Perhaps you've seen it in movies and on TV. The hypnotist swings the pocket watch back and forth and says; "your eyes are getting heavy, you are getting sleepy, sleepy", inducing a trance that enables the hypnotist to make the subject do whatever he commands of him.

Ok, so this is about as far fetched as it gets, but in the real world there are a number of hypnotherapists out there supposedly using the power of suggestion to help people overcome cigarette smoking, overcome their fears, unlock repressed memories and the list goes on. If there is any truth to this, and if they often do get results in these areas, then it would stand to reason that this method should be able to help you to lose weight too. So, the question is, can you successfully lose weight through hypnosis?

The answer is yes, but it won't work by itself. Studies have shown that hypnotherapy can help to as much as double your weight loss, but it must be combined with proper diet and exercise. Some conscious effort has to be made on your part to try to maintain good eating habits and get in some regular exercise, but hypnosis can assist you with those endeavors. You will still have the occasional cravings to want to eat the cheesecake when you see it, but through the hypnosis you may hesitate and rethink it rather than just to dive right in.

No one really knows how or why hypnosis works, but research has shown that when the brain is in a state of relaxation, it is more receptive to learning. According to Marc Oster, Psy. D., a psychologist and former president of the American society of clinical hypnosis, this is what hypnosis essentially does. It produces a state of calmness within the brain, therefore making you more receptive to suggestions like waiting 10 minutes before giving in to a craving. Hypnosis does however seem to work best for people with a strong desire to change their habits.

The one down side to hypnosis is that it very expensive. Hypnotherapy sessions average $100 to $150 each and are usually not covered by insurance unless these sessions are referred by a doctor to a patient undergoing psychotherapy. On the up side, hypnosis may very well be the cat's meow that can put you over the top when it seems you just can't make it that one extra step that would get you there on your own.