Paul McKenna - I Can Make You Thin at Diet Trials : Paul McKenna

Paul McKenna - I Can Make You Thin

Published by Diet Trials January 13th, 2006 in Paul Mckenna Book

I have been so inspired over the past few days that I ordered the Paul McKenna book from Amazon on Day 2. It arrived today and what a read. I will be posting up the various chapters as I get through them and share my thoughts on them. It looks like the book will follow the TV show on Sky One but the book allows you to get into more detail. The book also comes with a CD that you have to listen to at the end. It is meant to be a bit of a hypnosis CD that will reaffirm what you will have learnt from this course, so we’ll save that for later!
Hopefully it will be the best £6 that I have spent.

70 Responses to “Paul McKenna - I Can Make You Thin”

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1 LynWings Feb 8th, 2006 at 6:09 pm

Hi,

I’m not sure if this is where I should be posting a query but here goes;
I have purchased the book with the CD and my query is when Paul tells you on the CD to start counting backwards from 300 do you continue to count all the way through the CD?
Is it to divert your conscious mind so that the suggestions are going into your subconscious?
And what do you do when you get to zero? Start counting again?
Thanks, hope you can answer my query.

LynWings
2 Martin Feb 9th, 2006 at 10:21 am

LynWings, I dare to say if you manage to count from 300 to 0 and then ask yourself what to do next - you’re doing something wrong. In my opinion, you should reach a state of relaxation while doing that, without any questions.
3 Diet Trials Feb 9th, 2006 at 10:28 am

Hi LynWings,
Thanks for leaving your comment. How are you finding that Paul McKenna diet in general. Are you managing to lose some weight?
Thanks for your questions about the hypnosis CD…I have done a full post on my experience with the hypnosis CD for you and anyone else who has questions about it. Martin is right really, when I listened to the CD I just followed what Paul was telling me to do and didn’t think about anything else. You need to get yourself calm and generally relaxed before you start the CD and just let Paul in a way guide you through it. I would say that even if you missed a few nubers out in the count down it’s not going to matter at all. I think I lost track of the numbers when I was doing it.
4 helen Feb 9th, 2006 at 6:39 pm

Hi Lynwings
Have been listening to the CD religiously for over two weeks now and I have never got below 263!! I just find i get to that and then Paul asks you to visualise and i find myself drawn into that. Plus i have only really heard all of the CD about twice cos i’m so relaxed after about 10/15 mins - in fact most of the time i do drift off to sleep. Is this wrong? Perhaps i am listening to it at the wrong time? However i do hear his voice at various times of the day when i am in danger of breaking one of the Golden Rules, so it must be going in.
Big weigh in tonight as i am at day 15, so wish me luck!!
5 LynWings Feb 12th, 2006 at 12:07 am

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies.

Yes I do go into a state of deep relaxation but am able to count through it whilst still listening so I would have to consciously stop counting at some point. So do you think I should be counting till I really am relaxed and then just listen? I thought that it would go into your subconscious anyway as long as you are in a state of deep relaxation.

I have only been on the diet for 5 days so it is too early to tell if it is working and today it has been my birthday so I did eat at set meal times and not waited till I was hungry to fit in with the family visiting and I probably ate more than I should have done!

Prior to today I have followed the Golden Rules and listened to the CD daily. It seems to be working psychologically because there are no ‘forbidden foods’ which I feel is a problem when on a conventional diet.
I absolutely can’t cope without chocolate but because I know that if I am hungry I can eat some it has had the effect that I haven’t particularly wanted any!

Hope the weighing went well Helen. I don’t have any scales so I will check my weight loss by the fit of my clothes!

Any more comments would be welcome as I didn’t see the programme on Sky and am relying on the book and CD.

Lyn
6 Diet Trials Feb 13th, 2006 at 4:56 pm

Hi LynWings
One piece of advise for you is to keep on track, and not let the diet slip. Keep focused on the Golden Rules. It is really hard isn’t it when you have to fit in with other people and so called set meal times. I found that I was really dissappointed in myself when I ended up eating when I wasn’t actually hungry. The SkyOne show all in all was more of a publicity stunt really. I found the first programme the most interesting and inspiring out of the whole. The first show detailed the Golden Rules, but the other shows came across as a bit staged if you know what I mean. The book covers it all and more so you didn’t miss much!
7 LynWings Feb 16th, 2006 at 10:28 pm

Hi
Thanks for the encouragement and advice. It really is helpful to read about other people who are doing this at the same time and their experiences.

I am going on holiday next week and there will be a set time for the evening meal which I will have to stick to but I will probably be hungry by that time anyway. I will try to stick to the golden rule of stopping when I am full.

Best wishes to you all, stick at it!

LynWings
8 keith hall Jun 14th, 2006 at 1:54 pm

I have been watching the series on Sky Three and in general seems to make perfectly good sense, and I will be attempting most of his tips to help me eat sensibly.

I would like however to make one comment about TFT. Here’s some info I’ve picked up off the net.

Scientific evidence

There is scant conventionally-accepted scientific evidence to back the claims of the proponents of TFT. The only study published on TFT was an exploratory study done by Carbonell & Figley (1999) on four novel therapies, which was not designed to be a comparison study and the methodology, according to two reviews on TFT (Gaudiano & Herbert (2000), Hooke, 1998) was insufficient to demonstrate efficacy. Although Callahan & Trubo (2001a) attempted to claim that TFT was shown to be superior to the other approaches in the Carbonell & Figley study, this is not what the authors’ report actually demonstrates since they explicitly stated in their report that their study “fell short of reaching it goals. Moreover, the nature of the study precludes comparison of the approaches, and such a comparison was never planned” and “In contrast to conventional psychotherapy research, the SCD methodology is not meant to compare the various treatments, and thus does not necessarily meet the criteria proposed for empirically validated treatments.” (see full report) There are, however, two studies published in peer reviewed journals that falsify the claims of TFT as it relates to tapping on meridian points. One study, conducted by Waite and Holder, was done on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), an offshoot of TFT that also taps on meridian points and thus the evidence from this study would also apply to TFT. It was published in The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice and four groups were studied: a group that tapped on the correct acupressure points; another group that tapped on sham points; a third group that tapped on a doll and a fourth group that had no treatment. There was no significant difference between the first three groups, but all were statistically significantly better than the no treatment group. The fact that there was no difference between the group that tapped on the meridian points, the sham points and the doll indicates that placebo effect could be an explanation for the changes.

The main difference between EFT and TFT is that EFT taps on the main meridian points in no particular sequence, whereas Callahan claims that with TFT, sequence is critical to treatment success. Another controlled published study conducted by Pignotti (2005c) was done to test Callahan’s claims that treatment sequence makes a difference. One group received the claimed precise sequences of TFT Voice Technology and a control group received random sequences and the participants were blind to which treatment they were receiving. There was no difference between the two groups. Taken together, the results of these two studies could be said to provide evidence falsifying TFT’s claims for both tapping on meridian points and for the sequence of those points making a difference. The Pignotti (2005c) study is the only published controlled study related directly to TFT. Other studies are currently underway and will no doubt be reported in due course, if they are accepted for publication.

The evidence adduced in support of TFT by Callahan and other proponents comes from uncontrolled case reports and studies that were not peer reviewed.
9 Diet Trials Jun 15th, 2006 at 9:06 am

Hi Keith
Thanks for the information on the studies behind TFT… personally I haven’t used the technique so I can’t say whether it works or now. I presume a lot has to do with the subconscious belief that it will actually work and take your mind off the cravings.
Have you tried the TFT technique yet?
10 amanda Jan 15th, 2007 at 7:14 pm

Hi! I read and followed the book just over a year ago-it worked amazingly well and i felt thinner and more in control of my eating habits than i ever have done before. The problem is, somewhere along the line, i’ve found that i’m back tomy normal patterns again and am finding it really hard to get back in to again-perhaps because once i start reading the book, it feels like i’ve read it so many times that i’m a little bored-can anyone help me with this? has anyone had this problem and overcome it at all? Hope someone can help!
11 shikira Jan 19th, 2007 at 10:03 am

The basic essentials of Paul Mckenna’s changing your attitude towards yourself so that you will change the attitude towards your food is fantastic and is the only sure way we can lose weight because it is all about perception and beleifs and if those can be changed then so can eating habits and the way we feel about ourselves. The relaxation just aids in the process of re-programming your mind so that you become more aware and conscious and in contact with inner feelings and thoughts towards yourself and is not necessary for those who are self contemplative and adaptable to psychological change.

This is why the relaxation guide he takes you through is there and for people who are not easily open to self-analysis and who find it hard to listen to their bodies needs on there own merits. There are a lot of psychologically damaged people out there whose diets reflect how they feel about themselves and why so often you will see so many overweight people struggling to lose the weight they carry and so for many, Paul Mckenna’s weight loss programme won’t work because they need to work on inner issues before the outer ones.

But he has hit it on the head with the only diet that does work because it is all about shifting perception in a world that has made readily available unhealthy junk foods our addiction. We know and feel that we are poisoning ourselves and yet we feel trapped as to what to do when addiction is so powerful to salt and sugars. Paul brings us back to the basics and so that we can like ourselves again and respect ourselves and bodies more and instead, to listen to what the body craves for and what it really doesn’t.

Fantastic stuff
12 Muriel Fines Feb 2nd, 2007 at 1:26 pm

Hi everybody

I just caught the re runs of his show on Sky Three, made a note of the 4 rules and have forgotton the fourth.
1 Eat when hundry
2 Stop when full
3 Eat consiously
4 can’t remember this one can anybody help.

Thanks
Mu
13 ophelia Feb 2nd, 2007 at 9:17 pm

eat when u r hungry
eat what youy want
eat conciously
stop when full
14 Janya Feb 10th, 2007 at 10:22 pm

Hi there,

I’ve just started the Paul Mckenna I can make you thin 5 x CD and 90 day journal, even though it’s only day one i’ve noticed i’m eating slower, didn’t wake up hungry like i normally do and didn’t eat between meals.

Just a quick question, i can’t seem to find anywhere in the journal where its says to move onto the next CD, do you change each week? can anyway help?

The CD’s I’ve got are:
CD1 - introduction and I can make you thin
CD2 - The secrets of naturally thin people
CD3 - Exercise made asy
CD4 - Craving buster
CD5 - Emotional Eating

Thanks and good luck

Janya
15 Becky Feb 27th, 2007 at 1:35 pm

I brought the book and CD three weeks ago and I still find it really difficult to stop eating when I’m full - so, to compensate, I let myself go hungry for ages because I feel guilty. However, I am making a conscience effort to eat slower - although I think it’s only slowed down a tad.

I don’t have time to listen to the CD every day - but I do manage to listen to it about 3 times a week. I’ve read the book cover to cover once - when I first brought it - and since then (again, due to time) I only read a little bit every now and then to try to reinforce it.

I am definately more aware that I’m breaking the rules when I do break them - however - I can’t seem to stop my old habits. I’ve tried leaving food and telling myself I can enjoy it later, but within minutes I’m back in the kitchen to finish it off.

I do not know if my eating habits are causing any weight gain or loss. For me, this is not the primary reason I decided to embark on this. It is mostly to change my eating habits as I am quite a gluttonous person who is always thinking about food and I always finish my meal a lot faster than everyone else, which I find embarrassing. And when I do finish earlier - I find myself watching others plates’ and imagining how tasty their food is - and then, if possible, I get seconds so I stop watching people eat their food.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can find it easier to break old habits and adopt new, healthier ones?
16 Ben Mar 14th, 2007 at 7:36 pm

Hi there,
I only started the diet 3 days ago, and i am getting really good vibes from the diet! I have been on many diets and i cant work out how this diet could help you lose weight! But it obvisly works as people lose weight! I listen to the CD once a day and fill in the journal.

The first time i listened to the relaxation method i actually FELL ASLEEP! i woke up to paul counting back from 10! i could not remember a thing! i had to listen to it again the next day and it was so relaxing!

Could some people who have been on this diet longer than me, tell me how much weight you have lost on what time-scale? Really would be good to find out!

Many thanks
17 Gill Apr 15th, 2007 at 6:36 pm

Hi,
I have just finished the 90 day plan and have lost 12 pounds.That may not sound very much, but trust me it’s amazing. I have previously done the Atkins diet and in 90 days I would have lost half a stone and put it back on twice!! The truth of the matter is I have eaten anything and everything I have wanted and when I think back on the pasta, chinese, roast dinners and chips I can not believe the weight has gone at all.
My history is for most of my life I was one of those ‘thin’ people who ate anything, then I had an accident, had to have a serious back operation and my life changed. I was always active and now running was out of the question, joining a gym was a waste of money for the use I would get out of it and the pounds piled on. When you’re only 5ft 2in a stone makes a big difference and not being used to this I handled it all wrong. I thought starving myself all day and eating once in the evening would mean I would loose wieght….wrong, I gained it.I have done battle with this for eight years and failed…until now.
You just need to trust the plan. OK I can’t run but I can walk and dance around the house and that is as simple as that. I put on my favorite music and dance for the 30 mins I would have spent flicking tv channels when I come home.
When I started this I looked in the mirror and saw a blob I can now see ‘me’ again. OK in a perfect world I would love to shed another half a stone and maybe I will but if I stay as I am that’s OK, I look good in my clothes again and dont hate myself any more.
I found a varied menu helped as flavours are so important to enjoying your food, it also seemed to help in recognising when you have had enough. I also now find have a genuine desire for veggi’ food at least twice a week.
There will be days when you slip back into old habbits but it’s not the end of the world, tomorrow is another day.
Just trust the paln and keep on keeping on, this is not a diet, it’s good food and a smaller bum for the rest of your life.
Enjoy !!
18 Rosie Apr 27th, 2007 at 1:19 pm

Hello,

I had a quick scan through the posts above, and would suggest that anyone having trouble sticking to the ‘Golden Rules’ just keeps on plugging away at them. Bad habits may have taken YEARS to get themselves established, and so it is reasonable to assume it might take some time working at it, to really break them down.

Keep doing the ones you can already do without too much difficulty, and don’t try to compensate by breaking rules that you think are not so important, or you’ll just be swinging between starving & binging.

I’d say, just keep trying. Work at it every day, at each meal. I say this, because I’ve not enforced all the rules all the time, very well myself. So weight loss has fluctuated somewhat. Two steps forward and one step back: a bit down, a bit up, a bit down again, and so-on (if I had religiously stuck to the rules, I’d have lost a lot of weight by now, but I’m not at all unhappy.)

I’ve got the 3 month journal, so each day, you just begin again. Each meal you flunk it, you just start over from fresh next time. Though I have my moments.. or even days when I fall off the pragramme, it’s definately getting easier. Through patiently working at it, it’s slowly becoming more natural and automatic to eat like this. I’m making myself smaller portions, because I’m getting to know better just how much I will really want.

The results are telling, I’m just over two months into the programme and yesterday I weighed myself, I found I’ve lost 11lbs overall so far. Like another poster mentioned, this may not be any great shakes compared to the promises of some diets, BUT because this isn’t actually a ‘diet’, but is instead about building healthy moderate eating habits for LIFE, I’m pretty darned happy.

If I carry on just losing a couple of pounds a month, great, because I want to carry on eating this way: I’ve got no reason not to want to. I enjoy it, I’m loving my food, and my fridge is crammed full of great tasting good quality grub, which I thoroughly enjoy every mouthful of, just like McKenna tells you to do.

for anyone having trouble slipping off the programme, try using the journal. I’ve already decided that if I find myself going back to bad old eating habits after completing this 3 month journal, I’ll go out and buy a new one pronto, to get me re-focused and back on track again.

Good Luck to anyone using this method, it really gets the thumbs up from me
19 Anastasia May 12th, 2007 at 10:45 am

Hello and thank you for your very enlighting blog.

Just a question: I have bought the book and the CD, I am listening to it every night for the past couple of weeks, and I am generally happy with the programme. Though it seems to be working (I tossed my scales, but clothes feel better), my only worry is that I am not making the most of the CD: after the point where Paul says to picture my new body in every detail and sweep into it, I fall soundly asleep, only to wake when Paul counts to wake up. Then I wake up only to take off my earphones and sleep deeply.

Can hypnosis work if the subject falls into real sleeping? It is like I am not actually participating in the process, I just let the content record in my subconscious.

Also (this may sound even more silly), I am not sure that the subconscious can be programmed in any other language than the native (which is not English for me); I have used hypnosis before and my therapist had insisted that I should translate the material into my native language. But Paul’s CD is amazing, I would destroy the whole experience I was to tailor it.

Any thoughts?

Thank you very much for you kind help!
20 GIN May 13th, 2007 at 12:48 pm

Hi there, I am a veteran of Paul’s cds, I’ve been listening for years. I am a convert. it works for sure no doubt about it. also it is relaxing and recharging when you can just manage to slot in one listen in a day and/or maybe two a week. The more you do the quicker it will take affect. We are like sponges, what we expose ourselves to we reproduce. It is like when we hum a tune we have heard that repeats in a loop in our heads, we need to be feeding our subconscious with the new ideas that will produce the out come we want. We are bombarded by food adverts and we have to work extra hard to counteract all this. I have been at my target weight of 56kgs now for some time and I feel fantastic. You will find that you gradually bring your eating under control and it just feels natural. Dont’ get me started I could go on and on and on. ~Good luck hope you enjoy it and get the results you want.
21 AmandaB Jun 18th, 2007 at 8:46 am

Hi

I only bought the book on the 12th June and have listened to the CD several times with my future husband and we are both really surprised that we are not craving any ‘Pickie’ food like chocolate/crisps the usual suspect. We have both been on diets and decided we would give this a go.

So far we are really pleased that are not feeling the need to pick but we are not feeling hungry either.. Is this normal, so we are having our 3 meals a day and plenty of water.

I have read the book and really it all nakes sense it is like someone had picked you up shook you about a bit, slapped you round the face and said ‘Come on it aint rocket science’

We haven’t weighed ourselves yet. I suppose we really should. But as long as we loose inches.

I am still trying to come to grips with the eat when you are hungry, like I said before I am not really feeling hungry, Is this normal??

You comments would be great.

Thanks
A
x
22 Kate Jul 5th, 2007 at 10:43 am

Hi all,

I’ve been doing the programme since february 07 with fantastic results so far. I’ve lost 1.5 stone and feel totally diffrent about food. My problem now is that my weiht loss has really plateaued and i can’t get out of the habit of weighing myself!

any suggestions ?

Thanks

Kate
23 Harriet Jul 5th, 2007 at 7:44 pm

Can anyone help me.
I lost nearly 3 stone on Paul Mckenn’s eating plan over the last year.
I now work in a call centre. My lunch time can be as early as 11.30 on one day and as late as 2.30 the next or anywhere in between depending on how many people are in on any given day.
I am really depressed as I have now put back on 1 stone. Im either having to eat at 11.30 when Im not hungry or if I know that Im on a 2.30 lunch break I will have something to each on my tea break when Im not hungry as I know I cant go till 2.30 without anything. The 15min breaks we get morning and afternoon are not condusive to eating slowly or consiously. Does anyone have any suggestions. I really do not want to go back to how I was before. Thanks Harriet
24 CHRISTINA Sep 5th, 2007 at 2:05 am

hi all,

i was just watching the QVC channel, and wondering about pauls eating plan, could anyone help me and let me know what it envoles and if anyone has lost weight how much and over what period of time, and would you recommend it to friends and family

thank you

xxx
25 susie Sep 5th, 2007 at 6:56 pm

hey,
i’ve been hearing a lot about this book from friends and on the tv, i was wondering - the people who have been impressed with how it has worked - did you buy the 5 CD box set ? or just the book & 1 CD ? or the book & cd and the journal ? as i am really keen to try it, but also really skint at the moment !
would be good to hear back ! thanks x
26 Gill Sep 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm

I posted a review a while ago and I thought I would just update it a few months on. I have lost the stone I thought would be with me for life and would only get bigger. I began the plan in Jan 07 and lost a stone in 14 weeks. Since then I have been on two holidays and did not go without a thing.I have only just got back from two weeks at a hotel that is famous for its food, I got on the scales the instant I got home ( which is not a good thing to do ) and found that I had gained 3 pounds, 3 days later it has gone and I have done nothing other than follow the plan(and the first night we got home we had a chinese !). I put the number on the scales down to the time of day I weighed myself. I bought the cds and journal from QVC and I can not remember the last time I listened to the cds so you do not need to listen every day or week for this to work. What I have done is keep a little journal of my own I find it not only keeps me focused but it also serves as a riminder of how good the plan is, when I look back at the foods I have eaten and find I have not put on weight it is amazing. I would tell anyone to try this. My confidence has improved, I have even had major hair re-style because I now feel I’m worth the effort ! I know a stone does not sound a lot of weight but when you are not very tall it is 2 dress sizes diffenence. I am 48 and am now only 6 pounds heavier than I was at 24 (which I am happy to live with). I am no longer frightened of carbohydrates, if I want chips I have them, if someone offers me a chocolate I can take it or leave it. Give it a try and altough the concept sounds crazy just do what Paul says, the only thing you’ve got to loose is the weight !
27 marie7 Nov 26th, 2007 at 9:20 pm

Hello! I was just wondering… I’ve been doing the plan for a week and a half now, but I find that im only hungry once or twice a day, and i only manage a small amount each time. Is this normal? Should I be eating more? Cheers.
28 Ash Dec 18th, 2007 at 7:52 am

Hello all,

i am a big person, i have been over weight all my life, and now at 26 years of age i weigh nearly 100kg. does this diet work for people like me???? i have one main meal a day, and binge all day long, how difficult is this plan, and how focused must u be?
please help………….

Ash
29 Josh Jan 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm

Hi all,
I bought the book and cd and the 90 day journal yesterday and starting the whole process today. I am wondering if there are any tips that you guys have come across that maybe you could pass on , because im ot exactly great at sticking to diets rules.
From what i have read so far he seems to be making a lot of sense.
Thanks a lot!
Josh
30 GILL Jan 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Hi,
I began the plan a year ago and lost the stone I could never move in 14 weeks. I now find I have this tollerance of about 2 pounds that come and go as the weeks go by which is fine. I eat what I want so to have maintained my goal is fantastic. Some tips I found usefull was to always eat from a warmed plate because your eating speed is slower and eating cold food isn’t that good (and you may be tempted to speed up). I never plated up a meal and put it infront of myself, by that I mean I would put the food be it meat/curry/pasta sauce/veggies/spaghetti/rice in searving dishes on the table and only put a small amount on my plate at a time. If I was still hungry I could always add a spoon more but more often than not I had had enough. I soon realised just how much food I had been cooking that I clearly did not need! I noticed this especially with pasta I now can not believe how much spaghetti I would eat in one searving just because it was on my plate. Always have a little something to eat with you at work for emergencies be it a piece of fruit or an energy bar, the worst thing you can do is get so hungry that you binge. Making the effort to up your steps per day works wonders. I found that walking to my nearby shop to post a letter/pick up milk etc that I would normally drive to only took 20 mins and clocked up 3000 steps (I did buy a pedometer). Most of all realise that just because something tatses good doesn’t mean that more of it tastes better ! You can always have some more tomorrow. Good luck.
31 sam Jan 9th, 2008 at 9:03 am

hi, i started the plan just over a week ago. I cannot fault it so far! I have listened to the cd three times in that week and it really helps. I have followed the golden rules and have not had any cravings as nothing is banned as long as you stop eating when you are full. I did try Paul’s craving buster No. 2 which stops you eating something you crave forever. I was very sceptical about this and so chose chocolate (i love chocolate, but didnt actually think this process would work). So imagine my horror when just the thought of chocolate made my stomach churn with distaste!! Obviously now I’m happy i no longer crave chocolate but I was gutted i couldnt enjoy any!! So be aware this craving buster DOES WORK!! So only think of a food that you definitely no longer want. I couldnt even have a leftover chocolate from my daughters advent calender.
I will update as often as i can, but so far so good!
32 emma reynolds Jan 19th, 2008 at 9:18 am

hi, im emma and im 14 years old.

people tell me im too young to worry about my weight but whats the point when it makes me feel so self concious? i may be young but i still care about what i look like.

This is the second day of the weight loss program, so im not expecting anything just yet. but i have to say, i am so happy, i found somthing as easy as this. its like i was stuck in a continuous circle, but now i just relax and lisen to my stomach. ive wanted to be able to do somthing like that my whole life and still loose weight, but didnt think it was possible.

im just looking forward to loosing weight and telling the world: “I CAN DO IT!!!!!” im going to tukie this summer so it will be so releiving to go out and not worry about being a fat person trying to fit in and look nice.knowing i will look nice. i have confidence in this program and all these comments have made me even more sure ive found the right thing this time.

not the last time youll hear
from me- emma
PS i also find it impossible to count backwards from 300 for long, i can only get to about 287! is that normal, or is my lack of math knolege kicking in?
33 Tracy Jan 31st, 2008 at 9:08 am

Hi,
i am just wondering if any of you has the same problem as i do.
I brought Paul McKenna’s book nearly two weeks ago now and trying to follow it.
The problem i have is that i do not feel hungry. I know this must sound really good but it isn’t.
I would be able to follow the programme if i was to feel hungry, but i don’t.
Does this soung familiar to any of you?
I would be very greatful of a reply!
Thank you.
Tracy.
34 GILL Jan 31st, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Hi Tracy,
Have just read your post and can’t help but wonder what you mean exactly by not feeling hungry: Do you mean you get up in the morning and do not want to eat at all or that when you have eaten a meal to the point of feeling satisfied you then do not feel hungry for quite a while afterwards ? The first would be a little worrying the second quite understandable. Also changing the type of food you eat suddenly can make a difference to how you feel. If you were used to eating big meals you will find that your body doeasn’t really need that much food and you will look at the amount left on your plate and think you have barely eaten a thing. Do you eat breakfast? I never used to and would then go all day without food until the evening meal (and put on weight) I now have breakfast and feel ready for lunch about four hours later and then have an evening meal( and have lost weight!) I guess if you are really woried or feeling ill go and see your doctor. Good luck.
35 tracy Feb 1st, 2008 at 10:24 am

Hi Gill,
thank you for your reply.
Sorry if i didn’t explain myself properly.
I have allways had a problem with food if i’m honest because of wanting to loose weight.
Its just that now on Paul’s programme the thought of being able to eat anything whenever you are hungry is brilliant, but i do not feel hungry anytime.
I get up in the morning and i do not feel hungry at all and the rest of the day is the same.
I don’t know whether its because i’ve had this problem with food for so long that i cannot tell when my body is telling me that i’m hungry.
I know i must sound really strange and i am hoping that things will change for the better.
Once again thank you for your reply and i’m so glad you are having a positive response to food.
I love listening to Paul’s cd, he is brilliant.
36 Gill Feb 1st, 2008 at 11:02 am

Hi Tracy,
I can understand the issues about having a problem with food. I began having ‘a problem’ twenty years ago and to some degree it has never gone away. I am now as ballanced as I have ever been. Food is no longer the enemy. This plan has changed my mentality which is amazing and an unexpected bonus to the weight loss. Just stick with it and be patient with yourself. It will not be too long before you will be celebrating a guilt free spag’bol’ !!!
37 tracy Feb 1st, 2008 at 2:01 pm

Hi Gill,
do you find now as food is not your enemy that your outlook on llife has changed for the better?
How much weight have you lost? (if you don’t mind me asking) and anyone else who is on this site, just to give me some incouragement to be patient that the programme does work.
Thank you for your comments and keep up the good work, its nice to know there are people out there who you can speak to who understand the isues concerning food.
To everyone!!
Take care!!!
38 Jill Feb 1st, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Hi Tracy,

I bought the book and have been doing the system for two weeks now too and so far do seem to be having some success with it.

There is an exercise in the book about tuning in to your thermostat, that would maybe help you to get back in tune with your body and help you notice more when you are hungry.

I feel like gill that food is no longer the enemy and i would say my outlook has definately got more positive!

Hang in there and i’m sure things will start to fall into place for you
39 Fiona M Feb 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Hi Tracy - SNAP!! I have started this diet and am not feeling hungry ever either! Why is that? It is strange - I don’t know whether I should eat breakfast anyway or wait until the hunger kicks in (which it must eventually) but because it is so long I think - I better eat something - it has been hours!?!?

Fi x
40 Gill Feb 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Hi Tracy/Girls

As far the amount of weight I have lost it may not sound much, one stone but it was the stone that had made my life a misery for a very long time. I never had a weight problem until I began hving food issues and the worse that got the more weight I put on. I was always the perfect 10 and finding that size 14’s did not always fit was very depressing. When I began the plan I thought that if I lost just one pound each month then in a year I would weigh less than I had done for a very long time. In fact I lost the 14 pounds in 14 weeks and a year on it has not come back. What the plan has given me is control of my life back. I know that where ever I go and what ever I eat I will never see that stone again and that is very liberating. It has done wonders for my confidence, I have even had a hair style make over that has taken years off of me, before I didn’t feel worth the bother. I guess the way to think is that this is not a race it is the rest of your life. If you loose half a pound at your weigh in then great that is half a pound in the right direction and it’s not as if you have been living on rice cakes to do it. Anyway I must dash we are having freinds for dinner tonight, the full monty Italian spread and chocolate pudding…….amazing isn’t it?!!!!!!
41 tracy Feb 3rd, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Hi Gill and ladies,
i weighed myself yesterday for the first time in two weeks. It has been very hard not to weigh myself as i had been doing so about two to three times a day before.
I have only lost a couple of pound but it is better than nothing i surpose.
I must admit, i am eating now a little as i do want to be able to follow the programme. Hopefully my body will start getting used to food and let me know when i’m hungry. Its so good to hear that you can have friends around for dinner as food is usually the enemy and the last thing you normaly want to do is eat if your anything like me. I have hated going out for meals in the past as all the eyes are on you making sure you are eating something and telling you off if you don’t eat alot. All those days are gone now, even if i don’t feel hungry i will eat some and leave some until i get the right balance!
Its so nice to hear good news and that there is hope out there you’ve just got to believe and try!!
Take care everybody!
Tracy
42 caroline Feb 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Hi
Bought the book yesterday. Tried all diets going over the last 20 years and not happy. Feel fantastic after reading the book and listening to the CD last night. Was so relaxing. I’m experiencing the same thing as others in that I don’t feel hungry. I’m thinkng should I eat anyway? No I shouldn’t weird. Can’t believe i’ve got 3/4 of a roll sitting here. I’d usually have eaten it all plus crisps, yoghurt etc, very strange sensation…long may it continue..i’ll be back
43 Katie Feb 23rd, 2008 at 12:47 am

Helloo,
I’ am thinking of purchasing the Paul Mckenna I Can Make You Thin, I was wondering if anyone has any success stories to share?
44 KAY Feb 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

Hi Katie,

I started reading and listening to Paul Mckenn a year ago and to date I have lost 3.5stone and I found it so easy to do it. I still listen and follow Pauls advise and I hope to loose another stone.

I would recommend it to anyone and as my daughter tells me I do even when people look bored.

Good Luck it worked for me
45 tracy Mar 1st, 2008 at 4:16 pm

hi everyone!!
i would recommend this too. Paul’s instructions do end up taking over your thoughts, but in a good way. When i do manage to eat, i save a little bit and say thats Paul’s bit!!
Sounds strange doesn’t it?
Its so nice to hear people talking positive!
Gives us all hope.
Good luck to everyone.
I think Paul is great, i could do with him moving in with me!!!!! (i don’t think my husband would be very pleased though)
46 susanna Mar 7th, 2008 at 11:50 am

I bought the book and CD this week. I have listened to the CD 3 times and fell asleepm twice.I understand eating slower, enjoying the flavours but I can’t get my head aroung eating what I like but only when my boby tells me i’m hungry.

For years I have yo-yo ed at weight watchers I just can get used to not weighing food, eating low fat measured meals.Can I really eat crisps, normal family meals and loose weight?
47 Haze Mar 11th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

Hi
I bought the book and CD (not the 90day plan) 3 weeks ago. I have listened to the CD each morning since, with only a few exceptions. I know I am easliy hypnotisable and have done self hypnosis before. After snoring through the first few lessons (and never getting below 289 in counting), I now find I can scratch my leg or nose when needed and keep focused/hypnotised. I have found a dramatic effect on my (previously very fast) eating rate, and I can go for long periods of time before eating. I have lost some weight but have had to hide the scales as I found the lure of them each day too much. I want to lose a reasonable amount of weight before the end of May but am realising that having a schedule for desired weight loss doesnt fit with this plan which is more wholistic. SO I will have to see where I am then. My main worry is that eating so slowly - food gets cold before I get to it and I hate cold food. Just realised I will have to simply get up and reheat if I want to keep eating. I find the effect on how I feel about my body one of the best aspects - as I now find myself feeling happier with my body and remembering fondly times I have been slimmer in the past and how much I now realise I can be there again, permanently. My main concern is much of the body imagery is set in the future (’imagine your body in a few weeks time, or when you have the body you want’) whereas I need to accept that NOW - as a way of becoming it. Need to work on this.
Will keep posting.
Hazel
48 Susy Mar 14th, 2008 at 11:01 am

Hi all

I’ve just read the whole of this thread and am so pleased to see all the positive responses from everyone. I too find the weight loss system absolutely amazing and love being able to eat ANYTHING I want! Someone mentioned earlier about being able to leave half a roll and not wanting to scoff the whole thing down, but it’s true, I find I leave food at most meal times and just don’t want to finish it off. It gets to a point when the food isn’t as satisfying, so I stop eating it. I know that when I’m hungry next, I get to eat some dessert! I haven’t weighed myself yet as have only being on the system 11 days and Paul advises not to weigh yourself for the first 2 weeks or preferably not at all. Although thinking about it, I didn’t weigh myself before I started the system, so would have no idea how much I’ve lost anyway! Feeling much better about myself now, so I guess that’s all that matters, not the number on the scale. I feel more comfortable in my clothes and am not controlled by food anymore, something I’ve wanted for a very long time.

Remember:

Eat when your hungry
Eat what you actually want (yes, chocolate, crisps, pasta…anything!)
Eat consciously - make sure you enjoy every mouthfull and chew slowly
Stop when you start to feel satisfied

Happy eating!

Susy
49 Optomistic Mar 17th, 2008 at 3:18 am

I just watched the show on TLC. Seemed very interesting. As soon as the show ended, I have been on the net looking into peoples reviews of his book I can Make You Thin. I too have struggled many years with my weight. The theory that you can eat what ever you want is a liberating thought, scarey though. His 4 golden rules are really common sense. I have found myself wanting to go down to the kitchen, but realizing that I really am not hungry. I look forward to the next Sunday when he talks about emotional eating. I am tempted to go out and buy his book rather than wait. I will start puttting what i have learned so far into practice. Good luck to all. Lets all live our best lives! Life is too short to be unhappy inhibited by fears.
50 Aoife Mar 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

hi everyone! hope you are well. just started pauls plan today. I have always had a problem with my weight, comfort eating I suppose and did obsessively weigh myself everyday and write the weight on the calendar so I could monitor it. I now realise the reason I wasnt losing any weight because of my obsession about it all. i did weigh myself this morning for the last time for 14 days, am 12st 1 pound. just had baby 15 weeks ago. I listened to the cd twice, and i think it has gone in. but the trouble I am having like most of you, I wake in the morning and i’m not hungry, but eating breakfast just to be social with my husband and children. bit confused about eat until you think your full, do you just keep eating like? unfortunately, our life is a bit breakfast at 7.30, lunch at 1 and dinner at 6. what do you do when not hungry, will let you all know how i’m doing!

aoife
xxx
51 Kelly Mar 17th, 2008 at 7:34 pm

I received and read Paul’s book yesterday. I listened to the CD early in the evening. My counting got as far as 270 or so and I was in a deep peaceful trance. I loved how it felt.

That evening, I told myself, you can have whatever you want. That turned out to be a hamburger patty with a piece of melted cheese and an orange. They were eaten about 2 hours apart and I enjoyed every bite…. I mean I took the time to chew and let the flavor saturate my taste buds. How odd it must seem to say, I don’t think I have ENJOYED most of the food I have eaten over the last couple of decades.

It really hit home when he talked about having cravings, yet when when trying to satisfy the cravings, I would just eat as much as I could as fast as I could and not really taste anything.

I am at my desk eating lunch and 45 mins later I’m not done. I’m enjoying the taste. There were cupcakes in the lunch room…DANGER! But I told myself I could have one if I wanted. So I thought about it….what would I feel like after? Not good. However, the pull of the cupcakes is pretty strong. I went into the lunchroom and stared at them, imagining white maggots in them. I noticed that the frosting on one of them had a long drip down the side and that kind of helped with the maggot visual. I found myself gagging and left them untouched.

I’m kind of impressed. I woke up feeling GOOD.
52 Adi Mar 18th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

Hello,
I have watched the program on TLC as well, and I would like to buy the book! I am in Canada, and I ‘ve searched Amazon and Chapters Indigo, and they don’t have it! Do you know where I could get one? Thank you!
53 Heather in Colorado Mar 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pm

Hello all, I have read most of the threads here. I have not bought the book/cd as yet. I googled Paul McKenna to see what this program is about. Only a few people have mentioned how much they have lost (how much is a stone?) I am interested in knowing wheather you keep it off. A life long dieter I yo-yo back and forth. Once I’ve completed a program (ie: Weight Watchers) successfully or not, I find it difficult to repeat. The real appeal I hear in this thread is the focus is not so much on dieting as in the relationship with food. I will tell you food is my friend. I eat because it’s something to do. It feels better. It’s like someone telling me I’m ok. Weird eh? But I love to eat. The more I try to lose, the bigger I get. My question is this? Will this program speak to my issues? I appreciate your input. I have enjoyed reading and the support you offer each other.
54 sharon Mar 20th, 2008 at 5:59 pm

hey, i watched the show and read the book when they first came out, since then i have lost 2 stone, i was just over 10 stone and a size 12 and going on to a 14. now i am a size 8-10 and i weigh 8 and a half stone. i am so pleased i tried this and i can’t believe how much i actually used to eat. i still eat junk foods! but at the same time eating healthy is more enjoyable as you have to chew your food more! i would suggest this to everyone who wants to lose weight!
55 melsury Mar 21st, 2008 at 12:46 am

I have been using the program since the TLC broadcast last Sunday. This Sunday being Easter I am determined not to miss the broadcast but was wondering if anyone knows if it shows again during the week at another time or another channel (in Canada)? I hope to get someone to tape it for me, but not gauranteed.

So far this week the eating is going well, but I have had such things as Filet Mignon, Lobster and Sirloin Hamburger. Supplying myself with what I really want to eat is not cheap. However have lost my cravings!
56 Susan in Canada Mar 23rd, 2008 at 4:02 am

For you Canadian’s and American’s out there that have read through this thread and not known what these people were talking about - a stone is 14 lbs.

Melsury - I watched last night (Friday) on tlc or discovery can’t remember which. Maybe that will help.
57 Myra Mar 24th, 2008 at 5:53 pm

I have also been on this diet for about a week and am wondering whether it’s best to eat at least 3 times a day even if I am not hungry to keep my metabolism on an even keel.
58 William Apr 14th, 2008 at 2:43 am

A number of people have reported that they have fallen asleep duing the cd.

One of the classic traits of overweight people is not getting enough rest.

I had apnea and I never felt rested even with 10 hours.
59 Linda Apr 14th, 2008 at 8:19 am

Regarding the falling asleep whilst listening to the cd, I used to think I had just fallen asleep and missed the whole thing, but that’s definately not the case. The information still seems to sink into the subconscious. I think you just become so relaxed, as you should, that you take in what is being said to you but dont necessarily remember it in your conscious mind. I for one hear Paul’s voice when I think I will just pick at food for no good reason other than being bored. The other day I put the cd on and heard a part of it that I had never heard before! As he says, you just take from it what you need at the time and leave the rest to pass by. I have lost two and a half stone so far so I must be doing something right. Good luck to everyone, just keep on listening, at worst it’s lowering your blood pressure and soothing your nerves and at best it’s helping you loose that excess weight and relax.
60 Fran Apr 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 pm

I am working with Paul’s 4 rules but struggling to work out when I am actually full! I have ignored my body for so long, I’m really don’t know what feeling full is like.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions? How do you actually know when your full?

Fx
61 anna May 5th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

Hi everyone.

I am so pleased to have found this information, and somewhere to share thoughts too.

Was naughty a weighed in after 1st week 5lb, then bought the journal. I have found that I eat so little before becoming satisfied ie not even a whole sandwhich, and sometimes get through my veg, not to want to eat the protein because I am full.

Anyway to answer a couple of issues raised -

Eat when you are hungry - not oh its breakfast time therefore I SHOULD have breakfast. if your not hungry when everyone else is at breakfast dont have any - have a glass of water or cup of tea. you will probably find you feel hungry an hour or so later anyway.

Eating three times a day to keep the metabolism going. Not necessarily
Eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full. Your daily actions and any extra steps/exercise will take care of raising your metabolism for you. Telling your self that you should eat is a habit that must be broken WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY EAT.

Personally, I find that when I am bored and bend over to look in the fridge, I close my eyes and remember a time when I was told how beautiful, wonderful I looked. This self nurturing is the antidote to emotional eating and boredome picking.

If in doubt always go back to the 4 rules
62 craig cartwright May 11th, 2008 at 8:39 am

Hi,

just bought the book for my daughter but it didn’t come with the c.d, can anyone send it to be via my e mail? rockycartmaker@yahoo.com.

Regards,

Craig
(NZ)
63 JUDY May 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Ive just started filling in my 90 day journal 4 days ago and lisening to the cd like many others i also fall asleep after counting back to about 380 or so,
I am finding it hard to get to grips with being able to eat what i like when i like i must say i am enjoing all my foods and rally tasting all the flavours.
I will keep you informed on my progress ive told myself that im going to lose two stone in 90 days like Paul as said let yourself now exacly how much weight that you want to lose.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.
64 JessicaJ May 28th, 2008 at 3:29 am

Hey everyone,

I’m so glad to have found this website! Have been dipping in and out of this program for a few months, but never really made a serious concentrated effort at it. I just bought the 90day journal and have made the commitment to myself to see it through over the next 90days. Its not that its such a hard program to follow, its just that I’m very easily distracted…which could be a good thing too, if I can easily distract myself away from cravings etc.

Even though have only been ‘browsing’ the program, have already identified a few key triggers for my overeating. Boredom and emotional hunger are my downfalls for sure; but when I try to think of what I really want to eat, and nothing springs to mind (before opening the fridge that is), I find myself asking myself “Am I really hungry or do I just want to change the way I feel?” Some of the time I can even track down this ‘hunger’ to a specific thing that i’m annoyed or worried or upset about - how will I feel having munched my way through my half the fridge; annoyed, upset and maybe even a little worried about my utter lack of control? What good is that going to do me: time to stop and make a choice - a conscious one.

I choose to take back my control, as you all of have done and are doing (congrats and well done to all!). After all, I am a grown-up and I will eat what I want to eat, whenever I want to eat it, take my time and enjoy what i’m eating and then when I think I’ve had enough…STOP…push the food away, stand up and leave the table.

I just have to keep repeating the golden rules over and over in my head until they are engrained on my mind forever. I guess its like learning to drive a car: how many of us had to think through ‘Mirror Signal Manouver’ and for how long until we got to the point where we just do it now automatically… We make our habits, and then our habits make us…Paul’s a genious!

I would say good luck, but luck is for those whose for whom success is not a guarantee - for a program that has more than a 70% success rate, luck seems like the wrong word to use. However, I will say ‘good going and happy eating’. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot less of me in the future!

All the best,
Jessica
xxxxxxx

P.S. Don’t worry, be happy. You’ve only got one life, enjoy it!
65 Sarah (UK) Jun 28th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

I’m on day 5 and I feel fantastic. I’m amazed that food is just not constantly in my thoughts. I’m not having any cravings either. Its so nice not to feel completely stuffed.

Im finding it hard slowing my eating down but changing all the rubbish habits of a lifetime is not gonna happen overnight. I always leave a little left on my plate whatever. Never used to do that!

Whether I’m recognising when I’m full or when I’m at the right place on the hunger scale I hope will become a bit clearer as I go on.

So much of what he says hits the nail right on the head…..eating is not going to change the way you feel. I feel so positive about this ‘diet’ We all know what is good for us and what isn’t. If it was that simple we’d all stick to these ’sensible’ eating plans and all lose weight easily. This ‘diet’ addresses the problem at its root, the brain.

Good luck all xxx