Weight Management with NLP
First things first. Let’s talk a bit of linguistics. Many refer to this topic as weight “loss, not realising the life changing difference use of language makes. Nobody wants to be a loser, right? So why is that it’s being called weight “loss”, unconsciously programming us to feel like a loser? Does it make a little more sense why losing weight is so hard for many people? Power of suggestion through words is highly underestimated and/or has been used by the marketing experts for this very reason. If we want positive outcomes in life we must use the positive, empowering language to support those goals and desires. Now “weight management” sounds a lot more empowering than “weight loss” doesn’t it? It suggests you are learning some sort of management skills when it comes to your weight rather than being a loser.
“I want to have an even better body” super empowering, suggesting you already have an alright body but would like to boost that and achieve more. Not only it doesn’t bring you down, it uplifts you and boots your confidence and self-esteem.
“I want to reach my ideal weight”
“I want to become even fitter” super empowering, suggesting you are after fitness, which you are kind of already are, but want to become more of that.
“I want to get fit”
“I want to become strong/stronger”
“I would like to become healthy, healthier “
In all the above examples I gave, there is no one single negative word. None of the words invite any doubt, guilt, hardship, pain…. What you focus on, you create more. If you focus on how much body fat you have and how ugly your body looks because of it, you will get more of that. Focus on what you want, rather than what you don’t want.
Now let’s dig dipper.
Fitness is one of the most sought-after goals around the world, as in this day and age due to lack of time and stress more people are suffering from being over-weight. For this reason, they go on extreme diets and put their bodies under so much pressure. Do they succeed after all those exhausting diets? Maybe at first, but not for long. NLP promises to be a long-lasting solution for people when it comes to achieving a more desirable weight and overall a fit body.
What does NLP mean anyway?
“It is a set of tools do deal with the blocks-that we have all created- to simply being who we really are.” Anthony Robbins
“An owner’s manual for the mind.” Chris Howard
Stands for three words of:
Neuro- The nervous system (the mind), through which our experience is processed via five senses of visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory and gustatory. Neurons or brain cells are used through the nervous system in order to receive or save information.
Linguistic- Language and other non-verbal communication systems through which our neutral representations are coded, ordered and given meaning. Includes pictures, sounds, feelings, tastes, smells and words (self-talk).
Programming- The ability to discover and utilise the programs that we run (our communication to ourselves and others) in our neurological systems to achieve our specific and desired outcomes.
In other words, NLP is how to use the language of the mind to consistently achieve our specific and desired outcomes.
What is NLP?
In early 1970s, scientists at University of California, Santa Cruz found that people with similar training, similar experiences, and past experiences showed different responses to the same stimuli.
They sought to find the answer to this until John Greener and Richard Bandler were able to find the answer. They found that the brain can learn patterns and behaviours. And that could justify the human condition. What came out this research was called NLP.
Example:
A client once told me:
“When I was really young, a neighbour’s boy once came to our house. The door rang and I opened the door. The boy had a snake in his hand that he wanted to show me and he expected me to cheer him on. He held the snake in his hands like domestic kitten. Interestingly, both of us saw one thing. But the boy was very happy and I was feeling dizzy.”
Effect of emotions and past experiences on the way we react to environmental stimuli
As a child, this client was scared of snakes (before she meets me of course who removed it for her). It was because growing up she never ever saw a lot of snakes and she had also witnessed her mum being quite scared of animals if they were to be too close to her, even though she admired them from far away.
In fact, the image of the snake had produced a neural signal in both of them (her and the neighbor boy), a similar message was going to the brain. However, it is the brain that has translated the concept of snake into two different types, good or bad.
It is the brain that can direct, regulate, modify a signal or a neuron based on past experiences, or transform it into other patterns of thought in our life experiences to transform the nerve message into patterns of thinking and behaviors. To connect the brain.
The same goes for health and fitness. You are afraid of it? Does it freak you out? Does it seem rather impossible for you? Have you tried many times in the past and failed? Or maybe your previous generations had a difficult time achieving the ideal body weight(epigenetics is so important)? All of these are deeper questions that need to be addressed. We need to find out what your brain has translated the fitness concept, good or bad, easy or hard.
How does NLP work?
In NLP, personal and mental perceptions of the di-ease are used to change the course of the dis-ease. The essence of NLP is that we use words to express our inner states.
An NLP practitioner reviews any words and sentences that you use to express your symptoms and issues. The practitioner also studies your facial expressions and body movements. Once your problem(s) have been identified, the practitioner can help you find the root cause of the problem(s) as well as helping you to reprogramme your thought processes and moods. NLP will enable you to replace your old negative thoughts with new positive ones and through such technique you can help your optimum health and fitness.
Why weight management with NLP?
The time for strict diets is really over and most people can’t get long lasting results through this method. So, we must go after better techniques for managing our weight, achieving our ideal body weight as well as maintaining it.
The best way is to start from the mind and not the body. Diets put some much pressure on the body and the end results don’t last forever. NLP is all to do with the mind and when it comes to weight loss, it can reprogramme the mind accordingly.
If you are overweight and you are suffering from it, it’s because your mind has been programmed for being overweight. To lose weight and having a balanced body weight, your mind needs to be reprogrammed accordingly.
Why are diets not as effective?
Moving towards fitness starts with your mind-set about yourself and how you feel about yourself. So, if you go on strict diets while maintaining the same old mental programmes and not change your beliefs and perceptions about your nutrition, you might lose couple of kgs, but due to the existence of old limiting beliefs and perceptions, you will go back to your initial weight.
Root cause of weight management with NLP
To get anything done you need to believe that you can do it. If you believe that you cannot achieve your ideal weight but you start the process regardless, you won’t get results no matter how hard you try. Therefore, the first step is to believe that you can get rid of that extra couple of kilos and achieve your ideal body.
If we resist a belief and try to fight against it, we are only helping it persist even more. So, if we want to get high quality, long lasting results, instead of focusing on the fruits of the tree, we must place our focus on the base; roots of the tree.
We have to acknowledge what our core beliefs are. Only then we can take steps for giving light, water and energy (empowering beliefs instead of limiting beliefs) to the tree. But how are our core beliefs related to our nutrition and body weight?
Why do people gain more weight day by day?
There are many reasons behind people being overweight, many reasons why they keep putting on weight. But one of these reasons can be rooted in one’s beliefs.
For example, many people when they want to start their weight management journey, they tell themselves:” I am on diet. I am not going to eat so many foods. I am only going to stick to this dietary routine.” By doing this, they are improving their belief of being fat or overweight.
Many people decide every once in a while, that they want to lose weight; but for this very reason, they never get the desired results. If we place a thought at the forefront of our mind (consciously), we can accept it, but we will constantly be in a battle with it and won’t reach anywhere as it does not change us at an unconscious level. For any change to happen in our behaviour, it needs to happen at an unconscious level, and that is exactly what NLP does.
You consciously tell yourself that:” I want to lose weight and I won’t eat so and so anymore.” But your unconscious mind believes something else. According to your unconscious mind you are fat and even drinking water would make you gain weight. I have personally heard many clients of mine say that even when they drink water they feel even more overweight.
Changing mental programming is the solution to achieving your ideal weight
As you know our unconscious mind is so much more powerful than our conscious mind. You cannot manage being overweight with your conscious mind. But you can manage and control your conscious mind using your unconscious mind.
Essentially, you can control your unconscious mind for doing absolutely anything. One of these things is achieving your ideal weight. You have the power to programme your unconscious mind in order to be able to achieve the body of your dreams. Truly.
All I’ve explained might sound rather complicated, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. An NLP practitioner can guide you through the techniques easily and effortlessly and changes and miracles can be seen in as soon as one session. Seriously!
I as a Master NLP practitioner am here to help you fulfil your goals and dreams. I am ever so dedicated and passionate about your mind-set and your dream body. Now is the time. Seize the moment. Together, with the right techniques and tools, we can do absolutely anything and make anything come true. Get in touch and let’s achieve that dream body of yours together.
In the meantime, here is a simple read I have recommended for you in case you wanted to read more on this. It’s called “Engaging NLP for Weight Loss by Judy Bartkowiak” which can be purchased on Amazon.
Here’s to you gaining your fitness and ideal weight.
Your Coach
Kiana
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