Finding Friendships With Like-Minded People

Have you ever met someone and right from the very beginning they seem to be a wonderful person. Someone who makes you laugh and feel good, treats others with compassion and is a very nice person. Once you start to spend time with them, you start to notice certain faults and become confused at some of the statements that are coming out of their mouth.

After a while, you start to see less and less of these people and over time they become just another memory. Often there is a problem or difficulty in your relationship that led to the demise of your friendship. Maybe you loaned them some money or let them borrow something and they didn't repay you are never returned the item or items you loan them.

Somehow this wonderful relationship ended and usually it was from a problem, one that just didn't make sense to you.

This has happened to me more than once in my lifetime and I have noticed that people who give can always find someone willing to take. Their friendships are often lighthearted and never serious. To them, you are just another person on a long list of people they have used and discarded like a piece of trash.

Somehow these people convince you that you're the problem, you're the reason why the friendship had failed.

I would like to offer those a little hope who have been used or felt like they have been used in a relationship like this. Opposites do seem to attract and if you're a giving person, stop giving and you won't have to deal with people who are always willing to take what you're giving. Now don't confuse this with, changing your core personality or who you really are but rather, be more observant as you offer your services or friendship to those always willing to benefit somehow from your relationship.

If you're the kind of person who doesn't have very many friends, but wishes to have some, keep looking. People who give often don't associate with other givers and people who take don't hang around other takers. If you're looking for someone like yourself, you're going to need to change or readjust your thinking somehow. You're usually the reason why you keep attracting the same type of friends into your life.

If there's a sports, hobby or something else that you enjoy, maybe you can join a club. Spending your life alone or with the wrong friends can lead to misery. Keep trying to improve your friendship skills and pretty soon you'll have friends that are truly that, true friends, people whom you can really trust and appreciate.

Achieving Your Goals

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Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a spiritual video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

Eye Of The Needle Christian Stor

Certified Rolfing & Budokon Yoga Science

At a point in history that is saturated with self help books, get rich gimmicks, and exercise infomercials, it is no wonder that Budokon yoga purposed to emerge in our culture. Budokon yoga is philosophy, science, and art for the spirit, body, and soul. Its literal Japanese translation is " way of the spirit warrior' and it represents a conscious decision to no longer chose "more of the same". It is said, "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few". The merging of yogic and martial movements combined with limbic re-integration techniques enables the human species to engage in health and wellness not known since the human movement potential era. It far exceeds the sum total of components needed for fitness and enables the whole person to awaken to a new potential organically. It has been heralded as "the most intelligent practice on the planet"; it is indeed a functional revolution.

So much time and energy is exhausted plotting how to look, feel, and get better. The emphasis is on the quantity and not the quality, on doing something instead of being something, as if there is a boundary separating the thought, the word, and the action. "How much can I shove into my day because I am busy getting somewhere", is how most of us live our lives, and it is said that, "the way we do anything is the way we do everything." The structural and functional differential states that quanta filters into sensation, then e-motion, into belief, and finally into expression, in other words our perception of "other" or our circumstances predicate our movement. When the pressure starts to mount in life or on the mat how do we keep the drama or the functional differential at bay? What if there was a way to approach all of our personal ideals as if they were already available in the form of latent potential waiting to be unearthed? Budokon is a system of somatic awareness that presents itself in the yogic, martial, and living arts with a premise of self-accountability, patience, and mastery by practicing just to practice. Weight loss, tone body, clear mind, better coordination, increased strength are not goals of Budokon, they are benefits. The nervous system that governs the functional differential does not normally change quickly but progressively by diligent, attentive practice it changes slowly and subtlety. Practice just to practice. It encompasses the components of nutrition, fitness, health and wellness desired by our culture and ultimately navigates each person to a more authentic expression, a functional evolution.

The movement science of this practice is purposed to cultivate bio-mechanic potentials that are consistent with structural and functional ideals. What distinguishes Budokon yoga movement from all other yogic or martial systems is its recognition and subsequent utilization of the spinal engine. The spinal engine theory suggests that all biomechanical movement, walking, running, yoga, etc... originates in the small muscles of the spine that initiate movement. The origin and insertion of these tissues initiate and accommodate movement in the sagital, frontal, and transverse planes, thus when the activation for movement begins it expresses from the spine, through the core, into the appendicular. Since we are designed to live in a dynamic, fluid filled body it makes perfect sense that a practice cultivate uninhibited movement in all three planes with flexion-extension, side bend, and rotation. Movement in life is the sum total of all three primary planes and associated movements in these planes operating synergistically, so our practice is more fruitful if it acknowledges these potentials. Budokon also provides a dynamic approach to medial/internal and lateral/external rotation of the pelvic and shoulder girdles, with core activation enabling the spinal engine to transmission into full expression extending in to an open or closed kinetic chain. The kinetic chain is an energetic potential that transmissions from the spine, core, or Mu into the appendicular or limbs of the body. If a limb is grounded the chain is closed, sending system wide signals of stabilization and containment and if a limb is not grounded but extended with direction into infinity it is open. The nervous system is designed to operate in terms of survival and predictability and activation can be voluntary or involuntary. The limbic brain is where the body houses these maps of movement predictability for survival and as we discussed earlier its change is slow and subtle or sub-cortical. These changes happen when they are discovered not discussed so it seems that when one allows the opportunity to play with movement as an exploration into something new and unfamiliar as apposed to analyzing and repeating something taught, that spontaneous change can happen. Limbic re-integration is a vital component to Budokon yoga that enables each individual to play and explore bio-mechanic potentials buried under the yoke of cultural and social stigmas. Gorilla, kimodo dragon, bull frog, panther, lion, crocodile, spinning monkey, and many others can provide a gateway to a new movement potential by offering the opportunity to play with homologous, homo-lateral, and contra-lateral movements.

Philosophy plus science equals art. The artistic value of Budokon yoga emerges through movements like rolling wave, floating frog, dancing dog, flying warrior and dancing lion. Budokon is a yogic and martial system teaching basic movements that can augment into a more advanced expression by making movement fun, exploratory, and efficient. The merging of the yogic and martial movements into a practice is a way for complete new comers to engage in learning and exploring basic stand up and ground budo with out the threat of failure. Art is adaptation and although there is form that is essential to efficiency of movement, it is the exploration of innovating the form that creates the fertile ground for artistic value. Budokon yoga instructors are specific to teaching form while allowing the opportunity to play, explore, and innovate. When movement is sloppy and unrefined it is not innovation it is laziness, it is the predictable pattern of movement that is no longer desired and Budokon yoga will not enable more of the same. It will provide the framework for a new potential and allow each individual to create a different and more satisfying option.

There is so much more that can be written in an attempt to discuss Budokon yoga and its life altering benefits, but again true change can not be discussed it has to be experienced. To list and identify all of the components of Budokon and the practice would create a lengthy article and it is not the focus of this article to overwhelm the reader with everything but just enough of the philosophy, science and art so that an individual can make an informed decision to no longer chose more of the same.

Budokon yoga and the Certified Rolfing Ten Series have the ability to reduce pain and release tension in the connective and myofascial tissue of the body associated with TMJ, CTS, RLS, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Fascitis, Bunions, Scoliosis, and Cerebral Palsy. Fascial asymmetries can cause foot, leg, knee, hip, back, shoulder, neck, arm, hand, and head pain; integration therapy is necessary. Orthopedic, Chiropractic, Physical, and Massage Therapist recognize Rolfing and Rolf Movement as premium pain management utilizing Structural, Functional, and Postural Integration. Before and after photo's of some of my clients proven results available only on my website.

John Barton, Certified Rolfer & Rolfing Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas
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certifiedrolfing.com

Game Of Life And How To Play

Finding the Lost Sheep

The Bible is full of stories and the stories can teach children as well as adults how to live a pretty decent life. Extracting the meaning from most of the parables isn't that difficult. We cannot say for a fact that our interpretations of these parables are true, I say to you truly, what do you think Jesus really meant.

We have heard stories like these for years, biblical scholars, pastors and other Christian leaders, even my Sunday school teacher could explain most of the parables as they were taught. These teachers of course were taught by their teachers and who knows how long the meaning of these stories have remained the same. Meaning to the parables could have easily changed over the centuries.

Here's one of the parables about the lost sheep, read it and then, spend some time evaluating it, to see if you really know what it means, or at least take your best guess.

If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

If we lost one of our children or were driving through the forest one day and noticed a man upsets and panicking as he's running around furiously looking for something. Most of us would would be curious or nosy, it's our human nature I guess, thanks a lot God, we would probably try to find out what was going on and offer our assistance.

The parable clearly shows an example of someone searching for something that he dearly cares about. This makes a lot of sense but can have different meanings, especially if it's read during different stages in our lives. Whether God created man or we evolved somehow on earth, one thing is for sure, most of us seem to care about our loved ones and will travel to the ends of the earth if they were to lost.

Sometimes lost sheep are standing right in front of us, we reach out to help them and they do not respond. Maybe you're one of the lies sheep, spending most of your time helping other sheep, but really you're the one who needs the help. Education can set you free from religious bondage.

Great Christian Articles

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Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended books, You Can Have It All

Appreciation Gifts - Great Technique For Employee Motivation

Another way to motivate your sales people is by giving them a reward for a job well done. These people have devoted their lives to their work, so they deserve a special reward or gift from the company. Recognizing them by means of gifts creates motivation and can maintain employee's high morale. Gifts are items from the company that are given to deserving employees, because the company wants to treat them well and show them that they matter a lot and their good service is highly needed and appreciated. These ideas will help you fulfill what people want from work and create high employee motivation.

However, choosing what to give is not an easy task. Sales people under you can be choosy sometimes and buying the wrong gift can create frustration. Most companies prefer giving cash incentives or rewards, but it isn't always the best motivators - after all, sales people understand already that more sales can give them more cash. Promotional items have always been the best gift idea for giving appreciation and reward, not to mention how they would love to see their gifts with some touch of creativeness.

There are lots of gift ideas that are popping out. Ever wonder why there are still some problems you might encounter just finding out what to give to your outstanding people? Varieties of good items are widely available in the market as well as in online stores. This perhaps can give you a headache, but in order for you to be exempted from some head-cracking decision, might as well ask your sales people directly about what they want to receive. Asking them during free hours, lunch time in particular, can even add a great sense of bonding between you and your employee, plus you'll get to know each of their personalities better. You will not only create a harmonious factor within your workplace, but you also gain answers about what to give for them - a nice and smart option.

Popular items to give that suits sales people's personalities are cuff links. Cuff links are perfect for sales people that needs to look presentable always. A good choice of cuff links can complete the over all dress up of a sales person. Presenting an over all sales package to the customer includes the look and personality of the presenter - sales person. It is important to look good for your field is on sales and marketing, your armor are your look and your intellect. Actually, cuff links can makes you look more intellectual because of its elegant feature that can show your profound professionalism.

If you're opt for more special cuff links or a unique type, you might consider personalized one. There are also plethora of personalized and themed cuff links to choose from. There are styles and designs to further highlight your sales person's interest for sport such as tennis racket, golf ball, football and chess themed cuff links. Or for more elegant and sophisticated look there are also personalized sterling silver, mother of pearl oval, stainless steel and prime textured stainless steel cuff links that are perfectly matched with any outfit of your sales people. Your sources are endless, personalized business gifts like monogrammed business card holders can be a great option also.

Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. For more information on personalized business gifts, visit the website Mybusinessgifts.com. Browse their extensive collection and get gifts like cuff links to give to your employees.

Jews to Receive Jesus as Israel's King!

Is there strong indication in the Bible that Israel will have a change of heart and accept Yeshua because of the preaching of two prophets in Jerusalem, the Two Witnesses announced in Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11? Will the Jews grasp Jesus is the Anointed One, the Lamb and Lion of God, and finally convert?

Yes! There is definite proof of such as Yeshua clearly said He wouldn't return to Jerusalem, Judah or the Jews until they have a change of heart and welcome Him. The Two Witnesses, in the power and spirit of Elijah (who is dead and buried and awaits the First Resurrection), will prepare the way by preparing our people to receive our King!

Matthew 23:39

39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'

Zechariah the prophet foresees such a long-awaited repentance and recognition! The Jews in Jerusalem will perceive that the Pierced One is the Firstborn of Judah and the Firstborn of God -- our King Messiah!

Zechariah 12:10-15

10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David [political establishment] by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi [religious establishment] by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.

Yeshua, first and foremost, is the King of the Jews, the King of Israel (all Twelve Tribes of Israel). Yeshua is coming back specifically to keep alive God's physical promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and our Israelite forefathers who left Egypt: the iron-clad promise that the Fathers will always have some survivors, some physical remnant, beyond any shadow of a doubt.

The cities of Judah will hear this message loud and clear:

Matthew 24:22

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elects sake those days will be shortened.

Romans 11:28

28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.

Leviticus 26:44-45

44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.

45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.

We are the physical elect, the physical Chosen People -- primarily the British-Israelites and Jews, Joseph and Judah -- for whose sakes' those days will be cut short by divine intervention or we would all be history and Satan could say God is a liar. But God's Word is good and true and He will prepare our people by a baptism of repentance by the Two Witnesses, speaking to our captive audience from Jerusalem (having been conquered by the German-Jesuit EU), giving us the GOOD NEWS that our personal lord and NATIONAL SAVIOR, our NATIONAL DELIVERER, is coming soon to save us.

It is this glorious GOOD NEWS that I share within the first chapter of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall, appropriately called: "Survival Guaranteed!"

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out the Beyond Babylon blog.

Are Barack Obama's Statements on Faith Biblical?

The information in this article was taken directly from the official website of Mr. president-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. This allows readers to easily verify all quotes for themselves.

The site allows the visitor to navigate to a section entitled, "People" with a subsection entitled, "People of Faith". It is here where the visitor reads, "Barack Obama is a committed Christian." The visitor may also download the file, "ObamaonFaith.pdf which highlights "key values in Barack Obama's public statements on faith and politics".

His doctrine on religion sounds positive, serene, and like it is one that's long overdue for adoption by the American people. However, Christians, in particular, evangelical Christians, claim belief and adherence to the doctrine of Christ above that of anyone else. The Christian doctrine on faith, according to believers in Christ, is prescribed in the collection of scriptures known as the Holy Bible. Although the claim that the Bible can be interpreted in many different ways, it's interesting to observe that such a claim quickly vanishes at the presentation of actual scripture quoted word for word.

In Obama's public statements on faith and politics and in the book, "The Audacity of Hope", his peaceful sounding philosophy is made clear. He stated that faith should not be a wedge to divide. He also stated that faith is thought of as a source of comfort and understanding, but that the expressions of faith sow division, tension and conflict. These are his words accurately paraphrased; again, they can be easily verified by visiting his official website.

Barack Obama's words are not in agreement with the words of Jesus, the author of Christianity. The Lord never said that this present world would or ever should see religious harmony because everyone will not choose to serve him. The Lord himself said in the scripture of Matthew 10:34-36, "think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance (conflict) against his father and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes (enemies) shall be they of his own household." Jesus could not have been any more forceful or clear in his prophecies regarding deception and how changing attitudes will cause his true followers to be viewed as the world's last obstacle to universal peace.

Why is this? Because while the majority preaches that all paths lead to God, true Christians preach that Jesus is the only way to God. This is the division that divides even households. This is the division that labels the followers of Christ as barriers to international harmony. This is the division that leads to Christians being the target of pure hatred--hatred for spirit of Christ that dwells in them. Nevertheless, God has servants who will not compromise knowing that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth , and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me" (KJV, St. John 14:6).

Again, the scripture of 1 John 5:20 says, "and we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true. And we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."

Bible studies for today's Christian at: Heavenly Manna

David Swenson

The Reason Diets Don't Work

Excess weight is one of this country's major physical and mental health problems. Not only are there several serious medical conditions, but people who are overweight are more likely to suffer from poor body image, lowered self-esteem and related anxieties and depression.

"Approximately 280,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are related to obesity. Several serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Obesity is also linked to higher rates of certain types of cancer." Understanding Adult Obesity: NIDDK (Excerpt)

The energy and money expended each year by Americans wishing to lose weight could practically run a small country! The cost of being overweight in terms of human unhappiness is incalculable. There is a reason why Americans are still overweight despite spending all this money on weight loss...diets don't work!

But in order to understand why diets don't work, it is important to first understand how the mind works. Once you understand how it works, you will be halfway to making major changes in your life... If you change your mind, you will change your destiny! There are 3 main areas of the mind that I'm going to address...the conscious, the subconscious, and the critical area of the mind.

The conscious mind is our short-term memory. It is the logical, reasoning, decision-making part of the mind. This is where we decide to lose weight and it's the part of our brain that controls our will-power. In order to make positive changes and become mentally fit, we need to be consciously aware of the need for change, be motivated to get better, and believe we can achieve our goal. The conscious is the part of the mind that is in-charge. It makes up about 12% of our brain-capacity.

The subconscious mind is our long-term memory. It makes up the other 88% and it always hears, always pays attention and is anxiously awaiting instructions on how to help the proper way. It is the most powerful computer ever created, capable of running multiple tasks simultaneously. It does not judge, criticize, analyze or reject...it simply records and reacts. It does not understand, does not have a sense of humor and it takes everything literally.

To better understand the relationship of the conscious mind as it relates to the subconscious mind, I use this analogy:

The mind is like a computer. The subconscious is like the operating system, always on, in the background, doing all the basic functions that we don't have to "think about" such as breathing, walking, etc. The subconscious doesn't know the difference between fact and fiction; it just stores information and reacts according to the information stored. Everything to the subconscious, whether real or imagined, is a FACT.

The conscious mind meanwhile, is in the foreground executing our behavior. This is where we get our "will-power".

Between the conscious and the subconscious is a sort of filter, called the "critical mind". (You probably know it as "critical thinking".) This filter helps to protect us, keeping us from taking in information that is incorrect or negative, sort of like our own personal little Spam-filter. Sometimes, however, negative or incorrect information slips through this filter and goes into our subconscious. Once it is in the subconscious, it is locked in and is very difficult to change, at least on the conscious level.

There is hope, however...if we want to change a behavior, we just need to "hack in" to the subconscious and modify the existing belief system (reprogramming the operating system). We do this through Hypnosis.

How many times have you tried to do something that required Will-Power, only to fail? It doesn't mean that you're weak. You see, the conscious mind, where Will-Power and Reason come from, only uses up approximately 12% of our Brain-Power. The other 88% comes from the subconscious.

The reason diets, for instance, don't work is because they rely on the conscious mind. Remember, the conscious mind, where we get our will-power, only makes up about 12% of your mind. The subconscious, the part that makes up the other 88% is fighting it! No wonder it's so difficult to lose weight! If 88% of your mind is saying yes to chocolate cake, that poor little 12% of your mind is going to have a hard time fighting it.

Let me give you another example...perhaps you've been overweight for many years and you decide it's a new year, now is the time that you're finally going to go on a diet and make it stick. When you make a conscious decision to lose weight, however, you are only using the conscious area of your mind (12%). Your subconscious (88%) believes the "fact" that you've always been overweight, you've tried and failed many times with many different diets, and so you'll never be thin. As far as the subconscious is concerned, you've always been overweight, you'll always be overweight, and nothing you can say or do will change that!

This is where hypnosis can be very helpful. While in hypnosis the critical mind gets placed in the background, allowing the subconscious mind to open up and accept positive suggestions (like turning off the spam-filter to allow a specific program to download onto your hard-drive). In this way, we can "download" new suggestions into your subconscious to change your way of thinking and create a picture of being permanently thin, at a more healthy weight, therefore helping you to achieve your goals!

So what does all this mean with regard to dieting and losing weight? It's very simple really. Once a suggestion is "downloaded" into the subconscious mind, it is considered a "known fact". We often use self-suggestion in our everyday lives, many times without even realizing we're doing it. You see, it all has to do with the way that we perceive ourselves to be. Statements or thoughts such as, "I cannot lose weight, no matter how hard I try", or "I'll never be able to do this" are very powerful, but very negative self-suggestions. (Remember, the subconscious takes everything literally and whether it's true or not, believes it to be a "fact".) Our subconscious mind is innocent and naive. It tries to protect and help us as much as possible, and tries the best way it knows how. However, having the intelligence level of approximately a four year old child, many times it does not help us the proper way and needs to be redirected.

This is where hypnosis comes in. Hypnotherapy is a highly effective means of achieving habit control to correct problems such as being overweight. In hypnosis, we give suggestions such as, "you CAN lose weight" and "you WILL be able to do this". Statistics show that using hypnosis can significantly increase your chances of not only losing unwanted weight, but also keeping it off for good.

Hypnosis can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches...

An analysis of five weight loss studies reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 showed that the "...weight loss reported in the five studies indicates that hypnosis can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches."University of Connecticut Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 (Vol. 64, No. 3, pgs 517-519)

Hypnosis Subjects Lost More Weight Than 90% of Others and Kept it Off

Researchers analyzed 18 studies comparing a cognitive behavioral therapy, such as relaxation training, guided imagery, self monitoring or goal setting with the same therapy supplemented by hypnosis. Those who received the hypnosis lost more weight than 90 percent of the non hypnosis, and maintained the weight loss two years after treatment ended.

University of Connecticut, Storrs Allison DB, Faith MS. Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for obesity: a meta-analytic reappraisal. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(3):513-516.

Of course, hypnosis only works if you do your part. Just like any training program you have to actually be the one to do the work. As the saying goes, you can't pay someone to do your push-ups for you! Hypnosis is not something that the hypnotherapist does "to you". Your mind is like a muscle. You have to exercise it. The job of the hypnotist is sort of like the job of a personal trainer - to guide you and help you achieve your goal. You can go to the gym 7 days a week, but if your personal trainer lifts all the weights for you, your muscles will not grow any larger, your body will not get any more firm. Your hypnotherapist can make it much easier and will help motivate you through guided imagery and other techniques, but you still have to put forth the effort in order to be successful.

Certain procedures seem to produce positive results very reliably. In Hypnosis, we give suggestions that you can still eat foods that you like, but you will cut down on the quantity of food that you eat. By taking good care of yourself, you will find that your mind and body begin to work more and more together. Using hypnosis and following these simple guidelines will help you lose the excess weight and keep it off for the rest of your life.

Weight loss is greater where hypnosis is utilized

Research into cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments established that weight loss is greater where hypnosis is utilized. It was also established that the benefits of hypnosis increase over time.

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1996)

A survey of psychotherapy literature by Alfred A. Barrios, Ph.D. revealed the following recovery rates:

Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions

Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions

Hypnotherapy 93% Recovery after 6 sessions

Source: American Health Magazine

Below is a list of things you can do to ensure your success:

1. If you need to lose more than 20-30 pounds, it is always a good idea to undergo a physical examination before beginning any weight loss program.

2. Request that your doctor give you a sensible, balanced diet plan. The goal of hypnotherapy is to restructure your eating pattern so that not only will you lose weight, but you will keep it off by maintaining a sensible eating pattern for the rest of your life. Avoid fad diets and crash diets! You may lose weight with these but will not establish a permanent eating pattern with which to keep it off.

3. Plan to lose a maximum of about 2 pounds per week. This will reduce bodily strain to a minimum, keep your feelings of urgency and anxiety down and allow you to adjust to your newly emerging self. 2 pounds a week may not seem like much now, but if you follow this plan, a year from now you could be 100 pounds lighter! (And how much will you weigh in a year if you do keep on doing what you've been doing?)

4. Do not worry about whether or not you can achieve a deep state of hypnosis. Sometimes lighter-state subjects seem to have better results in weight therapy than deeper-state subjects.

5. Think about the times of day when you have the most difficulty resisting problem foods, and try to substitute some other activity or thought for the undesirable eating patterns. For example, you could go for a walk. It would get you away from the source of the foods you're craving and give you some healthy exercise at the same time.

6. Do not get discouraged. Some people may diet for as long as seven days and lose only a pound. But, they may lose three inches during the same time because their fatty deposits may turn to liquid and liquid weighs 12% more than fat. To minimize depression, weigh yourself only once a week.

Understanding Adult Obesity: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem; it is a health hazard. Approximately 280,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are related to obesity. Several serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Obesity is also linked to higher rates of certain types of cancer. Obese men are more likely than non-obese men to die from cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. Obese women are more likely than non-obese women to die from cancer of the gallbladder, breast, uterus, cervix, or ovaries. Other diseases and health problems linked to obesity include:

Gallbladder disease and gallstones.

Liver disease.

Osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate. This is possibly the result of excess weight on the joints.

Gout, another disease affecting the joints.

Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea in which a person can stop breathing for a short time during sleep.

Reproductive problems in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility.

Health care providers generally agree that the more obese a person is the more likely he or she is to develop health problems.

In weight therapy it is very important to constantly stimulate your motivation because lasting results come about gradually. This is why we use reinforcement CDs in our Weight Management Program, which should be listened to every night about 30 minutes before bedtime. Listening to them every night for the duration of the program will help keep you on track. It is also crucial to keep learning about your new eating patterns, your new physical being, and increase your self-esteem. Eventually the things you have learned will serve as motivators and reinforce the new eating patterns.

Sheila Kharfaoui is a hypnotherapist in the Tampa, Florida area who studied hypnosis through HMI, the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, in Tarzana, CA.

"I loved the hypnotist certification program so much that I decided to go on and get my diploma in Hypnotherapy with them as well. HMI is America's first nationally accredited college of hypnotherapy, offering more than just some "weekend course" like many other hypnosis schools, through HMI I received over 700 hours of training which helped me to realize my dream.

Now let me help you realize yours. If you would like to stop smoking, gain confidence, stop procrastination or lose weight and keep it off forever, simply go to http://www.hypnosheila.webs.com to purchase CDs which will help you easily accomplish your goals. Be sure to check out our 'Specials' page for deep discounts! You can also find over 140 other ways that Hypnotherapy can help you."

Thanks for choosing Coast to Coast Hypnosis!

-Sheila Kharfaoui, C.Ht.