There are so many reasons why you might feel the need to lose weight: maybe you're concerned about your health, planning a family, unhappy with how you look, want to change your image or just can't seem to find clothes that fit anymore? These are all valid reasons, but how do you achieve it? Not by dieting, that's for sure. With almost half the UK adult population reported as overweight and 25 per cent obese, it's the diet industry that's making 'fat profits' from unrealistic promises. Every few weeks there is a new diet guaranteeing a new body in a few short weeks and people can't help but be seduced by them. In reality, there is no such thing as a quick fix. The bottom line is that very low calorie controlled diets don't work long-term. They are restrictive and anxiety provoking. By cutting calories, you put your body into starvation mode and as soon as you put any calories in, it tries its best to hold onto them by turning them to fat. You actually slow your metabolism down, begin to feel low or depressed and find it increasingly difficult to stick to the diet. The end result is that you put the weight back on (often even more weight than before), denting your confidence and self-esteem. Weight control isn't about dieting, denial or giving up 'sin' foods, it's about changing our habits and lifestyle. It means eating and enjoying the right kinds of healthy nutritious foods (in the right quantities), incorporating exercise, managing stress and dealing with the psychological aspects of weight gain. Here's one of our success stories. Neil Burns, a tutor in further education, was fed up with the conventional approach. For eight years he stumbled from diet to diet taking different medication for his depression and weight problem. Then decided to try hypnotherapy. Neil admitted: "I basically had a problem with eating, a strange combination of an obsession, yet total fear, of food. This was tied up with a feeling of low self-esteem and a concern that I wouldn't be able to combine my new job with coursework for three sets of qualifications." Neil, like many people was a little sceptical about hypnotherapy and tried it as a last resort. He also wanted more than just a quick fix, he wanted to regain control of his eating habits, reduce his weight, lift the veil on depression and improve his well-being. Hypnotherapy allowed Neil to remove the fears and anxiety surrounding eating and develop new healthy and more appropriate habits such as eating the right kinds of foods, eating smaller amounts, eating more slowly and throwing left over food out (without feeling guilty). "After the initial hypnotherapy session I was able to make changes and re-think what I was eating and no longer had the cravings or desire for fattening unhealthy foods. As a result the weight started to come off at a rate of 2-4 pounds a week and I felt so positive," said Neil. "Once the veil was lifted, I realised the food was hindering me from being able to function properly. Food had become my one and only thought and affected both my sleeping and waking hours. Now I focus on what is really important. "I'm 35 pounds lighter and know I will reach my target weight, and maintain it. I have also managed to complete the final year of my Open University degree. In short, I'm chuffed to bits." * Ian Hardwick is a Clinical Hypnotherapist & Partner at Therapy Lounge - Centre for health & well-being. For a free consultation and info on a wide range of therapies in a professional environment contact Therapy Lounge, 289a High Street, Harborne, Birmingham. Call now on 0121 693 0060 or visit www.therapylounge.co.uk | 
