used to love ice cream on the weekends, now I buy myself a book or go for a pedicure instead.
For more information contact Fay Kelly @650-773-6440 www.faykelly.com.
Copyright 2010 Fay Kelly, CHT, MdH All rights reserved.
Category : Blog
Improve Grades With Hypnosis
April 30th, 2010 // 9:15 pm @ faykelly
Jessica’s Story
“I get really worried when I have to take tests at school. I study real hard but the answers aren’t there when I take the test. I feel like there isn’t enough time!” In addition, Jessica was frustrated by difficulties in math.
Jessica came to me when she was 13 years old. Her parents were concerned as her anxiety about taking tests was increasing and nothing they tried was working. We met in my office in San Mateo, California. After just three visits she had all the tools she needed for success with math and tests.
Kids Take to Hypnosis Like a Duck to Water
Hypnosis has been utilized successfully for decades as an excellent tool for quickly and effectively helping to make changes. Millions of children suffer needlessly with their issues because there is a general lack of awareness and information about the benefits of hypnosis for children. There are fears that hypnosis is similar to what’s been witnessed at stage shows and on TV. This is, in reality, nothing like therapeutic hypnosis.
Research around brain waves reveals that there are four main wavelengths or types of brainwaves: Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta. “When a child is between the ages of 2 and 6, their brainwaves are predominantly in the Theta state, which helps explains their rich imagination and creativity at this stage of child development. As adults we experience this state when dreaming, in deep hypnosis, meditating, or “in the zone” such as occasionally occurs in sports or when ‘lost in music’,” states Daniel Britton, a children’s author and education expert. (is this quote copied exactly?From six to twelve years of age, children’s brainwaves accelerate to the Alpha state.
For adults the Alpha state occurs when we meditate, daydream or enter the lighter states of hypnosis or ‘highway hypnosis’. So you see, children technically are already in a state of hypnosis when they come to see me.
How Jessica Was Able to Make the Changes:
- I keep “magic rocks” in my office and she (her imagination or subconscious) decided how the rock was going to help her. Every time she studied, all the information she was learning was going to also go into the rock. When she had a test at school, voila, the rock was with her to “give” her the information she might be forgetting.
- Jessica wanted to feel more confident and relaxed when she took tests so we discovered a “special place” where she felt very calm and peaceful (and very smart too!) and we anchored that feeling to every time she picked up a pencil for a test. That same feeling that she felt in her “special place” would come over her each time she picked up a pencil. She was then able to relax and go about the business of taking her test easily and comfortably. (Even finishing the test early!)
- Her math problems were solved by the same “magic rock”. It allowed all the numbers and information she was studying to flow into special compartments in her brain that processed the information in a new way. This was the “math department” of her brain. It made sense of math problems in a way the “old Jessica” couldn’t.
The Results
In three sessions we were able to change Jessica’s response to taking tests and her ability to work with numbers and math studies. She has so much more self confidence and self esteem. Does she feel great about herself now? Absolutely—and I also taught her self-hypnosis so she could learn to make more positive changes for herself in the future. There is nothing as wonderful as a child who has tools to create their sense of control and empowerment over the challenges life throws them.
Does your child have any challenges that might be solved with a magic rock, a special place or some other tool?
Copyright 2010. Fay Kelly, CHT,MdH. All rights reserved
Category : Blog & Children and Hypnosis
