I was stoked in late June to win a competition on the blog, Eating as a Path to Yoga. The giveaway was part of an interview with Jennifer Polle, a clinical hypnotherapist much respected by many US health / fitness bloggers I follow.
I’ve never been one to ‘diss’ meditation or hypnosis, but it’s never really worked for me. I’ve been to a couple of workshops at health retreats and listened to some guided meditations, but haven’t experienced the benefits I’d hoped for. However… despite that, I believe that there’s no harm in trying.
So, EVERY TIME I’ve attempted sleep since receiving the CD a few weeks ago, I’ve listened to it. I must confess to occasionally *ahem* often falling asleep before the end of it – and given my insomnia, that in itself is actually a good thing. But it means I’ve listened to the beginning so much I can almost repeat it verbatim.
I like to think Jennifer’s voice is seeping into my unconscious and I will indeed succeed in intuitive eating; and only eat when I am hungry and until I am full while striving for a ‘size and shape that’s a healthiest fit’ for me. I like Jennifer’s attitude as she’s very ‘zen’ (hee hee) about meditation and doesn’t harp on about what one should and shouldn’t do.
However, I’ve discovered a sticking point and it’s one I’ve experienced before.
I cannot visualise myself or my body at my ideal weight. Jennifer’s guided meditation requests that we do this. Similarly one I tried (given to me by an eating disorder psychologist I saw in the late 1990s) suggested we do the same. Back then I would find that I could (sometimes) get myself into a state where I couldn’t really move – which I figured was as hypnotised as I was gonna get – but the lifestyle changes and habits suggested to me during the meditation never came to fruition.
I try. I picture a body in gym gear… a fit butt and lean strong legs encased in leggings and a short shirt or singlet top with toned arms and no bulging stomach or flabby floppy boobs. But as my mind moves upwards I cannot imagine it to be me. Given the fact that I have been many (many) weights over the last 20 years of adulthood, you’d think I’d have a ‘face’ of reference in my bag of tricks (aka my memories). But no. I can’t picture my face at-a-healthy-weight, and I can’t picture a body at-a-healthy-weight with my head on top of it. I’m thinking I may need to do some photoshopping to assist. (Although I may need a picture of the real me, which this obviously isn’t!)
I’m not a very visual person. I don’t get Pinterest, I don’t get photo-based blogging. But that’s just me. I love words. I love the sound of words. I’m always in awe of those who explain something in a diagram rather than a diatribe. My mind just doesn’t work like that.
I’m assuming this is the reason I can’t visualise me at a healthy weight. I’m assuming it’s this rather than some other strange psychological block that’s preventing the picture I’m trying to see.
Has anyone else come across this problem? Can you see yourself at your ideal weight (if you’re not there already)?
Do you think I need to achieve this visualisation for the meditation to be successful?
August 6, 2012
when I was working to shed pounds I wasnt…in touch enough with myself to know to do this exercise.
I do this exercise DAILY with all else in my life Schmiet!
it works.
visualization really really works.
xo
August 7, 2012
Hi Miz, I really want to get there. I’ve decided I’ll keep listening to the CD at night, every night for the foreseeable future. Hopefully a healthily shaped and sized me (see note from Jennifer about language!!!) will seem more of a reality soon and I CAN picture it.
Deb
August 6, 2012
I had a hard time starting with a picture. What I found is that I could start with sounds. The lack of sound when my legs didn’t rub together. The sound of normal breathing when walking up stairs. The sound of the outdoors as I was walking. It was much easier to put myself in a setting. From there I could say…as I am walking outdoors, what am I wearing, etc.
I also found that I couldn’t really even see a picture. So I just concentrate on words. I tell myself the story of who I am living a healthy life. Slowly, slowly the pictures are coming.
If words come to you…use words. I bet the visual will come. I also bet the words will work without the visual. I have thought about recording myself to just play it back…but haven’t gotten that far.
August 7, 2012
Hi there and thanks for your comment. Jennifer made the same suggestions – given that I am an auditory thinker. Your suggestions are definitely very practical (cos I can seriously relate to the gasping of air when walking up stairs etc).
Thanks for encouragement! Good luck if you try recording yourself!
Deb
August 6, 2012
I used to fall asleep to it, too! In fact, that is what I used it for initially. Later, I started using it in the car, or right after work.
I too, have trouble visualizing my ideal weight/body. Because… I have NO idea what that’s going to look like. Instead, I visualize feeling strong and healthy in my body.
You definitely brought up some good points.
August 7, 2012
Hee hee, did you see the comment from Jennifer about you using it in the car!!!???
I’m so grateful to have won the CD. Will keep playing it when I go to bed at night. It’s sometimes a bit bizarre though cos I doze a bit and hear different bits and aren’t sure if I’ve listened all along or slept etc.
Tonight I’ll try some other options rather than the visualisation. (Assuming I’m awake until that part!)
August 7, 2012
Hi Schmiet! Thanks so much for sharing your comments on my Intuitive Eating recording. Glad you’re sleeping better. I hear often that I put people to sleep. 🙂 And yes, I believe your subconscious is still absorbing stuff, so no worries!
So, this is my take on the issue you brought up. In working with clients, I’ve found that some people are extremely visual, others are more kinesthetic (like Jill, they excel at FEELING things), and others are more auditory (they need to hear or speak things for it to really resonate). It sounds to me like you fit into the third group. So use that! Stop trying to visualize yourself at your healthiest size and shape – it will just frustrate you. Instead, see what works for YOU…are there words or phrases that resonate? i.e. “strong, healthy body”…”fit and energetic”…? Figure out what feels right and when I ask you to visualize during the recording, just do that instead. Experiment with the kinesthetic, too, just in case you’re a “feeler”, as well. Feel as powerfully as possible what your body would feel like to be healthy, fit, energetic, muscular…imagine especially how your strong, healthy body feels when it walks, climbs, dances, etc.
On another note, a suggestion…instead of using the phrase “ideal weight”, look for something like “healthiest body” or “healthiest size and shape”. Other than in the title of the recording (yikes!), I attempt to avoid mention of “weight” in my recordings, because I think the idea of reaching a certain weight is hammered into women, much to our detriment. Plus, we’re all so different, with different genetic blueprints. What’s healthiest and “normal” for each of us may be very different from the images of beauty and health that we are all bombarded with on a daily basis.
Oh, and one more thing (ahem – JILL)! I don’t recommend listening to the recordings while driving or operating heavy machinery. It could be dangerous if they make you feel drowsy. 🙂
August 7, 2012
Thanks so much for your comment Jennifer. I’ll try that. I did really want to see what I might look like at a healthy weight etc… so it disappointed me that I was unable to. But like you said, the words work for me (am definitely an auditory thinker). Will try the kinesthetic approach as well.
Oh and I do need to watch my language. In my first sentence I almost said I wanted to see what I looked like at a ‘normal’ weight! I like the phrasing you use in your comment – and in the CD (healthiest size and shape and made sure I quoted that in the post).
I’ve downloaded the interview you did with Christie Inge by the way and am looking forward to listening to that (I think it’s an hour) on my commute into work!
Deb
August 7, 2012
Hey Deb! Well, like “A” said…the images may come. But I think that, right now, your frustration over NOT being able to visualize a fitter, healthier you is distracting you from the whole experience. Just let it go for now and who knows…maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised when an image comes, in the future. I’d be curious to hear!
August 7, 2012
Thanks Jennifer… am sure I’ll be writing about it again!
Deb
August 7, 2012
Note taken. But… I have some rebel energy in me! 🙂
August 7, 2012
Gotta say I feel ya! I am a visual person but I just couldn’t see myself at my goal. Even AT my goal
I struggle to view myself as I am now size wise. It’s probably taken 2 years to stop buying “fat clothes”. Once you realize what you look like in the mirror though it’s awesome! If I knew id look this good hell yeah it would have motivated me 😉
August 7, 2012
Oh wow Di, that’s what I like to hear – that last sentence brought a smile to my face! (Better than the ‘Nothing tastes as good as being slim feels’ mantra!)
And well done on reaching goal and staying there!
Deb
August 7, 2012
Hi – I came over after reading your comment at magnetoboldtoo, thought I would have a look and leave you a comment. I wont be a regular reader as I have a lifetime of disordered eating and dieting that I am busy leaving behind. Diet, weight loss talk etc tend to trigger me straight back to a very unhealthy place. I read Intuitive Eating 15 months ago and it changed my life but I can’t be around the weight loss chat. It looks like you have a great blog and I wish you lots of love and luck on your journey.
Carol
August 7, 2012
Hi Carol
No worries, but thanks for visiting. I’m struggling with the intuitive eating thing at the moment – after years realising dieting doesn’t work for me (or if it does it’s brief).
Best of luck
Deb
August 7, 2012
I totally believe in the power of meditation & visualization … but like you I have a lot of trouble implementing it. I do a guided meditation at the END of a body balance class (a combination of yoga, Pilates & tai chi). Maybe it means that I need a lot of winding down before my mind is capable of being open to it?
August 7, 2012
Misha, the first time I did a meditation exercise was at the end of a yoga class and it was one I tried myself later (as a way to help me sleep, as I’m a TERRIBLE sleeper!). I’m getting some great suggestions to this post so am going to be able to keep trying I think!
Deb
August 7, 2012
Hi Deb, I’m not a great visualizer either sometimes, but I think I focus on feelings. How I will feel if I am fitter, stronger and faster and I focus a lot on the positive energy that abounds when I’m improving.
xx
August 7, 2012
Yes, feelings and words to describe how I look/feel seem to be the recommended approach for a non-visualiser like myself!!!
Deb
August 8, 2012
I recently learn to visualize myself thin as a part of my weight loss effort 🙂
It’s hard to see myself at my ideal weight at first, but I found this really exciting website http://www.faceinhole.com. Just put your face on the model’s body and you can see yourself thin instantly. If you found this is tricky, you can try this—> get a magazine and cut out just the face. Get a picture of yourself (make sure you’re smiling in the picture) and place it over the face of the person on the cover.
Have a nice day!
-Honeybee
http://healthybeautifulblog.blogspot.com
August 8, 2012
Thanks Honeybee… I did think of the photoshop type option. Will go and have a look at Faceinhole!!!
Thanks for visiting.
Deb
August 10, 2012
First I have to say that I your posts haven’t been showing up in my reader…and I realized that I hadn’t seen anything from you in a while so I came to your site to check and voila…there are several posts I’ve missed!!
I haven’t read all the comments, so this may have already been said, but I find that instead of visualizing…I focus on how I want to FEEL…what does an ideal body feel like? Use whatever senses make sense to you 🙂
August 10, 2012
I did get some comments suggesting that I try to focus on my feelings rather than picturing the healthier-me! I tried it last night. It was a bit of a struggle. I actually found myself picturing bits of bodies I’d like to have. Toned arms, toned stomach in gym pants… so maybe that’s it. I haven’t got to see the whole me, just what the changes I’d really like!
Deb