A somewhat sceptical
Anna Richardson decides to try out a different approach to weight loss this week – hypnosis. Can the power of the mind control those pangs of hunger or is it all, as Anna says, 'a load of old baloney'?
Before she tries it Anna has lunch with Catherine, a hypnosis success story who now only eats until she's full. After finishing Catherine's pasta as well as her own Anna is willing to give it a try.
Can Anna's brain be re-trained? Under the watchful eye of an expert Anna is hypnotised and in response to questions she talks about her childhood memories of having to eat everything on her plate whilst her hypnotist talks to her about no longer letting food control her life. Coming out from hypnosis Anna's feels like she's been asleep for years and actually quite enjoyed the sensation.
A day later she discovers she is content to eat small amounts and can even resist the lure of her favourite carbohydrates – 'what's happened to me' she asks, 'where has the old porker Richardson gone?'.
Anna decides to seek expert advice about whether or not hypnosis really works. She learns that there's not a lot of evidence that it does work but there are ideas why it might work. She hears about the idea of focused attention and reduced anxiety levels which may unlock early childhood memories and help isolate them and then deal with them.
She goes back for another session to top up her will power and find out how to create a different relationship with food that will last forever.
The result – Anna has lost 3lbs.
See Anna's weight loss chart so far >>
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