According to HealthMad.com, diets in which food is restricted rarely work, with more than 98 percent of dieters experiencing no weight loss or even some weight gain. Thus, some wanting to lose weight have looked to alternate resources, such as hypnotism and other media that provide subliminal suggestions. These suggestions help to alter lifestyle habits and beliefs for desired weight loss. Though the efficacy of these products and programs are debated, they may help you achieve your weight-loss goals.
What is Subliminal Suggestion?
Subliminal suggestion is the result of listening or watching a media encoded with subliminal messages, or undergoing hypnotism wherein messages are supplied to the subconscious via the hypnotist. Subliminal suggestion operates on the idea that the conscious mind is objective and critical, whereas the subconscious mind is uncensored. This uncensored attribute is matched with heightened perceptual sensitivity, allowing the subconscious to hear or see what the conscious mind cannot, says the Hypnos website. Some possible suggestions for weight loss would include, "I eat less, I weigh less," "I love exercise" and "I respect myself, I control my weight."
Common Forms of Subliminal Suggestion
You can purchase a variety of methods that claim to provide subliminal messages aimed at increasing weight loss. For instance, you can purchase MP3s, CDs or cassettes that claim to feature subliminal suggestions underneath relaxing audio. You can also undergo professional hypnosis, which requires visits to a trained hypnotist and a willingness to be placed under deep hypnosis for a segmented amount of time. Other sources for suggestion include videos and images, such as advertising. No matter the method, frequency may be the key to success. According to Health Mad, many experts agree that if subliminal suggestion is effective, it is in part because the suggestion was repeated four to five times a week for two to three weeks.
The Possibility of the Placebo Effect
According to the Hypnos site, it is very difficult to dismiss the possibility of the placebo effect when discussing the effectiveness of hypnosis. The placebo effect occurs when those who have not interacted, taken or been exposed to a stimuli seem to develop results or symptoms that suggest they did indeed have such contact. This can be due to conscious suggestion or belief, such as the belief in a drug's efficacy, or subconscious associations between treatment and recovery, such as the pinch from a needle, notes the Scientific American website. The placebo effect is responsible for efficacy of a drug by as much as 15 percent, the site adds. Thus, be sure to discern the difference between perceived and actual efficacy of the product or treatment.
Considerations
Many debate the actual efficacy of subliminal suggestion, citing that the messages will fail because they cannot be heard by the conscious mind. This doubt is also due in part because the subliminal messages may not be developed by a professional therapist or someone with accredited experience in therapy and behavioral modification. In addition, an issue with effectiveness may be because the purchased product is fraudulent and does not house subliminal messaging underneath its media. This is possible, as the subliminal messaging must rely on the unconscious mind to catch and absorb the suggestions. Therefore, an element of trust is required in the purchase and use of these products.
Warning
Some subliminal suggestions may encourage unhealthy weight-loss routes or weight-loss routes that cannot guarantee legitimate, long-term weight loss. These include suggesting a diet that is unhealthy, a diet that merely eliminates water weight or a diet that requires a calorie quantity that is dangerously low. Thus, it is best to consult your physician about the benefits, risks and results associated with subliminal weight-loss programs, as well as information on healthy dietary practices.
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