Hypnosis

People always ask me about my hypnosis. What was it like? Were you awake? How do you know you don't have weird suggestions like cluck like a chicken whenever you hear the word WATER?

One thing I'll say, is that for programs like this one to work, it's important for the participant to not know everything they will experience. Your mind needs to interpret the information itself and make its own connections to what you're learning.

But, there are a few things I will share about my experience and tips for embarking on a journey like mine.

Find a reputable hypnotist.
I'm happy to share the name of mine if you email me. Ask for recommendations, research them, find out their background in terms of nutrition, weight loss, fitness and health in general. Find people who have seen him or her, see what their experience was like first. I talked to several people who had seen my hypnotist, and she had RAVE reviews. Even nurses and doctors sing her praises and she is well-known in the local medical community.

Have an open mind.
When I went for help, I was desperate. At 30 years old, 5'2 and 320 pounds, I didn't have much of a choice in the matter. I needed a big change, and I needed it now. I was willing to try anything to help me make the change I needed so badly. If someone told me that little gnomes would come into my room at night to take away the fat from my body, I'd be open to it - creeped out, but open. So, I was open to a discussion about tapping into the subconscious and letting someone into my mind. The woman who I went to see is not just a hypnotist, she's also a mentalist who communicates with our subconscious. Some of what she says seemed far-fetched to me, but whatever she does, however she does it, it worked. I'm a believer.

The experience of hypnosis.
Now, my experience may differ drastically from yours, particularly if you see a different hypnotist. But here are a few tid-bits from what I experienced. There was no couch for me to lay on, no watch swung in front of my face, no moments of being unaware of my surroundings. Forget all the stereotypical hypnotist descriptions on this one.

First off, meetings were group sessions, 20-25 of us in a room at once. We sat in a semi-circle around the hypnotist and she began educating us on nutrition and how our bodies process the foods we put in them. We learned about proteins, fats, sugars, carbs. We were asked for our free-will to make this program work.

You never really knew exactly when the hypnosis started, and you stayed fairly alert through the entire three-hour session. At times, I felt a bit groggy, but I intently listened to her and watched her - body language was a huge part of the subconscious cues we received. When I was under, I could see a bright aura around her, just her, no one else in the room. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who saw it either. It wasn't a huge light, just a small outline around her.

When the session ended, I remembered most of what she said, but let's be honest, you aren't going to remember everything you hear during a three-hour lecture period. She said that the cues she gives our subconscious would help us through the week leading up to the next session in the three-part series.

Be committed to the plan.
This was not a magic solution. We had to make the choice to abide by the rules she set and stick with it. We were told a specific way to eat and a few things to NOT do. For example, we are told to not weigh ourselves. If we must step on a scale, we must ask that we are not told the weight. After the first session, we were on our own for a week to implement the knowledge we received and alter our eating habits. The second session was a check-in and reinforcements of the first week, continuing on our journey and learning a bit more. Same for the third session. Free will remained a huge component to being successful on this plan.

Stay committed even after the sessions end.
Once we finished the three-week session, we were set to continue on our own until we reach our goals. For folks like me looking at a year or two to make that goal, being on my own with this plan seemed daunting. So, I took advantage of her tune-ups, follow-up sessions that serve as a refresher and to either keep us moving forward to get us back on track if we strayed. We were warned though, that free will still played a role and constantly coming in for tune-ups because we don't stick to the plan wouldn't work. Since July 2011, I have had two tune-ups, one in August and one in November. I've been doing rather well on my own, but plan on going back again in the next few months before the summer just to make sure I'm on the right track and prepared to turn my back on ice-cream season.

Advocate for yourself and involve a doctor.
It's important to be upfront with your doctor about what you're doing, and be upfront with your hypnotist about health issues what may affect your ability to be on a strict diet plan. You are your own advocate and you need to listen to your body. Remember that we are not medical professionals (unless you actually are) and should not diagnose ourselves. Use your doctor, hypnotist and any specialists you may need to consult (nutrition and fitness experts, therapists, cardiologists, etc.) as a team dedicated to improving your health and making you the best person possible.