Self-Hypnosis, because of the movies, the very word conjures up the image of a hawlk-eyed hypnotist swinging a pendulum repeating the words, "You are getting sleepy."

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

First of all, hypnotism is a tool, just like a scalpel is a tool. Just as different surgeons have different levels of skill in the use of a scalpel, different hypnotists have varying levels of skill in the use of hypnotism. And to complicate the matter, there are different forms of hypnotism.

Listen to a couple of the wild claims about weight loss hypnosis that I've seen on websites on the Internet, along with the truth of the matter:

"Hypnotic suggestion will speed up your metabolism." The truth is that hypnotism cannot directly speed up your metabolism. But it can be very practical at helping to program your subconscious with increased motivation to exercise. And exercise can dramatically speed up your metabolism. Similarly, hypnotism to speed up the metabolism for quick weight loss can be effected by programming the subconscious to motivate the intake of increased amounts of protein, because that intake will step up your metabolism.

"Hypnotic suggestion will make you lose some weight." This is false. But hypnotism can be used to help clean out your appetite, so that you eat less. And eating less can help you to lose some weight. The average person's appetite and cravings 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 compulsion to eat. This is called a conditioned response. For example, if you eat as you drive your car, you will automatically get an urge to eat each time you drive your car.

B. When you feel tense, you feel a strong desire to put something into your mouth for relaxation and pleasure. This is because of programming that you received as an infant. When you got grouchy, your mom 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 a person is motivated to make him or herself fat, because by being fat they will protect themselves in some way. For example, if a person gets their heart broken in a relationship, their subconscious will very often motivate them into a behavior that would prevent them from getting their heart broken again. Example: They are motivated to gain weight to keep them out of another relationship, because that will eliminate the possibility of another broken heart.

So just how can hypnosis for losing weight fix the above problems? Click here to read the rest of this weight loss hypnosis article.

I've written several articles on this complex topic that available on my website. These articles illustrate some powerful techniques for using hypnosis for emotional eating.

Alan B. Densky, CH is the developer of the Neuro-VISION Appetite Suppression Video Hypnosis CDs, which was granted a US Patent. He also offers NLP and Ericksonian Hypnosis CDs for appetite suppression. Visit the Neuro-VISION Weight Loss Hypnosis website and download a FREE Hypnotic Power Relaxation Program, or subscribe to one or more of the world-class hypnosis newsletters.