Introduction: The Link Between Stress and Weight Gain
Marco (fictitious name) was a college student with a passion for music and video games. Between classes, exams, and evenings spent studying late, he realized that his weight was slowly increasing, despite the fact that he had not drastically changed his diet. Frustrated, he tried different diets and started jogging, but the number on the scale seemed unwilling to go down. His motivation dropped each time he weighed himself without seeing progress.
Was it really possible that the stress of his studies and daily life was sabotaging his weight loss?
After searching for answers online and talking to his doctor, Marco discovered that his problem could be related to an excess of cortisol, the infamous stress hormone. A hormone that, when produced in large amounts, prevents the body from burning fat and prompts it to accumulate weight, especially in the abdominal area. But she still didn’t know how to deal with it. That’s when he decided to turn to me.
When Marco came to me, he was discouraged. He felt he had tried everything to no avail and was at his wits’ end. After an initial interview, I explained how hypnosis and coaching could help him relax, manage stress, and regain control over his body and mind. From there our journey together began.
What is Cortisol and Why It Can Hinder Weight Loss
As I mentioned, cortisol is a hormone that our body produces when we are under pressure or anxious. If we have the right amount of it, it helps us stay awake and active. But if the stress lasts too long, cortisol becomes a serious problem and can:
- Make fat accumulate, especially on the belly
- Increasing cravings for sweet and fatty foods
- Creating problems with blood sugar management
- Making it difficult to sleep by malfunctioning metabolism
- Lead to increased blood pressure and inflammation in the body
- Lower energy level and make it more difficult to motivate people to exercise
Marco, despite trying to eat healthy and exercise, continued to see his body holding back weight. After the first hypnosis sessions, he began to feel a change: his anxiety level decreased, he slept better, and he felt more peaceful throughout the day.
Why Diets Don’t Work When You’re Stressed Out
How many times have you started a diet feeling motivated, but after a while you quit? This happens because stress affects the way we eat. When we are stressed, our brains look for a quick way to feel better, and often push us to eat foods high in sugar and fat. In addition, our body, perceiving stress as a danger, stores more fat instead of burning it.
Sleep also plays a key role: if your body doesn’t get a good rest, it will increase cortisol production and make you feel hungrier the next day. Marco noticed that on nights of intense study, he felt an irresistible craving for sweet snacks and carbohydrates. Every day was an endless cycle: study, stress, hunger, guilt, and more stress. A vicious cycle that is difficult to break without appropriate tools, such as hypnosis.
Hypnosis: An Aid to Stress-Free Weight Loss
Hypnosis is a technique that helps the mind relax and change habits naturally. It works in several ways:
- It helps to relax and reduce cortisol, allowing the body to enter a state of balance.
- It changes the way you view food, reducing nervous hunger and the need for comfort food.
- It helps you stay motivated and consistent over time, improving your determination to follow a healthier lifestyle.
- Improves sleep quality, reducing the risk of gaining weight due to fatigue.
- Increase awareness about hunger and satiety signals, avoiding eating out of boredom or emotion.
After a few sessions of hypnosis and coaching, Marco began to feel more confident, lighter mentally and physically. With less stress and a more conscious approach to food, he finally saw the scale moving in the right direction. Within a few months, he lost 12 kg naturally and without excessive sacrifice. More importantly, he learned to manage his emotions without taking refuge in food.
A Hypnosis Exercise to Relax and Weight Loss
Here is a simple self-hypnosis exercise you can try:
- Find a quiet and comfortable place where you can relax without being disturbed.
- Close your eyes and take deep breaths. Inhale through your nose for four seconds, hold the air for two seconds, then exhale slowly through your mouth.
- Imagine a relaxing place, such as a beach, a green meadow or a quiet forest. Try to see the colors, hear the sounds, and feel the sensations.
- Repeat in your mind a sentence such as, “I feel calm and relaxed” or “My body is balanced and slimming naturally.”
- Stay like this for at least five to ten minutes, letting the feeling of relaxation spread throughout your body. Then slowly open your eyes and return to reality.
If you repeat this exercise every day, your body will begin to feel less stressed and you will be able to manage your hunger and weight better. In addition, you will notice an improvement in your concentration and daily energy.
Conclusion: Weight Loss Without Stress is Possible
To lose weight, it is not enough just to eat well and exercise. It is also important to manage stress. If cortisol is too high, losing weight becomes difficult. Hypnosis can help you relax, change your eating habits, and feel more motivated. In addition to reducing stress, it allows you to make new mental connections that make it easier to adopt a lasting healthy lifestyle.
Marco, after discovering the power of hypnosis, decided to delve even deeper into this technique. He began to ask himself, “What if I could use hypnosis not only to lose weight, but also to improve my concentration and self-confidence?”
If you, too, want to find out how hypnosis can help you in so many other aspects of your life, don’t miss the next article, where we will discuss the effect of Maxwell Maltz’s psychocybernetics and how you can reprogram your mind to get the results you want!
