A weight off your mind (From Knutsford Guardian)

A weight off your mind

12:32pm Wednesday 4th July 2007

• Print
• Email
• Share

IT is a startling fact that fewer than 50 per cent of people in the UK are at a healthy weight.

And despite our best efforts with diet and exercise, we often find that excess pounds refuse to melt away.

Limited Edition spoke to Elizabeth White, a Knutsford hypnotherapist, who argues that overcoming emotional obstacles is one of the biggest steps towards achieving your goal weight.

"Although I do a lot of other things, weight loss is closest to my heart and having previously been overweight for a long time, I can empathise with all the problems associated with it," she said.

Elizabeth was 25st but has now been at her target weight of 12.5st for eight years.

"I deal with people who are overweight as well as people who have eating disorders or issues with body image," she said.

"Some of these people eat emotionally and unconsciously because they want to change how they feel. They wake up thinking about food and go to bed thinking about food.

"Food is quite addictive really and it's a growing problem for more and more people.

"Because of some trauma, we reward ourselves with food - it's the natural thing to do but we are eating for the wrong reasons.

"Food is seen as a safe and easy option because it's not favourable to turn to drink or drugs and everywhere we go there is a café and a food place.

"Self esteem and confidence goes down and people suffer from mild depression and they're not even aware."

That's where Elizabeth's training in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) comes in.

"This is a process of reprogramming the brain to do things in a different way which makes us feel better," she said.

By examining the language a client uses in conversation, Elizabeth can ascertain which of the five senses they are led by.

She then builds up a visualisation of how confident they will feel if they give up their old routine, thus replacing bad habits with positive new behaviours.

The NLP treatment can also be reinforced with hypnosis and thought field therapy and the technique can be learned to use at home.

But just like any other method, you have to remember to keep it up.

"You have got to want it but you do not have to believe in it," said Elizabeth.

"I do not care what people think as long as they are happy with the results."

Elizabeth was taught by celebrity hypnotist Paul McKenna, who is involved with the training courses in London twice a year.

"He's an amazing man and he's very charismatic and very easy to learn from," she said.

"But he's just like the rest of us and can actually be quite nervous and shy. He teaches you how to keep that under control and that's how he's able to stand up in front of hundreds of people."

Public speaking was also something Elizabeth was apprehensive about.

"It's something you can teach yourself to do and now I look forward to it. I stand in front of more than 20 people for my seminars and I really thrive off it," she said.

Elizabeth, who has her own clinic in Warrington Lane, Lymm, is qualified as a master practitioner but aspires to return to Paul McKenna's tutelage to learn how to become a trainer herself.

For more details, call 01925 758842.

• Print
• Email
• Share