The American population is becoming more overweight each year. Scientists tell us, researchers write about it, and doctors scold us each time we go to the doctor. Dozens of diet books become best-sellers, weight loss programs are popular even during economic downtimes, and we continue to gain weight! Why can’t we ever seem to take the weight off – and keep it off?
The reason is simpler – and more complex –than most people realize. First, as many weight-loss programs teach, many people eat for complex reasons that have nothing at all to do with hunger. Some people learn that eating can be emotionally satisfying because it releases chemicals that give the brain a small “high.” Because they gain a sense of self-well-being from eating, they continue to eat – even when they are not hungry.
What do people learn from this? When they become angry, or tired, or stressed, they eat. Then they feel better. Eating helps them to feel better emotionally. It does nothing to resolve the stress, or the exhaustion, or the frustration, but it helps them to feel better. Psychologists call this behavior a coping mechanism.
The problem with using eating to cope is that food begins to take control. People are driven to eat to feel better, not to relieve hunger. This causes them to gain weight. Sometimes, people become more frustrated because they are overweight. When they eat to relieve their frustration, this causes a vicious cycle that is almost impossible to escape.
Thanks to hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), however, people can now learn to overcome this vicious cycle and take control over their eating. Through hypnosis, they can learn to eliminate the powerful urges to eat when they are not actually hungry. Additionally, trained professionals can use NLP techniques to help overweight people resolve the emotional issues that trigger overeating.
Through these alternative therapies, overweight people can find freedom from addiction to food. They can take charge of their own lives, and live the life they deserve. Haven’t you tried enough diets? Isn’t it time to try something that works?
