Weight Loss Explained - it worked for me but here's why and what to expect

Studies show that adding hypnotherapy to traditional weight-loss approaches can nearly double average weight loss compared to diet and behaviour change alone.

• Research published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that people using hypnosis lost almost twice as much weight as those who didn’t.

• Meta-analysis data shows people using hypnotherapy for weight loss achieved greater results than over 90% of control participants by the end of treatment.

• Participants who practised self-hypnosis alongside lifestyle changes lost around 6% of their body weight, compared to less than 5% without hypnosis.

• Research suggests the biggest benefit of hypnotherapy is improved consistency, not extreme dieting.

• Studies indicate hypnotherapy supports longer-term weight loss maintenance, not just short-term results.

• Hypnosis has been shown to help reduce emotional eating and impulsive food behaviours, which are two of the biggest barriers to sustained weight loss.

• Hypnotherapy works by targeting the subconscious habits that drive eating behaviour, which account for up to 95% of daily actions.

• Research shows that people who feel calmer and less stressed around food are more likely to maintain weight loss long term.

• Hypnotherapy is most effective when combined with realistic eating and movement habits — it enhances behaviour change rather than replacing it.

• 
  

Let’s talk honestly about weight loss and hypnotherapy, because this is where a lot of people have unrealistic expectations — and I’d much rather be upfront with you from the start.

Hypnotherapy is powerful, but it isn’t magic. I’m not going to put you into hypnosis and suddenly have the weight fall off while you carry on exactly as you are. If that were possible, I’d be retired on a beach somewhere by now.

What hypnotherapy does do is help change the part of your mind that’s been quietly running the habits that keep getting in the way of weight loss. And that’s usually the part people have been fighting with for years.

Most people who come to see me already know what they should be doing. They know about eating better, moving more, cutting back on sugar, watching portions. Knowledge is rarely the issue. The issue is that, in real life, stress happens, emotions kick in, habits take over and good intentions disappear.

Science backs this up. Research suggests that around 95% of our daily behaviour is driven by the subconscious mind. That includes when you eat, how much you eat, and what you reach for when you’re tired, stressed or overwhelmed. So when someone says, “I don’t know why I keep doing this,” it’s usually because their subconscious is running an old, familiar pattern.

That’s the part hypnotherapy works with.

It helps calm the nervous system, reduce emotional eating, soften cravings, and break the learned link between food and comfort. Many clients notice that they start stopping when they’re full without thinking about it, or that the urge to snack just doesn’t feel as strong anymore. That isn’t willpower suddenly appearing — it’s the brain responding differently.

Stress plays a much bigger role in weight than most people realise. Chronic stress increases cortisol, and studies show elevated cortisol is linked to increased appetite and fat storage, particularly around the abdomen. This is one of the reasons people can feel like they’re “doing everything right” and still not seeing the scale move. When the nervous system is constantly switched on, weight loss becomes harder.

Hypnotherapy helps settle that stress response. When the body moves out of fight-or-flight and into a calmer state, appetite hormones regulate more effectively. Studies also show that people who sleep fewer than six hours per night are significantly more likely to gain weight than those who get seven to eight hours. Many clients start noticing changes simply because they’re calmer, sleeping better and reacting differently to stress.

Now, this is where I do things slightly differently from a lot of weight-loss approaches — and it’s very intentional.

I never work to a target weight.

And that’s not because goals are bad, but because target weights are often unrealistic, emotionally loaded, and based on past versions of you that no longer exist. They can also create unnecessary pressure, disappointment and self-criticism, which is the exact state of mind that blocks progress.

From a physiological point of view, weight naturally fluctuates due to hormones, hydration, stress, sleep and muscle mass. Two people at the same height and weight can look and feel completely different. From a psychological point of view, focusing on a number can keep people stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset — “I’ve failed” or “I’m not there yet” — instead of noticing real change.

Instead, I focus on behaviours, patterns and how your relationship with food is changing. When those things shift, weight tends to follow in a way that’s far more sustainable.

That doesn’t mean biology doesn’t matter. It still does.

You still need to eat reasonably well. Not perfectly — just sensibly. Weight loss still requires a calorie deficit over time. Hypnotherapy can reduce cravings and emotional eating, but it doesn’t mean ultra-processed food suddenly stops affecting your body. Portion awareness still matters. Consistency still matters.

You still need to move your body. Exercise supports appetite regulation, mood, metabolism and confidence. Research on long-term weight-loss maintainers shows that most are physically active on a regular basis — not obsessively, just consistently.

You still need to show up mentally. Hypnotherapy works best when you engage with the process, come in open-minded and allow yourself to notice patterns without judgement. You don’t need to “try harder” — but you do need to be involved.

Sleep and stress still matter too. Poor sleep increases hunger hormones like ghrelin and reduces fullness hormones like leptin. That’s physiology, not lack of effort. Hypnotherapy supports weight loss partly because it helps the body feel safer and more regulated.

In terms of results, I always encourage realistic expectations. Healthy, sustainable weight loss is usually steady rather than dramatic. Research shows that losing just 5–10% of body weight can significantly improve blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and overall health. That’s often far less than people think they need — and yet it delivers huge benefits.

Progress also isn’t linear. Some weeks the scale moves, some weeks it doesn’t. That doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Very often, clients notice changes in cravings, emotional eating, confidence and control long before they notice changes on the scale.

That’s why hypnotherapy helps results last. Diets focus on what to do. Hypnotherapy focuses on why you do what you do. When the subconscious mind starts supporting your goals instead of fighting them, consistency becomes easier and setbacks don’t derail you.

So here’s the reality check — and also the reassurance.

If you’re looking for something to do all the work for you, hypnotherapy probably isn’t it. But if you want support changing habits at a deeper level, calming your nervous system, reducing emotional eating and building a healthier relationship with food, then hypnotherapy can be incredibly effective.

You still walk the path — but you’re no longer fighting yourself every step of the way.

And for most people, that’s the difference that finally makes weight loss stick.