Self-Hypnosis, thanks to TV shows, the very word conjures up the image of a hawlk-eyed hypnotist swinging a watch on a chain and droning, "You are getting sleepy."

Do a Google search and you will find millions of web pages devoted to the subject. Unfortunately, many websites that sell self-hypnosis programs make crazy, unsubstantiated claims. I've been a hypnotist since 1978. So I think that I'm more than equipped to set the record straight on weight loss hypnosis.

First of all, self-hypnosis is a tool, just like a scalpel is a tool. Just as all of the various surgeons have different skill levels in the use of a scalpel, different hypno-technicians have varying skill levels in the use of self-hypnosis. And to complicate the matter, there are different types of self-hypnosis.

Here are just a couple of the silly assertions about weight loss hypnosis that I've read on websites, along with the facts of reality:

"Self-hypnosis will speed up your metabolism." The truth is that self-hypnosis won't directly speed up your metabolism. But it can be very practical at helping to program your subconsious mind with increased motivation to exercise. And exercise will increase your metabolic rate. Similarly, self-hypnosis to speed up the metabolism for quick weight loss can be effected by re-programming the subconsious mind to motivate the intake of increased amounts of protein, because that intake will step up the metabolic rate.

"Self-hypnosis will make you lose some weight." This is false. But self-hypnosis can be used to help annihilate your appetite, so that you eat less. And eating less can help you to lose some weight. Your appetite and urges for food and compulsion to eat are triggered by two subconscious programs:

A. When you pair eating with any other behavior, the other behavior will trigger cravings for food and an overwhelming desire to eat. This is called a conditioned response. For example, if you eat when you talk on the phone, you will automatically get an urge to eat each time you get on the telephone.

B. When you feel tense, you feel a compulsion to put something into your mouth for relaxation and pleasure. This is because of programming that you received as a baby. When you got difficult, your mom or dad put a bottle in your mouth. You got distracted, relaxed, and probably fell asleep. Now when you get cranky (anxious or tense), you feel compelled to put something into your mouth for relaxation and pleasure.

C. There is a third unconscious program that is present for some people. It's called emotional eating. Emotional eating takes place when someone is motivated to make him or herself fat, because by being fat they will protect themselves in some way. For example, if someone gets their heart broken in a relationship, their subconsious mind can motivate them into a behavior that can prevent them from getting their heart broken again. Example: They are motivated to become overweight to keep them out of another relationship, because that will eliminate the possibility of another broken heart.

So just how can self-hypnosis for losing weight get rid of the above discussed problems? Click here to read the rest of this weight loss hypnosis article.

I have written several articles on this complex topic that available on my website. These articles outline some effective techniques for using hypnosis for emotional compulsive eating.