3 Steps to Take Ownership of Your Body for Weight Loss

 

Most people assume that hypnotherapists focus on three things: quitting smoking, overcoming phobias, and losing weight. But we can help with so much more. Over the years, I’ve noticed that when you strip away the nuances, most problems tend to stem from just a few core causes. I include weight loss in this. There’s always a root cause, which is unique to each person, along with a few key habits that help achieve the goal. Individual therapy is an opportunity to explore the root cause of your problem. Beyond this, you can focus on building habits that support lasting change. Taking ownership of your body means self-responsibility, autonomy, and empowerment, here’s how.

 

 

1. The Problem: Outsourcing Control

 

When I write about weight loss, I always include the caveat that I do not believe in the phrase. It makes it easier for you to find me if I use it. But, in my opinion, it is an outdated phrase that doesn’t align with what most people want to achieve – a slimmer figure, more toned muscles and a healthier body. Which doesn’t always come with a loss of weight.

 

Now we have weight loss out of the way – let’s talk about your body transformation and outsourcing control.

 

Society today sets us up for failure. As an example, some teachers do not permit children to use the toilet at any time of the day. Some teachers hand out detentions to children when they remove their jumper (for real!) – this may seem trivial, but it is the beginning of suppressing internal wisdom. We stop hearing what our body tells us, and learn instead to turn to others to tell us what our body needs and when. We outsource control. This causes a mind-body disconnect. You start to view your body as something to fix, rather than work with.

 

As an adult living with this, it feels alien to tune into your own body’s needs. Instead, you rely on diets, fitness trends or experts. And while there are many experts in nutrition, movement and thinking that will help you change the way you eat and move, their goal is to fill the gaps in your knowledge and empower you to listen to your personal needs. Unfortunately, there isn’t really a magic pill. Transforming your body takes self-responsibility – it is time to (re)claim ownership of your body.

 

 

2. The Shift: Reclaiming Ownership

 

We are a nation of experts, and therefore a nation of novices. As a breastfeeding counsellor, my role is to help women embody the knowledge that they are the expert in themselves and their baby. I attended enough training sessions and read many books to explore science and research – stuff that doesn’t come from within. However, ultimately my role was to help an anxious struggling mother rise from the flames like a Phoenix. Empowered enough to stand strong in the face of society’s sniggers and express loudly and clearly that they know their body and baby best.

 

You too know your body better than anyone. However, you may have unknowingly hidden that knowledge deep within, under layers of life. Rather than acting as a magic wand, hypnotherapy will help you peel back those layers so you can reconnect your mind and body. This is the first step to (re)claiming ownership of your body and (re)learning how to listen to its needs.

 

To Expert or Not?

 

Speaking to experts is necessary, because the world isn’t a natural place anymore. During the Ice Age, humans could only eat what their bodies needed to survive. With limited resources in harsh environments, every meal was essential for survival. The food available, whether hunted or gathered, directly supported their energy and nutrition needs, creating a close, necessary relationship between humans and the natural world.

 

This is obviously no longer the case, and food manufacturers bombard us with confusing marketing that completely baffles most of us. We don’t know what to pick up, what to put down, and we rely on them to tell us whether something is good or bad. They’ve positioned themselves as experts, and we’ve fallen into the trap. Therefore, it is beneficial to fill the gaps in your knowledge with someone who has taken many hours to become an expert on food. They know how early humans ate, what options are available to us, and the current research on what nutrients we lack as a society. They know which foods support nutrition depletion, and can take blood tests to personalise the therapy. When you fill your body with the nourishment it needs, you’ll become aware of the times you do the opposite.

 

Movement

 

A movement specialist will help you move in a way that the body expects. As with nutrition, early humans moved to survive. Covering miles each day to hunt or follow the seasons. Lifting to build shelters and forage wood. Pulling heavy weights as they moved camp. Using every muscle in the body all the time. Contrasting to humans today. We can go a whole day without taking more than 100 steps. A personal trainer or fitness instructor will help you recreate the movement of our ancestors. Moving into your body and feeling the subtle movements of each muscle will help you (re)connect your mind and body.

 

Additionally, it is important to recognise when you give away control. To emotional eating, societal pressure, habits so you can begin to take it back. A hypnotherapist will help you work through this – and help you find the tools to reclaim your power and look inward for the answers, rather than out.

 

 

3. The Action: Practical Ways to Own Your Body

 

It is important to choose what makes you feel good, rather than what you’ve learned is right or wrong. However, good is subjective! When I eat a family-sized bag of crisps, I feel a momentary satisfaction – crunchy and salty. But beyond that, my body starts to react. I feel sluggish, uncomfortable, and less energised than usual. If I made that choice too often, I’d likely notice my immune system weakening.

 

Rather than following external diets or meal plans, listen to your body’s natural hunger signals. Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re satisfied – not when the plate is empty, or you’ve been told to stop.

 

Physical Activity

 

Find physical activities that make you feel good, rather than focusing on exercises that feel like a chore. Remember back to the reason we exercise – because it’s what your body expects, it’s how we evolved. Ideally, we’re trying to replicate the movement of our ancestors in a modern world. This included different types of movement, move your body in ways that feel enjoyable and energising.

 

Sleep

 

Prioritise sleep and rest. Sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being, and your body thrives when you allow it to recover and recharge each night. It will help your mind body connection, so you can tune in to what your body needs. It will also help you lose weight by default, as a lack of sleep contributes to weight gain. 

 

Consider how you own your body through the choices you make? What foods, movements, and habits make you feel energised, clear-headed, and at ease? These are the questions that will guide you toward true ownership of your body and then weight loss. It’s not about quick fixes or magic wands. But about intentional choices that support lifelong well-being. The answers may take time to discover, and that’s okay – this is a journey, not a race.

 

 

 

Welcome to my website, a space where I try to catch your eye, and explain the heart of my practice.

My journey over 16 years has taught me that true knowledge isn’t about the letters after my name or the timeline of my academic pursuits. It’s about the stories shared, the moments of vulnerability, and the human connection that transforms both you and me. It’s holding space, listening intently, and noticing the patterns within your words and emotions.

Together, we can navigate the complexities of life, embracing both the shadow and the light. So, if you’re seeking more than just a quick fix for your weight loss, and ready to make lasting changes, you’re in the right place. Let’s embark on this journey together. Read more about my approach here.