Suitable therapy suggestions sought please!!
Hello everyone,
I'm posting here looking for a suggestion of a complimentary therapy that might help me...
Briefly I'm a 25 year old female in the North East (although don't let this be a limitation as I'd be more than willing to travel to receive the right help!!) My problem is my weight (and quite probably my self-esteem too.) In April 2006 I supposedly began "living the dream" and began running my own business. The business is going well but my personal health has seriously declined. A year ago I was a slim size 8-10, I ate a very healthy diet and I weight-trained at the gym twice a week, everything was nice and toned and firm!! Unfortunately now I have gained a massive 60lb's in weight through completely falling off the wagon. I moved house when I started my business and now I live alone and convenience meals and other junk foods became a diet staple as I focused on getting the business up and running. I joined the local gym here but I never seemed to find the time to go. I definitely know the foods to eat and not to eat but I seem to be now perhaps addicted to the "bad" ones. I can "rule myself with a rod" and eat healthily for about six days but I am miserable doing it and then I completely cave in and I'll go out and buy the unhealthy foods. A few years ago I suffered quite badly with IBS (which helped make my previous diet healthy in the first place) and I had blood allergy tests done and my food cravings seem to be centred upon foods containing the offending items - and as a consequence my IBS is back, I have low energy, foul mood swings and of course currently irresistable food cravings - not to mention stretch marks!!
So right now I am discusted with my appearance and I'm very angry with myself for "letting myself go" like this and I desperately want my healthy body and lifestyle back and obviously to cut the junk from my diet for the sake of my health but it just seems to be too hard for me to do. I have tried a few different approaches to my problem (so far) but I haven't made any progress... I have had a course of counselling sessions (which really only seemed to highlight how stressful I find running my own business), supplements (5HTP, St.John's Wort, Fish Oil) and hypnotic "learn to love exercise" mp3's. I am currently half-way through working with a life coach / NLP "Trainer" but this also unfortunately not improving my situation. I've got myself on the books of a highly reputable personal trainer starting in January, but this isn't going to work with the food cravings. I feel I need some kind of "mental kick" to get me back on track.
I'd really appreciate anyone's suggestions. I'm considering hypnotherapy but am open to any suggestions!!
Answers:
Hypnotherapy and NLP are screaming to me as I am reading your post!
Can I ask, what, specifically are you working with your life coach / NLP therapist that is not improving your situation? As I would have thought this would have been the perfect combination for you.
I would love to work with you, but you're miles away from me, so the best I can offer you is support through email if you don't find anyone closer to you.
I work with food intolerances and have met lots of people, like you, who 'know what to do', but can't quite manage it......
Hmmm, I really wish you luck with this one. Trust your intuition - if you feel drawn to PM me, then please go ahead. But no worries if not :)
Namaste
Amethyst x
Answers:
Hi again,
Many thanks for your reply, hey geography is no barrier to me for the right help, where abouts are you based?? I'll persevere and do whatever it takes to get over this health "blip" - I know I'm not destined to be this size/shape, otherwise why would I be so unhappy with it!?
The NLP guy makes me write a lot, lists and things I'm thankful for- oh and draw pictures!! I did like a collage of what I want to be like and he had me write letters set in the future describing how much better I felt. For "homework" this week he's asked me to write a list of 50 things I like to do. I struggled to list 5. I _used_ to enjoy lots of things but my self-esteem has somehow taken a nose-dive, I'membarrassed about my size and I'm doing zero socialising. I should feel great, running my own business, being my own boss, decorating my new home etc. etc. - but I don't, I feel tearful and frustrated at trying and failing to live healthily. It's like everything else in my life is on the up, going well but my health is getting worse as I become unhealthier.
There's a hypnotherapist about 20 miles from me who looks the business, flashing lights in black glasses along with the verbal hypnotherapy and tapes to take home etc. He offers a four session / week weight loss package that I am very tempted to do. It's just that closing my business for a half-day each week with the travelling involved isn't great for business!!
Thanks once again for replies / views!!
Answers:
heres my post on Spirit releasement therapy that I put up the other day.
Answers:
Hi TenThirteen,
I've pm'd you regarding possibly trying Auricular Acupuncture!!
Meridianmoon xx
Answers:
Hi,
Thanks for the suggestion, I definitely "scoffed" when I read that thread though. I'd never heard of Andrea Foulkes, I put her name into Wikipedia and it came up with a table of celebrities and their supposed past lives. I'm willing to try anything right now though.
I'm totally sick of being stressed, constantly tearful and almost unbelievably angry at myself for being like this.I'm seemingly trapped in this horrible behaviour cycle with zero motivation to exercise.I'm using up all my efforts to try andeat healthily but I keep repeatedly falling of the wagon. I'm desperate to stop this andI'm almost ready to say bring on the prozac.
Although back onto spiritual healing, I'm definitely skeptical I guess it's worth a try. This Andrea woman's website isn't very detailed and when I see celebrity client I think very expensive... how muchshould I expect to pay? Is there any kind of regulatory body I should make sure a spiritual healer is registered with?
Thanks again for any info / suggestions.
PS I also forgot to mention that I've alsotried(many) EFT sessions with a man who worked on a fixed-price basis. I persevered with repeated sessions over the summer to no avail until I thought I was taking up too much of his time as I unfortunately saw no improvement.
Answers:
I'm not going to suggest a therapy as I feel the need for you is more motivational and it is within yourself to drive yourinto a healthier lifestyle. You have a head start, because you know what healthy eating and a good exercise regime is, but as you say you have just fallen off the bandwagon. Motivation to exercise is a difficult thing to find, especially if you are exhausted and busy, but perhaps signing up for a particular exercise class at a set time, would help you get on the right agenda. I know it will be boring at first, but you will within a couple of weeks begin to feel better about yourself. It is only then that I would suggest you then tackle what you eat, as it is much easier to change your diet when you are feeling more up beat. I think your personal trainer will work brilliantly for you and you will be amazed at how their support will help you change your eating habits.
I know you will work things out, you just need a little kickstart ;)
Answers:
Hi TenThirteen,
When I first read your post, EFT sprang to mind but (and no disrespect to the practitioner you were seeing) it's success can depend on the ability & experience of the practitioner. It may be that he was unlucky in not being able to identify the correct root.
Did you develop a set of affirmations & set-up statements to go through. If so, I'd be happy to review them for you if you want to email them to me.
Answers:
Hi TenThirteen,
There were a couple of items in your post that struck me as 'solve-able' and I think that you may have made a great start by taking a look at NLP to assist with one facet of your challenges. I have a background in engineering in the Armed Forces, which I left in 2005 at the end of my career there; but I was trained as an NLP Practitioner there and inspired by its potential. I didn't really get it until I read Paul McKenna's book (Change Your Life in 7 Days) and he talked about discovering one's 'authentic self' - you may be familiar with that already? It's a great generalised read.
One strong message is - don't beat yourself up about having a negative self image, because it isn't the 'real' you! It's who you are afraid you may be, rather than who you really are.
The IBS is really straightforward to deal with, because there is clinical evidence that Aloe Vera Gel drunk daily will help get control of the symptoms. You don't need litres either, around 60ml per day will do the trick.
Can I offer a suggestion about getting your 'head' back in the right place? Why not start rethinking your self esteem from a point of view of your intentions, rather than your actions; once one takes a look at what you have done from that perspective it can brighten your viewpoint.
I operate my own business too and I'm in a 'lifestyle business', certainly it can be challenging at times but I feel blessed to work for myself - I'm in control! I read a lot and listen to CDs to motivate/inform/drive me forward. If I feel that I'm going off the rails in business (and life does try that sometimes) I focus strongly on my learning, which is a constant - no beginning, nor end...it just 'is'.
Right now I'm reading a stunning book called 'Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting' [Lynn Grabhorn]. It's about the Law of Attraction and creating our own lives through becoming positive, happy and generating those 'positive vibes'. People feel it; I watched the 'Secret' recently and it pulled 'me' out of a rut, drove me forward and now I watch a bit of it every day!
I really hope this helps and I'm sure you'll be on track really soon; take care.
Answers:
Try the following bach flower remedies:
CherryPlum - BachFlowerRemedies
Will help youwhen it comes tolosing control while eating. Will promote more calmness and peace within yourself.
Crab Apple -
Will begreat for the ridding thedisgust you feel in terms of your body.
Also, try not to think of your weight issue as urgent or desperate - any small 'bite size' changes you can make each day, will mean the weight will come off at a comfortable pace for the body and the soul. A sense of urgency can heightenany control issues you are having with food and/or exercise, exacerbating the problem. When we keep ourselves on a leash that's too tight (eg. a strict diet and/or exercise regime), weconsequently break it. Let the leash go, don't be so hard on yourself, allow yourself to be imperfect, and take small steps towards positive change.
Hope this helps. x
Answers:
In addition, I know a wonderful therapist based in London and St Albans, who is an expert in dealing with mind-body conditions, such as food obsession and weight problems. He uses a combination of IMT (Integrative Massage Therapy), Hypnotherapy, NLP, Stress Management and counselling. It is the combination of body work combined with Hypnotic suggestion that is really amazing!
His name is:
Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar
Please PM or email me for his contact details.
EDITED to remove addresses and telephone numbers.
Answers:
What you need to focus on is being healthy and fit and slim. You get what you focus on. You need to use a system that focuses your mind. Hypnosis is definately the way to go, but only go to someone who has been recommended to you. Suggestion work - self hypnosis self suggestion will work - really in your own mind you just need to stop what you are doing and just imagine moving freely and with grace, wearing the clothes you like and getting back to the way you were. Once you start you will reverse your attitude very easily. Don't make this complicated for yourself - it is very easy to get back to where you want to be.
Answers:
Thank you for all your great information!! I deliberated a little over what was the best course of action for me and I have contacteda local (well respected and seemingly highly qualified) hypnotherapist. I have requested his 4 session/week hypnosis package and my first session in on 28th December - wish me luck!! He mentioned about perhaps using regression if required but said he'd wait until we'd met and had a chat before working out what would be the best approach for my particular needs.
His parting words to me were to relax, enjoy Christmas and that in a month or so my mind would be on board and I'd find myself easily following a controlled diet and exercise plan... I must say that instilled plenty of confidence in me!!
At this point anyways any improvement, if not a cure, would be most welcomed!!
:)
Answers:
sounds great, TenThirteen - what lovely parting words.
Do keep us posted about how it goes; I'm eager to follow your progress and cheer you on from the sidelines!
Amethyst x
I'm posting here looking for a suggestion of a complimentary therapy that might help me...
Briefly I'm a 25 year old female in the North East (although don't let this be a limitation as I'd be more than willing to travel to receive the right help!!) My problem is my weight (and quite probably my self-esteem too.) In April 2006 I supposedly began "living the dream" and began running my own business. The business is going well but my personal health has seriously declined. A year ago I was a slim size 8-10, I ate a very healthy diet and I weight-trained at the gym twice a week, everything was nice and toned and firm!! Unfortunately now I have gained a massive 60lb's in weight through completely falling off the wagon. I moved house when I started my business and now I live alone and convenience meals and other junk foods became a diet staple as I focused on getting the business up and running. I joined the local gym here but I never seemed to find the time to go. I definitely know the foods to eat and not to eat but I seem to be now perhaps addicted to the "bad" ones. I can "rule myself with a rod" and eat healthily for about six days but I am miserable doing it and then I completely cave in and I'll go out and buy the unhealthy foods. A few years ago I suffered quite badly with IBS (which helped make my previous diet healthy in the first place) and I had blood allergy tests done and my food cravings seem to be centred upon foods containing the offending items - and as a consequence my IBS is back, I have low energy, foul mood swings and of course currently irresistable food cravings - not to mention stretch marks!!
So right now I am discusted with my appearance and I'm very angry with myself for "letting myself go" like this and I desperately want my healthy body and lifestyle back and obviously to cut the junk from my diet for the sake of my health but it just seems to be too hard for me to do. I have tried a few different approaches to my problem (so far) but I haven't made any progress... I have had a course of counselling sessions (which really only seemed to highlight how stressful I find running my own business), supplements (5HTP, St.John's Wort, Fish Oil) and hypnotic "learn to love exercise" mp3's. I am currently half-way through working with a life coach / NLP "Trainer" but this also unfortunately not improving my situation. I've got myself on the books of a highly reputable personal trainer starting in January, but this isn't going to work with the food cravings. I feel I need some kind of "mental kick" to get me back on track.
I'd really appreciate anyone's suggestions. I'm considering hypnotherapy but am open to any suggestions!!
Answers:
Hypnotherapy and NLP are screaming to me as I am reading your post!
Can I ask, what, specifically are you working with your life coach / NLP therapist that is not improving your situation? As I would have thought this would have been the perfect combination for you.
I would love to work with you, but you're miles away from me, so the best I can offer you is support through email if you don't find anyone closer to you.
I work with food intolerances and have met lots of people, like you, who 'know what to do', but can't quite manage it......
Hmmm, I really wish you luck with this one. Trust your intuition - if you feel drawn to PM me, then please go ahead. But no worries if not :)
Namaste
Amethyst x
Answers:
Hi again,
Many thanks for your reply, hey geography is no barrier to me for the right help, where abouts are you based?? I'll persevere and do whatever it takes to get over this health "blip" - I know I'm not destined to be this size/shape, otherwise why would I be so unhappy with it!?
The NLP guy makes me write a lot, lists and things I'm thankful for- oh and draw pictures!! I did like a collage of what I want to be like and he had me write letters set in the future describing how much better I felt. For "homework" this week he's asked me to write a list of 50 things I like to do. I struggled to list 5. I _used_ to enjoy lots of things but my self-esteem has somehow taken a nose-dive, I'membarrassed about my size and I'm doing zero socialising. I should feel great, running my own business, being my own boss, decorating my new home etc. etc. - but I don't, I feel tearful and frustrated at trying and failing to live healthily. It's like everything else in my life is on the up, going well but my health is getting worse as I become unhealthier.
There's a hypnotherapist about 20 miles from me who looks the business, flashing lights in black glasses along with the verbal hypnotherapy and tapes to take home etc. He offers a four session / week weight loss package that I am very tempted to do. It's just that closing my business for a half-day each week with the travelling involved isn't great for business!!
Thanks once again for replies / views!!
Answers:
heres my post on Spirit releasement therapy that I put up the other day.
Answers:
Hi TenThirteen,
I've pm'd you regarding possibly trying Auricular Acupuncture!!
Meridianmoon xx
Answers:
Hi,
Thanks for the suggestion, I definitely "scoffed" when I read that thread though. I'd never heard of Andrea Foulkes, I put her name into Wikipedia and it came up with a table of celebrities and their supposed past lives. I'm willing to try anything right now though.
I'm totally sick of being stressed, constantly tearful and almost unbelievably angry at myself for being like this.I'm seemingly trapped in this horrible behaviour cycle with zero motivation to exercise.I'm using up all my efforts to try andeat healthily but I keep repeatedly falling of the wagon. I'm desperate to stop this andI'm almost ready to say bring on the prozac.
Although back onto spiritual healing, I'm definitely skeptical I guess it's worth a try. This Andrea woman's website isn't very detailed and when I see celebrity client I think very expensive... how muchshould I expect to pay? Is there any kind of regulatory body I should make sure a spiritual healer is registered with?
Thanks again for any info / suggestions.
PS I also forgot to mention that I've alsotried(many) EFT sessions with a man who worked on a fixed-price basis. I persevered with repeated sessions over the summer to no avail until I thought I was taking up too much of his time as I unfortunately saw no improvement.
Answers:
I'm not going to suggest a therapy as I feel the need for you is more motivational and it is within yourself to drive yourinto a healthier lifestyle. You have a head start, because you know what healthy eating and a good exercise regime is, but as you say you have just fallen off the bandwagon. Motivation to exercise is a difficult thing to find, especially if you are exhausted and busy, but perhaps signing up for a particular exercise class at a set time, would help you get on the right agenda. I know it will be boring at first, but you will within a couple of weeks begin to feel better about yourself. It is only then that I would suggest you then tackle what you eat, as it is much easier to change your diet when you are feeling more up beat. I think your personal trainer will work brilliantly for you and you will be amazed at how their support will help you change your eating habits.
I know you will work things out, you just need a little kickstart ;)
Answers:
Hi TenThirteen,
When I first read your post, EFT sprang to mind but (and no disrespect to the practitioner you were seeing) it's success can depend on the ability & experience of the practitioner. It may be that he was unlucky in not being able to identify the correct root.
Did you develop a set of affirmations & set-up statements to go through. If so, I'd be happy to review them for you if you want to email them to me.
Answers:
Hi TenThirteen,
There were a couple of items in your post that struck me as 'solve-able' and I think that you may have made a great start by taking a look at NLP to assist with one facet of your challenges. I have a background in engineering in the Armed Forces, which I left in 2005 at the end of my career there; but I was trained as an NLP Practitioner there and inspired by its potential. I didn't really get it until I read Paul McKenna's book (Change Your Life in 7 Days) and he talked about discovering one's 'authentic self' - you may be familiar with that already? It's a great generalised read.
One strong message is - don't beat yourself up about having a negative self image, because it isn't the 'real' you! It's who you are afraid you may be, rather than who you really are.
The IBS is really straightforward to deal with, because there is clinical evidence that Aloe Vera Gel drunk daily will help get control of the symptoms. You don't need litres either, around 60ml per day will do the trick.
Can I offer a suggestion about getting your 'head' back in the right place? Why not start rethinking your self esteem from a point of view of your intentions, rather than your actions; once one takes a look at what you have done from that perspective it can brighten your viewpoint.
I operate my own business too and I'm in a 'lifestyle business', certainly it can be challenging at times but I feel blessed to work for myself - I'm in control! I read a lot and listen to CDs to motivate/inform/drive me forward. If I feel that I'm going off the rails in business (and life does try that sometimes) I focus strongly on my learning, which is a constant - no beginning, nor end...it just 'is'.
Right now I'm reading a stunning book called 'Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting' [Lynn Grabhorn]. It's about the Law of Attraction and creating our own lives through becoming positive, happy and generating those 'positive vibes'. People feel it; I watched the 'Secret' recently and it pulled 'me' out of a rut, drove me forward and now I watch a bit of it every day!
I really hope this helps and I'm sure you'll be on track really soon; take care.
Answers:
Try the following bach flower remedies:
CherryPlum - BachFlowerRemedies
Will help youwhen it comes tolosing control while eating. Will promote more calmness and peace within yourself.
Crab Apple -
Will begreat for the ridding thedisgust you feel in terms of your body.
Also, try not to think of your weight issue as urgent or desperate - any small 'bite size' changes you can make each day, will mean the weight will come off at a comfortable pace for the body and the soul. A sense of urgency can heightenany control issues you are having with food and/or exercise, exacerbating the problem. When we keep ourselves on a leash that's too tight (eg. a strict diet and/or exercise regime), weconsequently break it. Let the leash go, don't be so hard on yourself, allow yourself to be imperfect, and take small steps towards positive change.
Hope this helps. x
Answers:
In addition, I know a wonderful therapist based in London and St Albans, who is an expert in dealing with mind-body conditions, such as food obsession and weight problems. He uses a combination of IMT (Integrative Massage Therapy), Hypnotherapy, NLP, Stress Management and counselling. It is the combination of body work combined with Hypnotic suggestion that is really amazing!
His name is:
Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar
Please PM or email me for his contact details.
EDITED to remove addresses and telephone numbers.
Answers:
What you need to focus on is being healthy and fit and slim. You get what you focus on. You need to use a system that focuses your mind. Hypnosis is definately the way to go, but only go to someone who has been recommended to you. Suggestion work - self hypnosis self suggestion will work - really in your own mind you just need to stop what you are doing and just imagine moving freely and with grace, wearing the clothes you like and getting back to the way you were. Once you start you will reverse your attitude very easily. Don't make this complicated for yourself - it is very easy to get back to where you want to be.
Answers:
Thank you for all your great information!! I deliberated a little over what was the best course of action for me and I have contacteda local (well respected and seemingly highly qualified) hypnotherapist. I have requested his 4 session/week hypnosis package and my first session in on 28th December - wish me luck!! He mentioned about perhaps using regression if required but said he'd wait until we'd met and had a chat before working out what would be the best approach for my particular needs.
His parting words to me were to relax, enjoy Christmas and that in a month or so my mind would be on board and I'd find myself easily following a controlled diet and exercise plan... I must say that instilled plenty of confidence in me!!
At this point anyways any improvement, if not a cure, would be most welcomed!!
:)
Answers:
sounds great, TenThirteen - what lovely parting words.
Do keep us posted about how it goes; I'm eager to follow your progress and cheer you on from the sidelines!
Amethyst x