Americans may want to start taking a look at the way we perceive obesity and weight loss. According to the CDC, 39.8% of Americans adults, or 93.3 million are considered to be obese. Obesity often leads to health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. And now that we have those statistic out of the way it is important to understand the why.
When a person has alcoholism or a drug addiction people want to help them get better. We often refer to these addictions as “diseases.” When a person is overweight to a significant degree we tell them to exercise and make better choices with their food. But why….when it is the same addiction issue presenting in a different way?
I have a friend who made a statement that I will always remember. He said that when a person is overweight or obese, their issue is visible to everyone. In other words, a drug addict or an alcoholic can hide their method of coping…at least for a certain amount of time. An overweight person, however, cannot. Their coping mechanism is blatant and out there for everyone to see. And for some reason obesity carries a stigma that other addictions do not. Instead of having compassion for a person who overeats, we, as a society, tend to look down on them. We wonder why they have such a lack of control in their lives.
People who carry excessive weight have as much hope of controlling their issue by “just changing their diet and exercising,” as a drug addict has of, “just quitting drugs.” It’s just not that simple.
Obesity, like any other addiction, stems from beliefs held inside the subconscious mind. Different beliefs drive different people. The overeating and obesity are the tells of the false belief being held inside. It is only after clearing this false belief that a person can have long term success with changing diet and exercising. In a battle where will power fights subconscious beliefs, the beliefs will always win.
Programmed beliefs exist in the subconscious and drive behavior. They drive 95% of what we say, think and do and how we react to situations. The mind may be telling an addict not to eat, or not to take that drink, but the belief is ultimately steering the car. Sometimes, for example, an addict may have a belief that they are “not good enough”. Each drink or bite of food continues to prove this to them, to validate their belief. The conscious mind can protest all it wants, and maybe even have a victory now and then, but programming will always have the last say. Often, even when it appears that the will power is successful in its attempt to change a destructive pattern, that addiction will again reappear in another way shape or form.
It is time to stop blaming, shaming and judging others, and to explore what we can do as a nation to help them. It begins with perception. Obesity is a serious addiction, and not just a failure on behalf of a human being who doesn’t have the will power to eat right or exercise. When we look down upon those who are overweight we contribute to the way they are already feeling about themselves. We must know that we are all perfect whole and complete souls. We must look beyond the addiction to see the beauty of the soul that wants to be free.
Hypnotherapy is designed to clear and reframe those false beliefs that are driving undesirable behavior, assisting in weight loss. The hypnotherapist acts a guide to help a person discover their own false beliefs and reframe them. In this manner a person can regain their power and refocus their energy. Energy previously used for destructive purposes is now available to be used to achieve life goals or live out life dreams!
For more information about what hypnotherapy can do for you please contact me for your free 30 minute consultation.
Tammie Mohn, MBA
Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
