Losing weight through a hypnosis CD appears to be a good news/bad news situation. The good news is that hypnosis can help with weight loss. The bad news is that hypnosis CDs probably do not work well. Hypnosis is only responsible for limited weight loss and only when combined with another weight loss method, according to the Vanderbilt University Psychology Department.
Promises, Promises
Some Internet ads make big promises by telling you that the hypnosis CDs will get you to change your eating behavior. Most of these websites promise that by listening to their CDs, you will eat only when you are hungry, only eat small portions and that you will stop craving food, because they will hypnotize you into changing your behavior.
Too Good to Be True
The Internet ads for hypnotic weight loss CDs are tempting. Unfortunately, the claims some of them make are optimistic at best and fraudulent at worst, according to Vanderbilt University. You may see ads from people who try to convince you of their legitimacy by telling you that they have appeared on television, as if appearing on television somehow makes them legitimate. While some hypnotists are, indeed, legitimate, the act of appearing on television is not what makes them qualified, according to Vanderbilt University.
Hypnosis Can Be Valid
When treated in a responsible manner, people can achieve positive results through hypnosis, but it is not usually as easy as simply listing to weight loss hypnosis CDs. Hypnosis can be included as a part of your weight loss program. But, it cannot magically reprogram your mind, according to Vanderbilt University. Hypnosis can relax you so that you are more open to suggestion and so that you can view your problems from another point of view.
Scientific Evidence Lacking
Testimonials don’t take the place of scientific evidence, which is something to keep in mind before purchasing any particular weight loss CD. Hypnosis CDs that are not individualized will use the same imagery and behavior suggestions for everybody. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another, says hypnotherapist Benjamin Kligler, M.D., at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute. You may get lucky in that the tone is one that does work for you. On the other hand, it may not.
Lose Weight the Right Way
The best way to incorporate hypnosis into a weight loss program is to visit a doctor who can perform hypnosis in three or four weekly sessions, with a follow-up a month later, says Kligler. The hypnotherapist should be a medical doctor or be a licensed health-care practitioner who has completed a professional hypnotherapy program, as opposed to someone who just attended a weekend workshop. One way to tell if your hypnotherapist is credible is if he has a certification from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
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