Do you ever wonder how some people seem to never have a problem with weight? Or have you ever wished that you could be like that person who doesn't crave sweets or unhealthy foods - the person who, without even thinking about it, just eats healthy. Yes, there are some people with higher metabolisms who can eat McDonalds on a daily basis with no sign of weight gain, but there are many more who just naturally make healthy decisions for their body.

What goes through their mind as they walk through a grocery store? What makes them think like they do?

There's a huge amount of information about the brain, memory, and conscious and subconscious behavior.  As I read articles on dieting and explored mental exercises for permanent weight loss, I began to connect what I knew as a researcher and hypnotist to what I learned about naturally thin people.

This article describes that connection.  It details three characteristics of the mind that, once known, will help you more effectively apply the suggestions given in the many excellent articles and books about weight loss and dieting, thus allowing you to take those and more easily modify your behaviors to achieve your desired results.

1. Our Natural Filter - Opening to Ideas

There exists a screening device located at the base of our brain called a Reticular Activating System (RAS). This net-like group of cells helps to decide what we are to be conscious of as it filters out other information. It allows only vital and important sensory input into our conscious awareness.

For example, you are not aware of the shirt on your back until I mention it; or the temperature of the room, or all the sounds in your environment. Thankfully, this filter exists or else we'd go crazy having to acknowledge every color, every sensation, every blink of the eye, and so forth.

What makes understanding the RAS so interesting is that we can shift our focus such that we can become conscious of things normally blocked from our awareness. Just as mothers can hear the slightest "peep" from their babies over many other louder sounds, we can soon become aware of the healthy food choices normally overlooked in a grocery store, for example.

When you first started driving your new car, you thought that not many drove the same model. But soon you began to see these everywhere. People didn't rush out and buy the same car. They were always there. You just made it important to you and thus, your Reticular Activating System allowed that information through. Once you make eating healthy and exercise important enough to get through, you will be in a new world of ideas and positive behaviors. 

I have a close friend who never eats anything the slightest bit unhealthy. We can walk through a grocery store and she will see healthy items - items that I know about and have eaten - that, for some reason, I never realized were even in the store despite my being there many, many times. She sees things that my mind doesn't register even though my eyes pass over it. But after being with her and seeing the things she saw, it was like the grocery store started carrying items seen only in a health food stores.

When being healthy becomes important enough to you, you will come across healthy recipes and food items that taste great and you'll wonder why you never considered these before. It's how your mind works. And it's not limited to food choices, but extends into all aspects of your life - your career, family, relationships, and so on.

2. The Brain's Total Recall

I've hypnotized people and taken them to their youth. Some described episodes totally forgotten in their present memory, while others would not believe what they saw until a relative confirmed the experience. Under hypnosis, some people can accurately recall license plate numbers and other details of an accident they were previously unable to remember.

I could give many more examples, but the point is this: we have stored in our brain every article we've read, every experience we've had, and every image that has passed before our eyes. It's all there. The challenge is to retrieve and apply this information deliberately.

Knowing about the RAS and that everything is stored in the brain, there are methods that strengthen the connection between the conscious and subconscious, which opens your mind to ideas and allows better access to the stored information. In other words, you know what's healthy. You know what to eat, what not to eat. You know that you should exercise in some manner, and so on. Once you understand these principles of the mind and trust in your intuition, you will find yourself making better decisions.

What are some of these methods to give you more willpower and strength to do the things you know to do?

There are many misconceptions about hypnosis. Some people think that their minds are controlled, that they can be made to do things against their will, that it's the work of the devil, and many other similar thoughts. On the other hand, many hypnotists would like you to believe that they have discovered the secret to affecting positive change in people and that they have great powers.

Actually, there is noting mystical or magical about it. In fact, there's very, very little difference between hypnosis and meditation or prayer. In both, you relax your mind and you focus on a goal. This is where the only mystery about hypnosis lies. No one really knows why, but for some reason, when a person achieves a certain relaxed state, the mind bypasses all the conscious limitations and is able to accomplish the most amazing things.

I've witnessed a Karate master place himself into a trance-like state and then place his bare hand on a pile of just-shattered glass while a small car was driven over it. The car alone should have caused damage, but even with the glass, he lifted his hand to show no injury whatsoever.

All the phenomena and craziness seen in a hypnosis stage shows is real. There's a small percentage of people who can achieve these deep trance states rather quickly and those are the people brought up onto the stage. What's empowering about these shows is that they so clearly demonstrate the power and capabilities of the human mind.

When someone is in a deep, hypnotic state, you can tell them that it's very, very hot and they will literally break out into a sweat. Likewise, I can make people shiver and have goosebumps. People can forget their names or the number 5 or laugh hysterically every single time they hear the word "sandwich." I have personally witnessed an elderly woman with dreadful eyesight taken back to her youth then asked to read a poster on the other side of the room she couldn't read before the session. When she was brought back, she needed her glasses once again. I can give many, many more examples but the point is this:

Think about that for a bit. It's one of the amazing things about the human mind. There is no difference between real and imagined.

If you can place yourself in a deep meditative state and so thoroughly imagine yourself living the behaviors and characteristics of a healthy, naturally thin person, then you literally become that person. Without even thinking about it, you start eating healthier. You begin a regular exercise routine. You eliminate sweets and processed foods. Some people do all of these things at once while others accumulate these behaviors one by one. Either way, you start to live the healthy lifestyle.

The challenge many face is to achieve this deep, meditative state while also focusing on your personal goals. There are many weight loss hypnosis tapes and CDs available. Most of them relax you in some way, then take you through a mental journey into the future where you imagine yourself wonderfully thin. Others add positive suggestions for exercise, eating right, or eliminating negative behaviors. I've heard other tapes that repeat positive affirmations while relaxing music plays in the background.

All of these can work. They do just what's needed - they relax you and help guide you into the deep, meditative state, then direct you to imagine your personal success. But they can be dramatically improved upon.

What makes the Whole-Mind Advanced Hypnosis and Guided Imagery CDs different is that they combine all of these different variations mentioned into one whole-mind experience. Moreover, additional techniques are used to help someone achieve a much deeper, much more meditative state.

But even without the CD, you can effect change on your own knowing the principles described in this article:

1. Once something becomes important enough to you, the Reticular Activating Systems allows the information through, opening your awareness to new ideas and new possibilities of being a thinner, healthier person.
2. You know exactly what you need to do. Everything you've read, heard, and experienced is stored in your brain.
3. In a deep meditative or hypnotic state, there is no difference between real and imagined. When you relax and focus on your goals with absolute conviction, you literally become that person imagined.

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In the next article, as I provide examples of how to achieve the relaxed, self-hypnotic state so that it's easier for you to become a healthy, naturally thin person, I will detail the various techniques behind guided meditation and hypnosis tapes and CDs.

This article was Part 2 of a series entitled, "Forever Slim: How to Achieve and Maintain Your Natural and Ideal Weight."
Part 1: 25 Characteristics of Healthy, Naturally Thin People
Part 2: Understanding the Mind: 3 Keys to being Naturally Thin
Part 3: The Science and Psychology behind the Forever Slim CD

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Rob Daugherty is a webmaster, author, lecturer, and certified hypnotist. This article series is the companion to the hypnosis/guided imagery CD he created in conjunction with Dr. Tanya Zilberter to specifically to help people develop the characteristics of a healthy, naturally thin person. Visit www.hypnosite.com and www.LetusPonder.com for more of his writing.