Paul McKenna way of eating - anyone else doing it?

I love paul mckenna and have lost weight before on his "I can make you thin" program. I watched it in Jan 06 when it was on tv and adopted his way of eating conciously and lost almost a stone before falling by the wayside and almost giving up. Over a year later, I saw it on tv again and having read his book, but not using the cd, I decided to give it a go. It is the ONLY thing that has been painless weight loss for me. So, I was wondering is there anyone out there that is a believer? I am really into it, using the techniques, cd, and really eating conciously. I am not using a scale, but I know I have lost weight in just over a week b/c I feel thinner and my clothes are just a touch looser. I even went out to eat and didn't have the "fat" feeling afterwards, and I had dessert! Just not a heck of a lot of it, but I felt satisfied. DH doesn't believe in it and keeps telling me not to eat something  b/c he thinks I will get fat, but on this way of eating, I can have chocolate and still lose weight! I have rambled on, but please pm or reply here if you are a Paul McKenna success or believer, I would love to stop feeling like a loon b/c no one else I know does it.

what exactly is it? what's different about it?

There are 4 rules and a couple of techniques that you apply when you have cravings or emotional hunger.

1) eat when you're hungry
2) stop when you're full or almost full
3) eat what you want
4) eat conciously, enjoying every mouthful, putting your fork (or food) down between each bite

There's a hypnotherapy cd that I have listened to (comes with his book) and it works really well. I just ate half what I would for lunch, but am very full. I have even used the cravings technique (based on TFT, it's a tapping thing you do) and it seriously works. I was very skeptical, but so far, so good. And I don't feel deprived, you eat whatever you want.

There's a thread about it on the Shrinkers board, but you have to subscribe to that board so not everyone will have seen it.

There are a few of us here who have used it a bit. I started using it but lost momentum and dropped it. I do think it really works but you need to be quite focused - it takes time to make it a habit and I just didn't work at it long enough.

Coincidentally I did pick it up again this week and dh has started listening to the CD (funny for a bloke, I know, but he likes it!) So maybe I'll give it another go. I wonder if it would help to print out the principles and post them in the places I eat. 

I tried it, but it didn't work at all for me. I think if you're someone with just a bit of weight to lose, it would be a success. But if you need to lose a substantial amount, then ... no. I mean, I'm overweight because I'm always hungry. That's the problem. So eating whenever I'm hungry? That's what got me to where I am today!  

Just my opinion. I know it does work for a lot of people.

Yes, DH doesn't get that you eat whatever you want, but the thing is really knowing when you're truly hungry or when you're mind is fooling you into being hungry b/c you're bored, thirsty or lonely. I used to eat a lot b/c I was lonely, bored, frustrated, angry, anxious - you name it, I ate b/c of it! Now, I have found that I don't need to feel anxious about food or eating and I am much more comfortable and in control of when and how I eat. I think it works best for those with a lot to lose just b/c you start to deal with the eating patterns that caused the weight gain and you begin to see yourself positively no matter what you weigh.

I will have a look at the other thread, thanks! It does take tenacity and a while to make a new habit, which is why I was hoping to find others that are doing it so I can not feel like so alone in it. DH just doesn't get it and a few friends of mine tell me that it's just common sense, when in reality, it is, but it isn't for some of us. I used to be hungry all the time, now I am comfortable and full most of the time. I still struggle, but I have TFT (the tapping thing for cravings) and anothing method he teaches which really helps. I know this will work much better than any other diet and I want it to become my way of life.

but the thing is really knowing when you're truly hungry or when you're mind is fooling you into being hungry b/c you're bored, thirsty or lonely.

Weight Watchers is all about that as well. But, for me personally, I need more control. Simply recognising whether or not I'm hungry isn't enough.

While I do agree with most of the rules (eat when you are hungry and eat until you feel satisfied), it would not work for me, b/c I can't eat whatever I want and lose weight.  I eat a very healthy diet (I hate calling it a diet, b/c it is less of a diet and more a way of life for me...if that makes any sense).  I have eaten this way for most of my adult life.  So, If I were to eat whatever I wanted, I would gain.     

I do eat when I am hungry, so I eat 5 to 6 small meals a day (some being snacks).  I only eat until I feel satisfied rather than uncomfortably full. 

I don't agree with the eat whatever you want, b/c let's face it, some foods are just not healthy for you.  I may like the taste of fried chicken (I really don't, but just trying to make a point), but there is no way I am going to eat it, b/c fried food just isn't good for you.

JMHO.

In my family there is a propensity to eat, and eat a lot (we southerners love our food!). I'm getting worried about the future for me because I am a person who is constantly hungry, and I always eat everything on my plate until I feel sick (due to that whole "eat what's on your plate!" thing I grew up with). Without even knowing about that Paul McKenna method, I have unconsciously worked a few of those things into my way of eating. At family gatherings, I put about half of what I actually want to eat on my plate, and usually end up eating half of that amount. My grandma will be right behind me going "aren't you gonna eat more? are you feeling sick? why aren't you eating more?" I just might look into this a bit more to help me when I go out to restaurants too. Seems like that's my downfall. I'm not interested in losing weight really, but I want to make sure I develop a healthy eating style as I move further into adulthood so I don't end up gaining loads of weight like my grandma did. She's borderline diabetic, but her sister and brother both are and are both very obese. Damn genetics! I also eat a lot when bored. I'll find myself eating but knowing I'm not even hungry. I just love food

Thank you for sharing this!

It's not just eating what you want, b/c that doesn't work. You have to read the book or watch the program. You have to eat SLOWLY. One bite at a time, tasting the food and putting the knife and fork down each time.

Maybe it's not communicated well over this type of forum. I was hoping there were others that already knew what it was about b/c I have found that anyone I have told about it is skeptical and doesn't believe me.

Maybe it's not communicated well over this type of forum. I was hoping there were others that already knew what it was about b/c I have found that anyone I have told about it is skeptical and doesn't believe me.

As Anne said, there's already a Shrinkers thread about it, but you do need to subscribe (ask a mod) first. I think several people here were really into it!

I've used it and I really think it works. I have always been a really fast eater and the CD and book is the only thing thats actually made me slow down for an entire meal. I really enjoyed my food more, even simple stuff. I just couldn't find the time to really listen to the CD regularly and after a couple weeks I was back to my old ways. 

I've used it and I really think it works. I have always been a really fast eater and the CD and book is the only thing thats actually made me slow down for an entire meal. I really enjoyed my food more, even simple stuff. I just couldn't find the time to really listen to the CD regularly and after a couple weeks I was back to my old ways. 

Oh no! Don't say that    I know 25 min is a long time to find each week or every few days, which is why I am setting aside the time. Last night I was amazed, I ate less than 2 pieces of pizza, 2 chicken fingers and only 6 minstrels where had later at the movies! I was full! I was shocked that I was full. I had listened to the cd that afternoon and was a little skeptical, but tried it anyway at dinner. Maybe you'd be willing to try again? Feel free to pm me, I'd like to find someone to chat about it once in a while. I have yet to find it on the uk shrinkers thread.

I do get it!! I think the "eat whatever you want" bit only makes sense after doing it for a while. It's not "eat whatever you want" in the sense of eating an entire cake because that would break the "eat until you're full" rule. The trick is to really have a think about what you want to eat and at some point your body is going to tell you that you don't actually want crisps for every meal - it's going to tell you that you really want... I don't know, a peach or something.

Sometimes we THINK we want comfort foods but when we really think about it, that's an emotional craving (e.g. we want something crunchy because we feel anxious).... And when we do treat ourselves to something not-so-healthy that we really and truly want, if we really think and eat slowly, a few ends up being plenty..... For me, weight loss is about overriding my emotions and my mind by listening to my body. It's SO hard - afterall I've been eating for all the wrong reasons for 30+ years!!!

By the way, here's the Shrinkers thread for those of you subscribed to that board:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=20674.0