Hypnosis, because of the movies, the very word conjures up the of a evil-eyed hypnotherapist swinging a pendulum and droning, "You are getting sleepy."

Do an MSN search and you will find thousands of pages devoted to the topic. Unfortunately, many websites that sell pre-recorded self-hypnosis programs make wild and crazy, unsubstantiated claims. I've been in professional practice since 1978. So I think that I'm more than equipped to set the record straight on weight loss hypnosis.

First of all, post-hypnotic suggestion is a tool, just like a scalpel is a tool. Just as all of the various surgeons have diversified levels of skill in the use of a scalpel, different hypnotherapists have varying levels of skill in the use of post-hypnotic suggestion. And to complicate the matter, there are many different types of post-hypnotic suggestion.

Here are just a few of the ridiculous assertions about weight loss hypnosis that I've seen on websites on the Internet, along with the truth of the matter:

"Hypnotherapy will speed up your metabolism." If you want to know the truth, the fact of the matter is that post-hypnotic suggestion can't directly speed up your metabolism. But it can be very adequate at helping to program your subconsious mind with increased motivation to exercise. And that exercise can increase your metabolic rate. Similarly, post-hypnotic suggestion 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 your metabolic rate.

"Hypnotherapy will make you become thinner." This is false. But post-hypnotic suggestion can be used to help clean out your appetite, so that you eat less. And eating less can help you to become thinner. 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 compulsion to eat. This is called a conditioned response. For example, if you eat as you watch TV, you will experience an urge to eat every time you sit down to watch TV.

B. When you feel tense, you feel a strong urge to put something into your mouth for relaxation and pleasure. This is because of training that you received as a baby. When you got upset, 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 will prevent them from getting their heart broken again. Example: They are motivated to get fat to keep them out of another relationship, because that will eliminate the possibility of another broken heart.

So just how can weight loss self-hypnosis overcome the above mentioned problems? Click here to read the remainder of this weight loss hypnosis article.

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

Alan B. Densky, CH is the developer of the Neuro-VISION Weight Loss Video Hypnosis CDs, which received 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.