Does Hypnosis Work for Weight Loss?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Hypnosis is becoming an increasingly popular therapy for helping to control appetite and encourage weight-loss. But does it work?

 

Yes – Kim

I’d tried every diet under the sun in my attempt to lose weight but nothing worked. Then a friend suggested hypnotherapy. I was sceptical at first but couldn’t face another year of being overweight and decided to give it a go. I looked online and found a hypnotherapist in my area who specialised in weight loss. I went for three sessions in total but found that it was easy to change my eating habits after just one session.

Before trying hypnosis, I constantly craved foods that were high in sugar and fat. During the sessions, my hypnotherapist reprogrammed my brain so that I wanted to choose healthy foods rather than unhealthy ones. She also helped my unconscious brain realise when I was full so that I would stop eating once I’d had enough food.

The results have been amazing. I really haven’t felt like I’ve been on a diet at all – I just naturally crave the foods that are good for me and find it easy to eat in moderation now. As a result, I’ve lost four stone in six months. I feel happier and more positive about life in general and get so many compliments about my new shape.

I thought hypnotherapy would be expensive but it’s a small price to pay compared to all the money I’ve spent on books, gym memberships, and diet drinks over the years.

I’d definitely recommend hypnotherapy to anyone who needs to lose weight but finds that traditional diets just don’t work.

 

No –Frankie

In my opinion, hypnotherapy is a lazy and expensive way to try to lose weight andthere is no proof that it actually works.

People who undergo hypnosis for weight loss may find that they lose weight in the short-term but from my experience, the results don’t last.

My friend tried hypnotherapy to lose weight because he had struggled to stick to a healthy diet. For a couple of weeks after the session, he did eat less and lost a few pounds but his old habits soon returned and he put the weight back on. I don’t think the hypnotherapy actually worked, I think he just started eating healthily because he was trying to convince himself that he hadn’t wasted his money.

There is no quick fix for losing weight – you have to change your entire lifestyle and take responsibility for losing weight yourself. My friend finally lost the weight after changing his diet completely and taking up exercise. You have to look at why you’re overweight – the underlying causes, rather than thinking that lying back and being hypnotised is going to help. At the end of the day, you will always need willpower if you want to lose weight and you can only supply that yourself – you can’t expect a hypnotherapist to find it for you.

Categories: diet, hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Lose, Lose weight, Losing Weight, weight, Weight Loss, work nbsp

Is Dressing Smartly Still Important?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

In a time when many companies are scrapping dress codes, and jeans and t-shirts are becoming an acceptable office outfit, does it still matter what you wear to work?

 

Leading etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore thinks it does. On her blog she writes: “When you make an effort to present your best self, it shows respect for your employer, your job, and the career strata in which you aspire.”

 

And many experts agree, suggesting that those who take the time to dress well at work are more likely to receive promotions and higher salaries.

 

Smart clothes can also make you feel more confident and professional which in turn will help you get the most from your day – whether that’s winning a new contract or running a meeting. In contrast, wearing a more informal outfit might encourage you and those around you to take a more relaxed attitude to work.

 

Of course, many would argue that in the creative industries, wearing a suit would stifle creativity and that by allowing people to wear what they like, you are encouraging free thought and imaginative ideas. This may be true but even if you don’t have to wear a formal suit; dressing down isn’t the same as dressing scruffily. Smart jeans, an ironed shirt and clean shoes will make a much better impression than ripped jeans and scruffy trainers.

 

For more advice about how to be successful in everyday life, visit Jacqueline Whitmore’s blog: http://jacquelinewhitmore.com/

 

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Categories: dressing, dressing smartly, jacqueline whitmore, jeans, nbsp, wear, work, work nbsp

Is Dressing Smartly Still Important?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

In a time when many companies are scrapping dress codes, and jeans and t-shirts are becoming an acceptable office outfit, does it still matter what you wear to work?

 

Leading etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore thinks it does. On her blog she writes: “When you make an effort to present your best self, it shows respect for your employer, your job, and the career strata in which you aspire.”

 

And many experts agree, suggesting that those who take the time to dress well at work are more likely to receive promotions and higher salaries.

 

Smart clothes can also make you feel more confident and professional which in turn will help you get the most from your day – whether that’s winning a new contract or running a meeting. In contrast, wearing a more informal outfit might encourage you and those around you to take a more relaxed attitude to work.

 

Of course, many would argue that in the creative industries, wearing a suit would stifle creativity and that by allowing people to wear what they like, you are encouraging free thought and imaginative ideas. This may be true but even if you don’t have to wear a formal suit; dressing down isn’t the same as dressing scruffily. Smart jeans, an ironed shirt and clean shoes will make a much better impression than ripped jeans and scruffy trainers.

 

For more advice about how to be successful in everyday life, visit Jacqueline Whitmore’s blog: http://jacquelinewhitmore.com/

 

The post Is Dressing Smartly Still Important? appeared first on .

Categories: dressing, dressing smartly, jacqueline whitmore, jeans, nbsp, wear, work, work nbsp

Is Dressing Smartly Still Important?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

In a time when many companies are scrapping dress codes, and jeans and t-shirts are becoming an acceptable office outfit, does it still matter what you wear to work?

 

Leading etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore thinks it does. On her blog she writes: “When you make an effort to present your best self, it shows respect for your employer, your job, and the career strata in which you aspire.”

 

And many experts agree, suggesting that those who take the time to dress well at work are more likely to receive promotions and higher salaries.

 

Smart clothes can also make you feel more confident and professional which in turn will help you get the most from your day – whether that’s winning a new contract or running a meeting. In contrast, wearing a more informal outfit might encourage you and those around you to take a more relaxed attitude to work.

 

Of course, many would argue that in the creative industries, wearing a suit would stifle creativity and that by allowing people to wear what they like, you are encouraging free thought and imaginative ideas. This may be true but even if you don’t have to wear a formal suit; dressing down isn’t the same as dressing scruffily. Smart jeans, an ironed shirt and clean shoes will make a much better impression than ripped jeans and scruffy trainers.

 

For more advice about how to be successful in everyday life, visit Jacqueline Whitmore’s blog: http://jacquelinewhitmore.com/

 

Categories: catton, dressing, jacqueline whitmore, jeans, jenny, nbsp, wear, work, work nbsp, written

Is the Daily Commute Stressing You Out?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

There are not many people that enjoy the daily commute to work. Whether it’s sitting on a noisy bus, sweating on a crowded train, or battling the motorway traffic, travelling to work is full of stresses and strains. And if you’re already running late for work, the pressure can be even worse.

 

Arriving at work feeling harassed and stressed isn’t a good way to start the day. In fact, if you find yourself getting wound up during your morning commute, chances are you’ll stay in a bad mood for the rest of the day. So wouldn’t it be great if your journey to work could be relaxed and stress free? Well here are some ways to make your morning commute easier.

 

Set off earlier

It might not sound like a pleasant prospect but setting off to work an hour or so earlier in the morning could make your journey much more relaxing. And if you arrive at the office before your colleagues, it will give you the opportunity to get jobs done in peace and quiet before everyone else arrives. Perhaps you could negotiate an earlier finish time with your boss to compensate for your early start.

 

Hide the clock

If sitting in traffic watching is causing you stress – try covering up the face of the clock. After all, you can’t change the time you will arrive so why stress about it whilst sitting in the car?

 

Enjoy the Walk

Walking is the least stressful and healthiest way to get to work. Not only will you benefit from fresh air and exercise but you’ll also be in complete control of your journey rather than having to battle with traffic or public transport. Of course, not everyone is lucky enough to live close enough to walk to work but perhaps you could walk the final stretch of your journey so that you have chance to refresh and calm down before arriving at work.

 

Use the time

One of the frustrations of commuting is that it can feel like wasted time. If your journey takes an hour each way, it’s easy to dwell on how much you could achieve if only you could get that time back. So why not think of things you do whilst commuting. If you take public transport, perhaps you could use the time to plan your day or catch up with emails using your laptop. Alternatively, use the time for reading or studying, for example you could learn a new language during your daily journey. And if you drive you don’t have to miss out – you could play a language learning CD or inspirational podcasts whilst you drive.

 

Relax

If you find yourself getting wound up during the morning commute, try listening to relaxing music or inspirational recordings on your way to work. They will help you keep calm and set you up for a relaxed and productive day at work.

 

For more tips on stress management, visit: www.mindtools.com

Categories: Commute, daily commute, journey, morning commute, nbsp, public transport, time, work, work nbsp

Do Self Help Books Work?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

The market for self-help books is huge – worth an estimated $8 billion a year in the USA alone. And with titles promising everything from beating depression and losing weight to finding love and lifelong happiness, the popularity of these books shows no sign of waning. But do they actually work?

 

Yes – Pamela

I’ve got shelves full of self-help books that I’ve collected over the years and I really value the help that they have given me. When I was in my 20s I was overweight, had a job I hated and felt unattractive, unconfident and insecure. I wanted to change my life but couldn’t afford to see a therapist and was too embarrassed to talk to my family and friends. Then I discovered self-help books and realised that whatever issues I was facing, millions of other people were dealing with the exact same problems. I suddenly felt less alone and realised that there were ways in which I could improve my life myself. I’ve since used various self-help books to tackle everything from my diet to my finances.

Self-help books are ideal for helping you face up to your problems. Although there are many on hundreds of different topics, all of them teach self-belief and empowerment and really focus the mind, giving practical advice on how to change your situation for the better.

For anyone who’s depressed or unsatisfied with any area of their life, there will be a book out there that can help. The trick is to not just read the book but to consciously act on the advice within it. Usually there will be steps or exercises to follow and by doing these you can achieve really powerful results. Some of my friends are sceptical about these kinds of books but for me, they are a cheaper, more convenient form of therapy and they can really work.

 

 

No – Bill

You only have to look at how many different self-help books there are on the shelves to know that they don’t work. They prey on people’s insecurities and promise to change their lives but in reality, they have little or no effect.

People get sucked in by the attractive titles that promise to make you happier, thinner, or richer but there’s no way a book can do this. Changing your life isn’t easy – it means changing your behaviour completely for the long-term. People read a book believing that it will make a difference but within a couple of weeks they have forgotten what they read and gone back to their old ways. Then they go on to buy the next book when it comes out – wasting their time and money again.

In more serious cases, I think self-help books can be quite dangerous as they can stop people from getting professional help which they may need. For example, someone who is depressed may seek answers within the pages of books when really they should be talking to their doctor and may need counselling or medication to deal with the issues they are facing. Books can give people false hope and then make them feel like a failure when nothing changes after reading the book.

If you have problems in your life, you either need to deal with them or seek professional help. Don’t waste your time on self-help books which are just there to take your money.

 

Categories: book, Books, life, nbsp, people, work, work nbsp

Does Positive Thinking Work?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

We’re used to everyone from television celebrities to self-help gurus endorsing the benefits of positive thinking. And thinking positively has been linked to everything from becoming successful in business to recovering from a serious illness. But does positive thinking actually work?

 

Yes – Sunita
I’m a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and have used the concept to achieve many great things in my life. When I was made redundant five years ago, I decided not to feel sorry for myself but instead saw the redundancy as an opportunity to change my life for the better. I wrote a list of the goals I wanted to achieve over the next five years and by using positive thinking techniques quickly began to see dramatic changes in my life. I now have a job that I love and have recently moved into my dream home.

The key to positive thinking is to think big – decide what you really want from life without worrying about how you are going to make it happen. For example, if you decided you wanted to be a lawyer but didn’t have the right qualifications it would be easy to think “oh, that will never happen”. But by thinking positively; spending time to clearly visualise yourself as a lawyer and really believing that it will happen, your subconscious mind takes over and finds a way to make your dreams a reality.

One of my goals was to own my own home but I didn’t know how I would be able to afford it. So rather than dwelling on the practicalities I used positive thinking to picture myself in my dream home. Shortly after that, I received a promotion at work which meant I could afford to save for the deposit on a new house. I believe this is all thanks to my positive thinking.

 

No – Andrew
To suggest that you can make things happen just by thinking positively is a load of rubbish. You can’t achieve anything in life just by wishing for it; you have to be practical and work hard to get what you want. There are lots of books and even courses that promise to teach people how to use positive thinking to get the life they dream of but I think these give people false hope and make people lazy. You can spend as much time as you like writing down goals and picturing a better life for yourself but unless you actually get on and take action, you won’t ever achieve the things you want to.

I think promoting positive thinking at the expense of common sense can also be harmful. For example, I’ve heard of cancer patients who have been told that if they use positive thinking techniques, they will get better. This might be useful for some but could be dangerous if it makes people believe they can ‘think themselves better’, rather than accepting the medical treatments that they need.

People who believe in positive thinking often say that being pessimistic won’t get results. But in life, you have to be realistic. If you want a new career, for example, it’s better to focus on the skills you already have rather than wishing you could be a film star or a model. It can be disheartening to constantly strive for the best things in life if they are unattainable.

Categories: catton, dream home, jenny, life, nbsp, people, positive, positive thinking, Thinking, thinking positively, thinking techniques, work nbsp, written

Bringing Your Work Home: How Job Stress Follows You

One of the worst things you can do to your health and your home life is carry the stresses of work in your front door. The stress can damage the way you feel about yourself and those around you. You may even go as far as to not want to participate or enjoy many other things in your life because you feel so bad.

 

Is this an over-exaggeration? Sadly, no. Many people come home each day feeling worse than when they left for work.

 

Common Reasons For Stress At Work

 

1. Overworked. Many people are overwhelmed with the amount of work that is placed before them each day. Many employers have cut back on personnel and have increased workloads on the people that remain. This can be frustrating and very tiring.

 

2. Employee Issues. Many employees find that “office politics” are very hard to deal with and it causes them undue stress. This could be from poor management, bad HR, or employee relations. This can easily turn into a very stressful situation when the employee being affected knows they have to return to work each day to the same thing.

 

3. Illegal Activity. There are times when an employee has access to information that they know is illegal and these actions bother them. These employees ear for their job, but their moral standards cause them to suffer much stress at the knowledge.

 

 

Coping With These Three Situations

 

1. When you are overworked, the best thing that you can do is become more organized. While it would be more pleasant to think that your employer could decrease your work load, at this time it may not be possible. Organizing your tasks will help you accomplish more and de-stress.

 

2. Employee Issues. Businesses are run much like the government with a system of checks and balances. If there is an issue with one department, one manager, or an employee, there is another manager, department, or employee that can correct this issue for you.

 

3. Illegal Activity. If the illegal activity is violent in nature, report it to the police – it is that simple. If the activity is one of fraud, which is most common, you have options to correct this issue also. Under the Whistleblowers Act, an employee that reports fraudulent actions is protected by the law and will not be held accountable for the actions of the company. If the act is against the government, the employee may also receive a reward for reporting this crime. If you feel that you are in this situation, you can also find resources at www.whistleblowersattorneys.com .

 

Your home life and your “down” time is much too important to allow it to be ruined by stress from work. You want to do whatever it takes to correct the issues at work, and then take advantage of relationship techniques at home. Slip into a hot bath, go for a nice long walk, or spend the day at the spa, whatever helps you feel better.

 

 

Writer Melanie Fleury knows how work stress can affect other aspects of your life. If you are in a stressful situation at work and feel like the law needs to get involved, visit the website of www.whistleblowersattorneys.com to see if you have a case to pursue against your company.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/williambrawley/4045524560/

Categories: employee, employee issues, Home, home life, illegal activity, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, Stress, stressful situation, work, work nbsp