I Can Make You Thin (Book and CD) Paul McKenna Paperback Published January 2005 Publisher: Bantam Press ISBN: 0593050541
I first saw this book in the library, I've tried every diet under every sun and pointed at it while with boyfriend "I can make you thin? Yeah right!" and had a good chuckle about it. Anyhow I had thought about it over a few days and thought, do you know what? I've tried everything else so why not? I'm up for a laugh!
I made my purchase and found that you actually get two tools for your money:
Book Hypnosis CD
~~~The Book~~~~ You get 141 pages to read, loads of white space and incredibly well laid out easy reading. It is broken down into 7 chapters:
Chapter 1 - Are you ready for something truly different?
Chapter 2 - The simplest weight loss system in the world
Chapter 3 - Programme your mind to slim your body
Chapter 4 - Overcoming your emotional eating
Chapter 5 - The truth about exercise
Chapter 6 - Craving Busters
Chapter 7 - FAQ's about the simplest weight loss system in the world.
There are several inspirational stories in-between chapters about people who have lost various amounts of weight with before and after photos - a bit like your classic diet book, but that is the only similarity between this and any other diet system or book that I have ever used……
It is incredibly
easy reading, which is handy if you are trying to merge weight loss into a busy lifestyle.
The craving busters are amazing, simple exercises that can done with just a small amount of thought application to stop you craving the food (or drink) of your choice. This can obviously be done for as many foods as you like. It does wear off though so you need to go back and go over the exercises again occasionally.
~~~~The Concept~~~~~
Little list of the past ways I have attempted to loose weight:
Atkins (quick give me tatties and pasta or I'll die!!!!!!) Slim Fast Slimming World (Club) Cabbage Soup Diet (never again) Low carb The waterfall diet The Hay Diet Low Calorie Detox
Paid a fortune to see a diet specialist…..phew!!!! Just to give you a bit of background so you know my recommendation of this system is pretty sound in comparison to all these diets that are on the market. I am sure there's probably more….So onwards to the concept of Paul's diet: (sorry system!):
The whole aim of the book and system is to address your attitudes and beliefs about food, yourself and your body, by doing that the aim it to change your eating with psychological techniques without you even realising that you are doing it. A bonus is that it can change your mindset to feel happier about yourself before weight loss is achieved.
The idea is that you can keep using it in order to keep losing weight/maintain your shape and happiness.
First of all you get told to FORGET DIETING I've been waiting all my life for someone to say that to me.
Then you advised of four basic rules to adhere to:
1 When you are hungry eat 2 Eat what you want, not when you think you should 3 Eat Consciously and enjoy every mouthful 4 When you think you are full, stop eating
These are re-enforced throughout the book.
In addition there are exercises to complete, all just requiring a little thought and concentration, to help you focus on being thin, stopping craving foods of your choice - there's a few.
At first I just used the book and shifted 7 pounds in 3 weeks. A few weeks later I decided to listen to the accompanying CD….
~~~~Hypnosis CD~~~~~~~ I have always been very sceptical about hypnosis, but as I say, I am willing to give anything a try……
The CD is best listened to in a quite place, with headphones and somewhere where you can lie down. It does advise to not use this while driving or using any dangerous machinery. The problem can be finding a peaceful place - and the time in the first place. Also worth noting is that this can be a one off exercise, but for the best results, regular use is recommended to re-enforce it.
You go into a deep state of relaxation and Paul gets you to visualise things about yourself, being thinner, happier, eating slower - about 35 minutes worth, set to music, Paul uses a hypnotic voice. He explains at the beginning it is "like a daydream" I think that is a pretty fair comparison, you can hear things going on around you, like the in-between stage when you are just arising from a deep sleep.
~~~A brief bit of background to the author~~~ Paul McKenna is probably most famous for his Television Shows, where he hypnotises members of the audience and gets them - via hypnosis to do wild and crazy things on national TV. He also performs this on tour via a live show. Just recently he has started writing books to helps support life change such as: "Change your life in 7 days" "Instant Confidence" "How to mend your broken heart" and of course "I can make you thin"
~~Further details about the book and system~~~
"I can made you thin" is currently number 3 (5th September 2005) in the Sunday Times Bestsellers. You can view this weeks charts at http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/catalog/bestsellers.htm
He also runs a one day seminar using the same concepts as the book and CD for Weight Loss, he promotes this in the book as the best way to understand the system. Booking details can be obtained from +44 (0)845 230 2022.
~~~The verdict?~~~~ I have to say since listening to the CD as well as regularly reading the book my relationship with food has completely changed, I feel differently about eating. I now realise I was completely an emotional eater before, eating for comfort, I do not do this now. I have lost just over a stone, it has come off slowly but surely, I have to say it has not been hard work at all and I have in no way felt deprived in the usual way I would on any other diet. I do feel much happier about myself, more confident which is worth more than the weight loss I would say. Diets bring misery to me and this does not, definitely a winner.
I have the willpower of a dead rat, if this can work for me it can work for anyone! The back of the book states a proven 70% success rate. I would highly recommended this to anyone who is an emotional eater like me.
Paul - you are my hero!
~~~Where to buy~~~~ RRP £9.99 www.Amazon.co.uk - currently at a reduced price of £5.99 www.EBay.co.uk (currently between £2.00 - £10.00, auction and Buy it Now + postage) www.play.com £7.49 delivered Waterstones
WH Smiths Independent Book Shops Available in some libraries for loan (West Sussex currently have these)
~~~Other Sources~~~ http://www.paulmckenna.com/ For more information about the author, his weight loss system other books and seminar
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Easy to read, easy to use, no fads, and of course, he should make you thin! Disadvantages: As with any weight loss method, it requires motivation!!!
very helpful by (95%):
helpful by (5%):
