Self Sabotage – What it is and a method for releasing it

March 23, 2009 at 1:56 am (Self Sabotage)

Most of us have heard of the phrase “Self-Sabotage”, but what is it exactly? Well, in some sense the phrase is self-explanatory, it means to sabotage the self.  Put more simply, “self sabotage” is when someone unconsciously sabotages or disrupts their best intentions.  For example, I may decide to join a gym to exercise more.  I find a local gym via the internet and tell myself I will join the following day.  When the next day comes, I find I am so busy at work I never found time to join the gym, so I put it off until the next day. Procrastination and finding excuses for not doing things are an obvious form of self sabotage, along with those times when we just end up doing something we know is bad for us, such as eating tasty but unhealthy foods. However there are more subtle kinds of this unconscious behaviour, for instance, supposing I have made it as far as joining the gym and am even preparing to leave for my first session.  Just before leaving I remember a friend has asked me to call her for a chat about some problems she’s having.  I decide I will call her before going, and an hour and a half later I have finished being a helpful and supportive friend but its now too late to go to the gym.  I could have phoned my friend after the gym, but for some reason I decided to do it there and then. My conscious mind will probably come up with all kinds of excuses as to why it was more important to phone my friend than go to the gym.  But from the outside this looks more like another case of self-sabotage. 

 

So where does this self sabotage come from? Why do so many of us suffer from it?  For most people, the causes probably go back to childhood and centre around issues of self-love, self-worth and the fear of success.  If we are lacking in self-love and do not value ourselves, then unconsciously we are programming ourselves for failure. If we were to succeed at anything, that would mean we were worthy of esteem and admiration, however since we deem ourselves as unworthy at the unconscious level, then we cannot allow ourselves to succeed for fear of contradicting our self image.  All of this takes place at an unconscious level of course, which makes the whole situation so insidious. Many of us do not even realise we are self sabotaging, we just call it laziness or bad luck.  For someone who is trying to lose weight, self sabotage can be a frustrating problem and the downfall of many a determined dieter. 

 

However its not all doom and gloom.  Because the mental and emotional processes behind self sabotage are all learned patterns of thinking, they can all be unlearned.  There are many ways of achieving this, but here is a simple yet powerful technique which we use in a more advanced form during Hypnopuncture.

 

Find a quiet place and sit or lie down with your eyes closed.  Take a few  deep breaths to relax and then go through the following visualisation.  First of all, imagine there is a golden ring of light about a foot above your head, a golden wheel of light with no spokes like a halo of light, and then in the middle of the wheel place a blue triangle, with the point at the top.  Next, at the top of the triangle, visualise the words, “self sabotage”.  Then tell yourself, or intend, that underneath the triangle, will be written all of the unconscious causes, reasons and conditioning for your self sabotage.  Just believe that they are all there, written underneath the triangle within the golden wheel.  Next, start to visualize the golden wheel spinning slowly in a clockwise direction.  Let the wheel spin slowly for a few seconds, and then start to speed it up.  After a few seconds when the wheel is spinning very fast, you should then flick an imaginary switch in your mind which will cause the blue triangle to be sucked up through the wheel and out of your system, taking with it all of the unconscious conditioning which keeps you in self sabotage.  After you have flicked the switch, let the golden wheel spin for about twenty seconds.  Then finally let the golden wheel slow down and disappear.  You can then open your eyes and go about your business. 

 

If practised regularly once a day, this technique can quickly help release subconscious patterns of self sabotage.  To experience a more advanced version of this technique you may wish to try one of our Hypnopuncture CDs, or even purchase a complete pack and give your weight loss programme a real chance of succeeding – http://www.hypnopuncture.co.uk/easy_weight_loss_pack.html

 

Paul’n’Alex  03/09

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Nutrtional Hints and Tips for Natural Weight Loss

March 13, 2009 at 12:09 am (Nutrition, Weight Loss)

Eating Habits

One of the first things we try to combat with Hypnopuncture are food cravings and snacking. Some people will be able to adapt to three meals a day while others do not. If you are someone who feels they need some food between meals, this is fine, as long as you make the right choices. Foods such as seeds, nuts or fruit can be a great way of maintaining you body’s metabolism between meals and will not affect your blood sugar levels. As your metabolism is boosted with hypnopuncture treatments you may well find making it to your next meal without a snack easier and easier.

 

Meal Composition

A great way of succeeding with healthy weight loss is looking at the composition of your meals. There should always be a good balance of nutrients on your plate such as carbohydrates, proteins, fibre etc.

  • Carbohydrates are a great way to get quick energy but as we want you to be burning calories, having a ready supply of energy always on hand is not beneficial. Try to reduce the consumption of carbohydrate rich foods, especially in your evening meal and replace them with more leafy vegetables.
  • Protein is what your body uses to build muscles and is also an energy source. But it is not as readily available to the body as carbohydrates, so is a much better way of making sure you have the energy to get you through the day, drive your metabolism and keep you from feeling hungry. Try to up your consumption of lean protein (ie fish and lean meat) while you are on the course.
  • Fats are important to your body but try to be aware of the level of fat in the foods you are eating and see if you can find a leaner alternative.
  • Fibre is very important to maintaining your digestive health and bowel transit.

 

Hints for healthy natural weight loss

  • For breakfast try to avoid cereals, they are often heavy in simple carbohydrates and high in sugar. Try to go for less refined grains such as oats or muesli or why not try a fruit salad with yoghurt. Even better, get increased levels of protein into your breakfast with a boiled egg and some fruit juice.
  • If you need something before lunch try some healthy seeds, a natural supply of vitamins and minerals, as well as a great supply of protein.
  • For lunch try to avoid ready made sandwiches, make them at home. This gives you the ability to choose a less refined grain for the bread or even go for some deli wraps. Try to cut down on the spread / butter and sauce in the sandwiches. Try to avoid the processed meats and cheeses, why not try some fish, again a great sauce of protein and essential fatty acids.
  • If you eat dinner later try to have some fresh fruit in the afternoon to keep the metabolism going. If your blood sugar drops you will be more likely to over eat in the evening. Try to keep to fresh fruit over dried.
  • Be conscious of the nutritious balance of your evening meal, cut down on the carbohydrates (pasta, rice, potatoes) and instead load the plate with more fresh vegetables. Make special efforts to control the portion size in the evening.
  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Many cravings are actually your body misinterpreting dehydration.

 

For more information on Hypnopuncture and Natural Weight Loss treatments and products visit http://www.hypnopuncture.co.uk

 

Paul’n'Alex

13.03.09

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Clearing dampness from the body a key factor in Weight Loss

March 12, 2009 at 8:34 pm (Dampness, Weight Loss)

Dampness
Dampness is a term used in Chinese medicine to describe the accumulation of excess fluid within the body. This can either be due to living in a damp environment or the intake of damp foods, or it is due to a failure of the ‘Spleen’ to properly separate the nutrition from waste material when we eat or drink. This waste material should be excreted from the body but if the Spleen is weak and unable to regulate the digestive system correctly this waste material can start to accumulate in the body, and this is described as dampness.

Dampness in the body
Dampness can affect the body in several different ways. If it sits in our body tissues then it is similar to body fat leading to weight gain and increase in body size. If dampness sits in the network of energy channels in the body it will disturb the circulation of qi (vital energy) leading to a heaviness of the limbs and a general lethargy and lack of energy. If it sits in the mind is can lead to a mental lethargy and lack of motivation. Dampness is also described as being sticky in nature which refers to the difficulty of removing it from the body once it manifests which is why some people find it exceptionally difficult to loose weight even though they are doing everything right.

Hypnopuncture removes dampness from the body
Hypnopuncture can help remove dampness from the body in several ways. The combination of acupuncture and hypnosis forcefully motivates the qi circulation of the body, helping to drain the channes and meridians of dampness. This reinstates the normal flow of qi which. will lead to increased energy and motivation levels. Hypnopuncture also supports the digestive system and strengthens the spleen, improving the body’s ability to remove dampness on its own. Foods which are damp in nature are obviously best avoided when trying to loose weight.

For more information about Hypnopuncture and natural long term weight loss visit
http://www.hypnopuncture.co.uk

Paul’n'Alex 12.03.09

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