Julie Woodcock

Bloated and flabby or bronzed and beautiful?

2012-02-08T02:45:00.001-08:00

There's a great piece in the press today about an American guy showing how to produce those "before" and "after" shots - in just a few hours! You know the shots I mean - the flabby, pale, unhealthy shot then the muscular, toned, super- fit shot?

Of course he must have had the muscles already but the interesting thing is how he says is the best way to get from muscular (pumped up in the gym, spray tan, oiled) to flabby (yuk) - eat a whole bag of crisps and drink 2 litres of fizzy pop! It will bloat your body! And, he says that diet fizzy pop is best!

What conclusion can we draw from this......

back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Smoking and dementia

2012-02-07T03:57:00.000-08:00

I don't want to alarm you but in the latest published research middle-aged men who smoke are at a greater risk of suffering dementia later in life. The research found that men had a greater and faster decline compared to those who had never smoked or had given up more than 10 years earlier. The research also found that the more the men smoked the more the mental decline.

This research was carried out at University College London and looked at data from over 5000 men and over 2000 women over 25 years.

The leader of the research is quoted as saying: “Our results show that the association between smoking and cognition, particularly at older ages, is likely to be underestimated owing to higher risk of death and dropout among smokers.”

When I ask clients which they are most scared of cancer or dementia it's dementia that is most feared. We see so much about dementia and it's devastating effects. It seems like every day there's something in the press about it. If you needed a reason to stop smoking could this be it?

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money, money, money

2012-01-31T09:32:00.000-08:00

According to the Alliance Savings Trust if you save £83 a month for a child from birth into a pension (yes, kids can have pensions) the government will top it up by £250 a year and when that child retires (if they continue the savings) they will have the £1m pension pot they will need to live on!

Now of course £83 a month isn't much - or maybe it's a lot to you. If it isn't a lot you'll thin well, we'll get around to it sometime! If it's a lot to you then maybe you'll put it off too?

But hey, it's 12 packets of cigarettes! So if you stop smoking you can save for 2 kids and still have about £40 a month left over!

If you need another reason to stop smoking - and for many people their kids are one of the reasons they want to stop - then how about stopping smoking now and starting a pension fund with your savings?

Of course you could also put it into a tax free ISA for yourself! If you smoke 20 a day you'll easily save £3k a year - that's more than half an ISA!

Or are you planning a cruise? Or a new car?

The real reason for stopping smoking is to stop it controlling your life - your health and yes, your money!

Whatever your reason, now is a good time!

back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Or maybe

Weight Loss Tips and Techniques

2012-01-15T09:14:00.001-08:00

Whenever I meet up with a weight loss client we always talk about tips and techniques for losing weight.

Hypnotherapy is great for changing your mind and for breaking habits and the great thing about weight loss is if you combine hypnotherapy with common sense the weight drops off even faster and easier!

The latest piece of research on what can help weight loss is all about the colour of the plate!
It seems that people who ate of a red plate ate up to 40% less than those eating off blue or white.

The theory is that red is for danger and our unconscious will be put off by the colour. I agree don't you? I hate eating off coloured plates - any colour! But most of all I don't like red plates - food just doesn't look right on a red plate!

So if you need help to eat less maybe you could try it? Although I'm guessing it might be quite difficult to find a red plate?

Of course psychologically we seem to be programmed to eating everything on our plate ("there are starving children in the world you know, don't waste food"). Because of this another easy technique is to use a smaller plate. Your unconscious still feels satisfied as the plate is cleared - and yet you've eaten less food!

I'm off to find some red salad plates to sell on my website....

back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Weight Loss Challenge

2012-01-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Or is it?

Is 2012 looking very similar to 2011 already?

Are you in need of a change?

Well rather than make big resolutions this year why not make small ones - just for today, just for now?

What can you do now that will help you change?

If you're overweight maybe you could plan a healthy evening meal - add an extra vegetable, cut a slice of bread or a potato. No, it's not much but it's a start.
Maybe you could run up and down stairs NOW! GO!

If the change seems to big you're less likely to start so why not look at what you can do now, today. Then look again tomorrow.

If you want to stop smoking how about cutting down half of one today. Then again tomorrow.

If you need to reduce stress stop. Now. Breathe. Breathe again. Breathe again. OK you can carry on now.

Take a quick and easy assessment of where you are now.

Check your weight and BMI (do it on a website it's much too complicated otherwise!)
Are you overweight? How much do you want to lose in pounds? Divide it by 2. This is the number of weeks it will take at 2lbs a week. Add a month to give yourself leeway. What will you be doing then? What will you look and feel like?

Need more motivation to take control? Is your blood pressure high? How's your cholesterol?
Is your resting heart rate between 60 and 79 beats a minute? Lower? Great! Higher? Your health is at risk!

Take one step NOW towards change. Tomorrow you can take another step!

Back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Planning to lose weight?

2011-12-07T01:42:00.000-08:00

Why not start right now?

Are you already telling yourself that you'll start your diet in the New Year?

Have you already planned to lose weight after Christmas?

Why not start now?

Of course there are going to be days when you eat a little bit (!) more than normal - and maybe drink a little bit (!) more too!

But it's not what you do occasionally that puts on the pounds - it's what you do every day. Now assuming that your partying isn't going to be that extreme how about eating really healthily, even maybe a little less than normally on your non-party days. Maybe even doing a bit more exercise on those days - allowing your weekly calorie intake and burning to balance out?

So stick to the plain cereals for breakfast, salads for lunch and healthy evening meals when you can - and don't worry about the excess (well, don't go mad obviously!!!)

You may even find you don't put on any weight over Christmas - you might even lose a bit!! - Now how would that feel?

Of course, if you need some help you know where I am ...

And don't be stressed this Christmas - breathe, chill out, relax!

back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Champix - warning

2011-11-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

Are you putting your health at risk by trying to stop smoking?

Champix has already been linked to heart problems, strokes and blackouts. The latest warning comes from Dr Curt Furberg, professor of public health sciences at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. He has done research into stop smoking treatments and found that 90% of people having serious side effects like depression and suicidal thoughts were taking Champix.

Only 7% with the same issues were taking Zyban.

According to a piece on aol today, in the past four years Champix has been linked to 80 deaths, 39 of which were suicides.

The manufacturer Pfizer says that there is an information leaflet with warnings in the pack - as though that is an answer to this issue!

Please take care if you're thinking of taking a drug to help you stop smoking. Your doctor knows of the dangers - make sure you do too.

The sun is shining!

2011-11-02T04:15:00.000-07:00

Don't you feel better when the sun is shining?

I suggest to all of my weightloss, stress and anxiety clients - in fact all my clients - to get out in the sunshine every time the sun shines!!

Walk briskly for as long as you can - even if you've only got 3 minutes it's better than nothing!

If you can't walk far then just sit in the sunshine. Close your eyes and turn your face to the sun for a few minutes.

You'll be very surprised at how much better you'll feel.

As the days get shorter and winter approaches there will be less sunny days - but there will still be sunny days!

Cheer yourself up and get outside! You know you'll feel better!

Talking of money...

2011-10-20T06:34:00.001-07:00

Are you motivated by carrots or sticks?

Do you move towards what you want - or away from what you don't want?

Are you avoiding pain - or seeking pleasure?

Well, my blog on the money you will save when you stop smoking certainly started a conversation!

Some people WILL be motivated to stop smoking to save the money - or be able to spend it on something MUCH better! They're moving towards pleasure!

Some people will be more motivated to stop smoking (or indeed spending/wasting money on fizzy pop or alcohol or sweets) when they realise how much money they've already wasted - so they're moving away from pain!

Which are you?

Or would you like to make the same comparison but using health? Are you fed up of the coughing and breathing problems? Or is it lack of energy? Or are you motivated to lengthen your life and spend more time with your family, children, grandchildren?

Which are you?

back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

The Economy's looking bad!

2011-10-12T02:05:00.000-07:00

So perhaps now IS the time to take control of your money!

Stop smoking and save the money and this is what happens....

20 a day at £50 a week could feed an adult. So if you stop smoking you'll never have to find the money to buy food again!!! Or petrol for your car???

If you save that £50 a week at 3% interest p.a. these are the savings...

£2,644 after one year - that's a nice holiday every year!
£5,3644 after 2 years
£14,040 after 5 years (that's a new car?)
£30,317 after 10 years - that'll pay for university fees for one of your kids!
£71,061 after 20 years
£96,420 after 25 years

So if you are around 35 years old and you saved every penny you would have almost £100,000 in your pension fund at 60 years old!

Or you could pay off your mortgage quicker, or get a mortgage - what could YOU do with he money?

And all by just stopping smoking.

Is it worth it?

Call me now and I'll show you how easy it can be! 0113 380 1758
back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

(Or perhaps you want to lose some weight and save the money you spend on chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks??!!)

Today's Special Offer

2011-10-11T02:59:00.000-07:00

Today's Special Offer is...

£10 off Stop Smoking Session

but you must book today for an appointment in October

What would it be like to be a non-smoker?

How would it feel to say "no thanks" to cigarettes?

How much money will you save?

What will you do with that money?

How will you health improve?

How much better will you feel - about YOU???

Call now 0113 380 1758

Back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Lose a Stone by Christmas! Special Offer for October only!

2011-10-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

Remember what you looked and felt like in your best clothes at the Christmas Party last year?
Was it good? Will it be good this year?
Or was it not so good? Want it to be BETTER this year?

You can lose a stone before Christmas if you start NOW!

Never mind gastric bands, virtual gastric bands or weird diets!

All you need to do is change the way you THINK about fattening and sugary foods - so you DON'T THINK ABOUT FATTENING and SUGARY FOODS.

Oops - now you're thinking about them aren't you?

That's the problem with willpower and dieting. You can't NOT think about chocolate, crisps, biscuits or whatever else you're eating too much of...pies, chips...OK I'll stop!

With hypnotherapy I can help you eat less of the fattening foods. Stop eating for "comfort" and start eating for your health!

Eating healthily you can lose 2lbs a week. From today that's 20lbs (one stone 6lbs) by Christmas Day!!!

What would YOU look like at over a stone lighter?

What would YOU feel like at over a stone lighter?

Call me and let's talk about how I can help you.....

All weightloss packages (that's 4 sessions) booked to start during October get a special extra £20 discount (as well as the 4th session being totally and utterly FREE!!)

But only if you start before the end of October. And only if you mention this blog when you call me on 0113 380 1758.
Go back to http://www.breakthehabit.co.uk/

Stopping Smoking Report

2011-08-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

I felt I just had to copy and paste a piece I read on AOL today about the number of people trying - and succeeding in stopping smoking with the NHS.

Here it is I've added my own comments in red!:
"The number of people trying to quit smoking via NHS services has roughly trebled in the last decade but success rates have fallen, figures show. Well my success rates have stayed around the 95% stop and stay stopped mark!
In 2010/11, there were almost 788,000 "quit dates" set with NHS stop smoking services, with almost 384,000 successful attempts. In 2001/02, there were just 227,000 quit dates set and fewer than 120,000 successful attempts.
People may be successful on their first try, or can set further quit dates throughout the year if their first attempt fails. Maybe they should stop "trying" and just do it!
The overall success rate is now 49%, the same as the previous year, but down on the 53% recorded in 2001/02, according to the data from the NHS Information Centre. People are counted as successful quitters if they are still not smoking four weeks after their quit date. Four weeks? We tested for up to 6 months and I get letters from clients years later!The new report showed the total amount spent on England's NHS stop smoking services in 2010/11 was £84.3 million, almost £500,000 more than in the previous year and almost £60 million more than a decade ago. That's tax payers money they're spending! If you're not a smoker you may be a little incensed! That's £219.53 for each person who stopped.

With patches having a 16% success rate and Champix and Zyban coming in at about 24% when will the government realise that their methods are not working? A 49% success rate is less than 50:50 and that's luck!
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Better staying overweight than constantly dieting

2011-08-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Today's news on the eating front...dieting is bad for you!

Of course the way the papers are reporting the news it sounds like losing weight is bad for you but of course that's just not true!

The newest research says that it's better to stay overweight than be constantly dieting - and of course, that may be true! Dieting is un-natural and most diets encourage us to eat in ways that simply aren't normal! Dieting is cutting out carbs or fat, eating cereal for lunch or living off soups and shakes.

So yes, staying overweight IS better than dieting! But eating healthily is still better than being overweight. Changing your weight and losing that excess fat through normal, healthy eating is the best and only way!

I work with my clients to help them eat normally. Three meals a day, healthy food. No diets, no feeling deprived and no unhappiness! Hypnotherapy can change the way you think about those foods (and drinks) you've been labelling as "treats". But they're not "treats" are they?

They're not "treats" because you're having them every day - lots of them. A "treat" is occasional, a special event.

They're not "treats" because they are actually making you fat and unhealthy - and unhappy!

So let me help you put the "treats" back into your life. Eat normally. Lose weight. Feel better!

Call me on 0113 380 1758 and I'll explain how easy it will be!
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Who can Dukan? You can!

2011-07-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd start by bringing you a media line on yet another new diet!

Of course you can Dukan - or du (!) any other diet but do really WANT to diet? Do you really want to have to remember to pack separate bags of oat bran, each with 2 tablespoons in, for your holidays? Oh, and don't forget the flavourings - "available from our website" to make your food taste better!

With Dukan you don't eat any vegetables or fruit for the "attack" phase - well I know what that will give you an attack of - do you?

How's this for a way of eating that you can do all the time, forever? Eat normally! Yes, how about eating 3 meals a day, occasional healthy snacks, plenty of healthy vitamin and mineral-laden foods and enough protein and carbs to keep you healthy and fit?

Wouldn't that be better than spooning oat bran into little bags?

If you need help to just eat normally and cut out the snacking and fattening extras then give me a call. I can help. You will lose weight but here's the difference. You'll keep it off because, as far as the eating habits are concerned, you'll keep it up!

To borrow another advertiser's favourite - Simple!
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Celebrating my 10th year breaking habits!

2011-06-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

2nd July sees the beginning of my 10th year helping people like you to break their habits, stop smoking, lose weight, remove stress and phobia.

10 YEARS!!!!

So from 2nd July 2011 until 2nd July 2012 I'm going to be doing all sorts of special offers, events and I need YOUR ideas.....

If you have an idea of how I can celebrate 10 years as a successful hypnotherapist. If you have an idea about something I could offer to my clients - old and new - then please let me know!

e-mail your ideas to julie@breakthehabit.co.uk and if I decide to use the idea I will send you as a special gift!!

Look out for what's coming from 2nd July on this blog...
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

A rather personal discussion!

2011-05-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

The last few months have been really hectic here at Break the Habit as more and more clients stop smoking, lose weight and remove their stress and phobias!

But just for a moment can I ask for your help?

If you're a guy could you please go somewhere private and check your privates? And if you're a woman can you get your guy to check asap?

The reason I'm asking this is because my husband had Testicular Cancer two years ago. He ignored the lump for a few months because he was "too busy" writing a new novel. Fortunately he didn't leave it too late. Within days of visiting our GP he was in hospital. He lost a testicle to cancer but that's all he lost. Our lives were turned upside down but he preserved the most important thing - his life!

Men seem to know more about checking women's breasts than they do about checking their own balls! Now is the time to stop being shy. Stop being scared. Check!

Steven's new novel - a "ballsy" action thriller is now out! In his introduction he writes his own story. £1 from every book sold - which is most of his own profit - will go to the Everyman Cancer campaign.

If you'd like a good read - or want a way to get your partner/husband/brother/son to check his balls then please buy a book! It's in Waterstones or online here http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780956591401/Now-the-Killing-Starts

If you want to read Steven's story there was a piece in the Yorkshire Post here
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/the-arts/books/thriller_writer_s_real_life_drama_1_3346546

For more information on Testicular Cancer go to Everyman here http://www.everyman-campaign.org/

Don't leave it too late. Testicular cancer has a 97% survival rate if found early. But the incidence of this disease, the most common cancer in men aged 18 - 44, is rising. Look after yourselves!
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

New Year's Resolution

2011-02-15T09:57:00.001-08:00

My New Year's Resolution is to blog regularly! What's yours?

Of course, doing anything regularly will make you better at it!

We're told to eat regularly, exercise regularly, drink water regularly, sleep..... ok so you get the idea!

But what are you doing regularly that isn't good for you?

Smoking? Drinking? Eating chocolate?

Now is the time - now is always the best time isn't it ;) - to break the habits that don't serve you and start some new ones!

Can I help you? Yes I can!

The key to breaking a habit is really wanting to break it - yes, REALLY wanting to! Your reasons have got to be big - mega - ginormous!!!

If you've got big reasons for wanting to change why not call me NOW (yes it is always the best time) and tell me what you want to change - and I'll tell you how I can help you!

Julie
PS If you're reading this in the middle of the night please e-mail, or call me in the morning! Thank you!
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Busy, busy ,busy

2010-10-26T07:04:00.001-07:00

Busy people don't get time to blog - so I've been "tweeting" instead"

On 1st October I decided to do a daily tweet, a one step at a time to change your lifestyle.

What I good idea! Have you tried it?

Today start drinking more water.

Tomorrow drink more water and go for a five minute walk.

The next day (have you got it yet? :) yes! drink more water, go for a walk and smile!

The next day.... well you get the idea.

The way change is easy and effortless. And they say that if you do something for 21 days it becomes a habit.

So change one thing a day and by Christmas you'll be healthier!
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

3 easy ways to weight loss!

2010-08-03T03:21:00.000-07:00

To lose weight you need to eat less and move more.

So that's easy....eat less than you did yesterday and move more than you did yesterday.

3 easy ways to eat less...

1. Don't have any fattening snack foods in your house!
So if you're wandering the kitchen looking to snack at 10pm tonight you'll have to have something healthy! Don't buy it - then you can't eat it!

2. Reduce by 10%
10% less sugar in your coffee, 10% less food on your plate, 10% less cereal in your breakfast bowl. You'll not miss 10% but over a week that's a lot of food!

3. Walk around the block
A five minute walk. A run up and down the stairs. If you work on the 4th floor walk up one floor and take the lift up the rest. Then the next day walk up two floors. Small bits of movement (let's not call it exercise, we don't want to frighten anyone!) all add up.
Is a five minute walk enough? Short term, yes! But at least it's more than you did yesterday!

Bonus!
4. If you must eat a burger only eat half the bread bun - it's not much, but it's better than nothing!

If you're ready to change your eating habits, once and for all, give me a call on 0113 380 1758.
Stop snacking - in one session! Lose 2 stone by Christmas! What are you waiting for?
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Ladies Only Hot flushes and Libido

2010-06-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hypnotherapy works! Yes, ladies, it's true! Menopausal hot flushes and lack of sex drive can be completely eradicated in just ONE session! And in the rare instances that they do come back we can just do it again!!!

No-one (certainly not me) is implying that the hot flushes are all in your head - but we do know that the mind and body are linked. If you're suffering with hot flushes and night sweats then maybe it's time to try something different?

Did you just get out of the habit of bothering about sex? Did you "go off it"? Are kids and work and tiredness stopping you? Well Hypnotherapy can help bring the spark back into your love life! And again, you'll only need one session!

Come on ladies, get the best out of your lives. Give me a call on 0113 380 1758 and I'll explain how!
Go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Four months later...

2010-06-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I blogged!

I am coming up to my anniversary! In July it will be 8 years since I started Break the Habit!

My "new year's" resolution is to blog more often!

Every day starts a new year really doesn't it? Every day is the first day of the rest of our lives.

As this isn't a rehearsal (at least we don't think so), and we may never get the chance to live again (I use the word "may" here because how can we really know?!!) perhaps now, today, is a good time to start living!

None of us know how long we've got - so make today the start. The beginning. The performance as opposed to the rehearsal.

Whatever you've been planning or putting off. Whatever you know you should do. Do it now. Or at least take the first step. Or at least decide to start tomorrow.

If I can help you then I will. Call me on 0113 380 1758. As Nike put it so well. Just do it!

Frequently Asked Questions

2010-02-16T04:27:00.000-08:00

The best way to have your specific question answered is to call me. I am always happy to talk through what I do and how it works so that when you come to see me you are completely happy with the processes I use - and ready to get the results you want!

However, here are a few questions that are most frequently asked - and my answers!

Q. Can anyone be hypnotised?
A. Yes . Anyone who wants to be hypnotised can be as long as they are a) not on drugs and b) able to understand the process.

Q. Does it work?
A. Yes! This is a popular question and one that I sometimes find hard to answer politely! My answer can be from "yes, look at the testimonials on my website - and many others' sites" through "yes, if you want it to work" and "yes, but there is no it, no magic" to "yes, this is what I do for a living" You may notice that all the answers start with "yes". If you are unsure please call me and let me convince you!

Q. Is every hypnotherapist the same?
A. No. Everyone uses different methods and processes. I use NLP within hypnotherapy which is different from pure hypnotherapy.

Q. How do I choose which hypnotherapist to see?
A. Look at their website and particularly their experience. How long have they been working professionally? How many clients have written to them with feedback? Do they have an office or work from home? Do they do lots of things or are they specialists? Speak to them on the telephone and see if you like them! You can make your own decision who you would prefer from this information.

Q. Do I go to sleep in the session?
A. Well sometimes people do - because they are so relaxed! But hypnosis is not sleep, just very, very relaxed. Most people will be hear everything although they may not remember everything! If you can't hear or see or feel anything that's not hypnosis - you're dead!

Q. How many sessions will I need?
A. For Stop Smoking just one session is enough for about 95% of my clients. The rest take two!
For Weightloss it depends how many habits you need to change which is why I offer a Special Package of 4 sessions with the 4th being free.
For phobia and anxiety often one session will produce a complete or massive change. Some people will need two sessions. Occasionally someone will need more than two but this is rare.
The Stress Relief session on CD can often help to reduce the number of sessions and I teach my clients processes they can use, anytime, anywhere so they don't need me any more!

Q. How long does a session last?
A. I allow 90 minutes in my diary for every session. Most need between an hour and an hour and a half.

Q. Why aren't your prices on your website?
A. I don't want anyone to decide on whether or not to get help for any problem simply by looking at the price. How much something is worth to you depends on you, and how much you want the result. I'm not the cheapest - and I don't believe you want to see the cheapest!

Q. How much does a session cost?
A. The cost of a session depends on what we are doing at that session so it's best to telephone for prices.

Q. Can you come to my house to see me?
A. I may visit a client where it is absolutely impossible for them to come to me. Please ask for details.

Q. Can I get help with payment?
A. Yes, there are several health insurances that will pay all or part of your hypnotherapy cost. These include HealthShield and the Railway Benevolent Fund.

Q. Will my doctor pay for my session.
A. I am registered with the NHS and offer this service. You need to ask your doctor if he is willing to pay from his budget.

Q. I don't live in the area but would like to see someone like you. Can you recommend anyone?
A. I currently only recommend Elaine Marsh in Henley on Thames and Marilyn Charlton on the Isle of Wight. Details for both are on my website. They both trained with me and use the same processes.

Q. Do you give discounts to clients if they want other sessions?
A. Yes, I automatically give a client a £20 discount on further sessions.

go back to www.breakthehabit.co.uk

Special Offers and surviving Christmas

2009-12-07T03:51:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd start with the Special Offers so you don't have to trawl down looking for them.
What a nice person I am.
Book now for January to Stop Smoking or Lose Weight. Pay half the usual deposit before Christmas and the balance at your appointment and get £10 Cashback.

So now a few tips of how to cope at Christmas....

For my past clients the answer is easy - use your Stress Relief CD as often as possible to keep those stress levels down! That way you won't do anything you shouldn't (you know what I mean) and blame it on stress!

New clients can get a copy of the CD by calling 0113 380 1758 and ordering a copy for just £10 including p&p pr e-mailing julie@breakthehabit.co.uk

Tips for Health over the Holidays

Eat before you go out so you don't eat too much at that Christmas Buffet!
Have a glass of water in between each glass of wine - avoid the hangover and the empty calories!
Eat breakfast to get your metabolism going
Go for a walk - walk fast then normal speed fast then normal - to use up some of the excess calories
Never miss a meal. If you're going out to eat don't skip another meal - you'll just be hungrier and eat more!
When you're eating at home have loads of salads, vegetables and protein to balance off the Christmas junk!
Avoid fizzy drinks that are just sugar (or even worse aspartame and chemical sweeteners) and sip water throughout the day.
Have a glass of water first thing to wake you up (add lemon juice for an extra zing!)
Eat slowly, savour the food, stop when you're full (it's waste if you eat what you don't need or want).
Make yourself feel good and be grateful you're having such a great Christmas. Give to charity.

The big question now is "Will I write more before Christmas?" Maybe!

November already! Freedom!

2009-11-10T05:39:00.000-08:00

So I seem to have missed October completely!

As I've said before, people who write blogs every day obviously have nothing else to do! But I am now going to be using my blog a lot more....because I'm ready to share with my readers lots of interesting information, tips, techniques and, most importantly THINGS THAT WORK!

Just about everyone I speak to could do with a bit more money. Some people feel they can't afford to come and see me because they put their health and well being too far down their list of priorities. Now I could help these people by cutting my prices or giving discounts but that wouldn't help me - and it wouldn't really help them! Why should I earn less money because you spent your on cigarettes or booze? Of course I do give discounts and special offers - but I like to do that for people with depression and stress or debilitating phobia. I would prefer to help everyone else by passing on the ways that I've learned to attract money.

So why would anyone want more money? We really want money so that we can buy things, and do things and have things that we wouldn't be able to buy, have and do if we didn't have that money! Money is just the tool. What money really brings us is freedom!

Here's an example. Let's take someone who want to stop smoking. (That may be you?!) The first question I ask them is WHY do you wan to stop smoking? Now most people will talk about their health, or their kids, or the horrible smell. Many will say because it's costing them a fortune! For example, if you're 50 and smoke 20 a day and stop today, by the time you retire you'll have £30,000 in the bank EXTRA. I don't even want you to think about the £50,000 or more you'd have right now if you hadn't started smoking in your teens!

If you want to stop smoking because of the money then you absolutely HAVE TO have something that you want to do with that money that is MORE IMPORTANT than smoking.

If you're not a smoker maybe you're thinking that this doesn't apply to you. But if you want to lose weight you'll save money (chocolate and take-ways and crisps and wine are the expensive stuff you can cut down or out).

If you're stressed or have a phobia it's not maybe about money - but about TIME. How much time are you wasting of your precious, one and only, life?

So, here's what I believe. We all want freedom. Freedom to work or not. Freedom to buy nice things. Freedom to give to others our time and money. Freedom to do what we want to do.

So I'd like to share with you what I've been spending my "spare" time doing this week.

I have been reading a great new book by a guy called Joe Vitale. It's called Attract Money Now and you can get it, absolutely free. This man so wants you to be wealthier - and free - that he's giving the book away. And I want that for you too! So go and download the book. Then read it. Then DO WHAT IT SAYS it's free at www.attractmoneynow.com

Foods for your moods

2009-09-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

What, two posts in one day! Well I thought I'd spoil you a bit! I wanted to talk about stress and depression. I often speak to people who stopped smoking on their own for weeks, months or even years and then started again because of stress (as if smoking would reduce stress!!). I often speak to people whose lives are so stressful they drink too much and eat badly(as though that's going to help!). Here's a few ideas about how you can use food to help you feel better and reduce stress (and depression).

Eat (or take as a supplement) omega-3 Fats: These fatty acids are essential to your brain but we don't tend to get enough from food. More omega 3 in the blood means more serotonin - which makes you feel happier! You need a regular intake of oily fish or flax seed if you're a vegetarian.

Get more Vitamin D - and that means get out more! Sunshine is the best way of getting vitamin D so get out there for as long as possible, as often as possible.

Get enough B Vitamins: Vitamins B6, B12 and folate also help to produce serotonin - yes, the "feel good" stuff.

Get more selenium - one brazil nut a day will give you your daily intake and low levels of selenium are associated with increased depression - so go nuts!

Eat your five a day - antioxidants in fruit and vegetables keep you healthy - and happy!

Make sure you're getting enough tryptophan because it helps produce... yes, you guessed it! serotonin. You get it from turkey, eggs and beef - or if you're vegetarian spinach, beans and dark leafy greens. (Interesting..when I spell checked this the checker wanted me to change tryptophan into trepidation - completely the opposite!)

Reduce your sugar intake and eat low GI carbohydrates - brown rice, brown bread. Sugar actually uses up your B vitamins and chromium stopping them from helping you feel good!

And as I add to all my "hints and tips" : Drink more water!

Look after yourself - and have a good day!

HRT and Lung disease

2009-09-22T03:34:00.001-07:00

I felt I needed to share this information that's been in the press in the last few days - just incase you missed it.
Research has shown that women taking HRT are more likely to die of lung cancer than those not taking HRT. This doesn't mean that if you take HRT you are more likely to get lung disease - but if you do get it then you are more likely to die from it.
This of course has tremendous implications for menopausal women who smoke.
You have two choices. Stop HRT or Stop smoking. Actually, you have a 3rd choice - die young.
I already have concerns about HRT so if you can live without it then I'd recommend this anyway (did you know HRT was derived from the urine of mares? How did they get that?!) But of course, there is no doubt about the one thing you can do to save your life - stop smoking. How much more information do you need?
For October only I will give a £20 discount off my stop smoking session to all women between 45 and 55 - whether they take HRT or not. As Tesco would say "every little helps"!

more in the news

2009-09-06T05:05:00.001-07:00

To add to my last blog here's a few other things that have been in the newspapers that some of us already knew!

I read an article the other day that said that sweeteners can make you fat. We've been saying it for years and now, it seems, the "traditionalists" have finally caught on. In simple terms insulin reacts to sugar in food. But it seems that the body really doesn't know the difference between sugar and a manufactured sweetener. So the sweeteners you use in your tea, or the aspartame and saccharine in so called "diet" drinks actually work to kick in the insulin and make your body crave more sugar! If you really want to be frightened into giving up your diet coke check out aspartame on google!

Stop drinking diet, fizzy drinks now and replace them with water and I guarantee you'll feel better in a week!

If you're finding it difficult to kick your eating habits; if you've got stuck in "diet" mode; if you still think low fat will make you thin: Call me - let me show you how to eat well, lose weight and stay healthy.

It's in the news!

2009-09-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel frustrated reading the newspapers? Do you ever long for some good news?

In the past two or three days I've read some very interesting things in the newspaper. Articles about research that confirms something that the paper thinks is new and exciting - and we've been talking about for years!

A couple of days ago the news was that that binge drinking makes you fat! Research has now proven that binge drinking (as opposed to regularly drinking too much!) actually adds 2 - 4 inches to your stomach! Your stomach is 2 - 4 inches bigger because you binge - regardless of how much you drink over a year!

Yesterday's news was that 1.2 million kids go to school without breakfast - they have a fattening snack or a cigarette instead! Could this be anything to do with the obesity issues we are seeing in young people?

Today's news is that eating earlier in the day can keep you slim.

I also heard on the radio that the number of children born with spina bifida in the Scotland had doubled this year on last. This can be avoided by women taking folic acid. If you are even thinking about getting pregnant start taking folic acid now. The first 4 weeks of the pregnancy is when the folic acid is most needed so waiting until you get pregnant is too late.

Sometimes the press reminds us about things we already knew.

Are you eating healthily? Sensibly? Early enough? Cutting your drinking? Making sure your kids eat well and healthily too? If not, why not?

2nd blog in a month!

2009-08-15T06:32:00.000-07:00

Wow I remembered to blog for a second time in August!

I thought today would be a good day to continue the "hints and tips" series. When the weather's wet and windy what do so many of feel like doing? EATING!
So here's a few tips on eating healthier.
1. Buy the right stuff! Yes, simple as that. Buy nuts and seeds to snack on rather than bars of chocolate.
2. Plan meals. Don't just buy food, plan meals, that way there is less trauma about what to have and less waste
3. Use a smaller plate. Psychologically we tend to want to finish everything. We hate waste. After all "there are starving kids in Africa". Yes there are, but you finishing your takeaway pizza isn't going to help them - and it's not helping you! Why do takeaways make us fat - because we eat too much food.
4. Drink 8 glasses of water a day. Because it's good for you. Because it wards off "hunger". Because it's better for you, and much cheaper than diet coke!
5. Do what you know works. There isn't one person in the world that doesn't know what to eat. it's in the papers, the magazines, on TV. Use your brain and stop making excuses.

It's all obvious isn't it? So why not give it a try! Call me for help! The Special Package of 4 weightloss sessions for less than the price of 3 is still on... but not for long.

Could you lose 2 stone by Christmas? Yes you could. Call me and and I'll tell you how.

Hints and Tips for stopping smoking

2009-08-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

So now it's August and I am determined to blog more regularly!

Yesterday a lady cancelled an appointment with me to stop smoking. No, she hadn't changed her mind - in fact, she had already stopped! She told me that after our original telephone conversation she had realised how crazy smoking was so had just stopped! Now in a way I'm mad - I just lost money on that one! But I am also very pleased for her. And I know she will tell people about me!

So today I am going to help everyone who is thinking about stopping with a few Hints and Tips for stopping smoking:-

1. Make the decision that you are going to stop, no matter what
2.Plan what you’re going to do with the money instead – do small things so: With today’s saving I’ll treat myself to…; With this week’s savings I will treat myself to… Every time you get the treat you’re reminding yourself of how good it is to not smoke.
3.Do it NOW – don’t wait to a certain date or time, this is just admitting you don’t really want to do it
4.Throw away the cigarettes from your bag, car and house. Don’t keep any “just in case” as this means you’re expecting to fail.
5.Break the habit. If you smoke when drinking coffee, have tea; if you smoke first thing when you wake up or after a meal have a glass of water; sit in a different chair.
6.List all the reasons you smoke – stress, relaxation, and all the times you smoke – after meals, with a drink then ask yourself this question “Does it work?” The answer is NO!
7.Ask yourself “What is the upside of being a smoker?” and “what is the downside of being a non-smoker?” and then work through these answers.
8.Still finding it too hard? Call me on 0113 380 1758

If you stop smoking after reading this please e-mail me and share your success!

The next blog will be hints and tips for losing weight....

What happened to June?

2009-07-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

June came and went in a blur of activity - and a very high number of clients!

In fact, this is the first "admin" day I've had in 4 weeks. I've spent the day catching up on e-mails and passing time on facebook and twitter - which is a bit sad but a good way to pass an easy day!

When did you last take a day to mess around? catch up? sleep? relax?

Schedule a day - or an hour - into your diary right now for next week so you will give yourself some relaxation time.

If you're one of my past clients schedule time to use the Stress Relief CD. If you're not a client why not call me and schedule a time to solve a problem; break a habit; learn some new techniques to take control?

Before you do that go and get a glass of water. It's just stopped raining and the sun is coming out again but it's still sticky warm. You need at least 8 glasses of water every day to keep hydrated - and to keep your body alkalkised. Acidity is the surest way to illness and 2 litres of water a day added to a diet rich in salads and vegetables will help keep you alkalized and heathly.

The first symptom of dehydration isn't thirst - it's fatigue. So go and get that glass of water now (not coffee, tea, coca cola or beer or lager - water!).

Feeling down? Drink water. Tired? Drink water.

Before you go off to the doctors because you're lethargic, fed up, "out of sorts" spend a few days drinking 2 litres of water a day (slowly throughout the day is best). Make each meal 70% water-based food (veg, salad, fruit). Take a walk for 15 minutes (or more) every day. Get some fresh air in your lungs. If after a week you're not feeling better then go to the doctors. (of course, go straight away if you have a lump or an unexplained pain).

And another way to make yourself feel better is to focus on the good things in your life. You get what you focus on so stop moaning and complaining and give thanks for what you do have.

The sun is shining again and I've got a "free" weekend. And I'm feeling good! Just off for a glass of water!!!

What happend to April?

2009-05-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

April was one of the busiest months I've ever had! I saw more clients and still took time off over Easter! (Hence no blogging!)

But the big question now is what happened to May? The weather's dreadful (again!), the economy is dismal, everyone seems to be ripping us off (us being the taxpayer). And Katie and Peter have split!

So what's bothering YOU this month? Are you depressed at the weather? Your finances? Or life in general? Are you looking forward to your holidays - or too worried about your weight and what you'll look like in a bikini (sorry guys, you'll look dreadful in a bikini whatever you weigh!)

Are you STILL smoking? What ELSE could you do with the £2,000 a year you spend on cigarettes?

Call me, quote this blog, and I'll give you £20 off any session. If you're already a client you get £25 off anyway so that's £45 saved (treat yourself!).

If you stopped smoking with me and now want to lose some weight you could write a piece for the website about stopping smoking and get a total of £65 off your first weightloss session!

What are you waiting for? Why diet when you can use hypnosis?

This offer is only for May and June and you must mention this blog. Call me.

The Weekend Blog!

2009-03-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

Well it looks as though weekends are becoming my time to blog!

Well the sun is shining and it's not raining so today there is no excuse for getting outside and getting some exercise and vitamin D.

Our bodies need Vitamin D and the best way to get it is from sunshine - although here in the UK that's pretty difficult over the winter months. And, of course, our bodies need exercise. So how about, as soon as you finish reading this, you go outside and wander!

If you can walk then walk, fast then slow, fast then slow, really push that metabolism! If you aren't fit or have problems with walking then wander around your garden or street - anything is better than nothing!

If you're trying to lose weight then just walking for about 20 minutes 3 times a week will help.
Of course, walking every day would be better! So today - get out there and walk. Do it again tomorrow. Monday when you get home from walk take a short walk around the block before you go into the house (no-one will notice!). Do the same Tuesday. And Wednesday. Go for a walk after dinner if it's nice inthe evening. If it's raining what else could you do? Dance to music on the radio? Run up and down stairs? Get out that old exercise DVD/cross trainer/exercise bike? Do your kids have a Wii? - get the fitness games!

Remember the key to weight loss is to eat less and move more. To lose 1lb a week you need to cut out about 500 calories a day and use 500 calories more. What's 500 caloires? Two glasses of wine? The packet of crisps you ate on the way home from work, or with your lunch - and the bar of chocolate you ate in front of the TV? There's no need to diet. Just cut down and MOVE MORE!!! Have a lovely weekend!

How's March treating you?

2009-03-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well March has started with a bang! for me so I'm sorry that I haven't been blogging!
For me the blog has two uses. 1) it helps me let you know about special offers and new services and 2) it allows me to share with you information I have around your health.
Today I read an article about sweeteners and food additives and I really wanted to share the information. I ask all my clients to STOP TAKING SWEETENERS and particularly ASPARTAME which is in diet drinks. The US Food and Drug Administration refused to approve aspartame for use as a food additive for 16 years! This was because so much research had shown it to be harmful. Their own toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross, told Congress "without a shadow of a doubt, aspartame can cause brain tumors and brain cancer..."
It seems that the only reason aspartame finally got approval was that Donald Rumsfeld became CEO of the company that made it!
Another sweetener to avoid is Splenda or Sucralose which was originally found when someone was trying to produce an insecticide! Only tests on animals have been done - but if you saw the results you'd agree you really don't want to consume this sweetener!
Of course, I'm only quoting to you what I've read - you can do your own research on the internet - but when you look at how obesity and cancer have risen over the past few years could it just be possible that additives, chemicals and artificial sweetners have contributed?
Eat healthy, be healthy!

New! Taster Sessions and Stress Less Feel Good

2009-02-24T09:35:00.001-08:00

If you're feeling stressed and too busy to think straight this is for YOU! One hour with me for a deep relaxation hypnotherapy session!
If you're sceptical about hypnotherapy then this is an ideal way to "give it a try". I'll spend time explaining to you what I do (it's not magic but it is very powerful) and then you can experience half an hour of deep relaxation, stress relief and generally feeling good! And leave me feeling GREAT!
If you're a past client then you can have this session to get stress relief and deep relaxation anytime you want! Better and longer lasting than a massage!
£50 for new clients - including a Stress Relief CD to use at home.
Only £45 for past clients (who will already own the CD!)
Some hypnotherapists offer a personal consultation before you decide but who's got time to come in just for a chat! You're busy and and I'm busy so I'll talk to you for as long as it takes on the telephone, answering any questions you have. But the best way to experience hypnosis is to book a session. So why not come in and experience hypnosis and NLP now? Limited sessions available and this special price won't be around for long!
Call me on 0113 380 1758 to book.

The Weekly Blog! Still trying?

2009-02-09T01:48:00.001-08:00

Well another week goes by! Snow, snow and more snow! Well it looks very pretty outside and I've been lucky that it hasn't stopped me getting to see my clients - or them getting to see me!
I'm off to Huddersfield this afternoon so watching the AA roadwatch CCTV cameras on the motorway very carefully until then! Isn't it wonderful that you can see what's happening on your route? Unfortunately, things can change so quickly as some idiot does something daft and causes an accident!
Some people will be finding it difficult to get out on the regular walks for fitness and weight loss in the snow and ice. This is why you need something in your home that can help you keep active! Exercise videos can be good - but what about just dancing around to the radio? Or running up and down stairs a few times? Or a bit of vigorous hoovering? Some of my clients have got the Wii machine (if you've got kids you may have the machine already) . You can get the Wii Fit and do yoga and balancing and if you're not used to exercise this is a great way to start.

I find my mini trampoline the best way of quick and easy workouts - some people like exercise bands - those long elastic bands that you can use instead of weights.

Whatever you do, do SOMETHING! It will help with weight loss, general fitness - and keep you warm!

Another week goes by...how's the New Year Resolution coming along?

2009-02-01T08:34:00.000-08:00

Well it's been nearly a week since my last blog - so I must have been busy!

Many people reading this will have been busy too - busy trying hard to stop smoking or lose weight and keep to their New Year's Resolutions! Is this you? Well how about making it easy? No-one said changing your lifestyle had to be hard! It's not cheating to get a bit of help - especially if that means getting the results lots faster!

I've started a number of new weightloss clients in January - and they'd all lost weight (between 4lbs and 8lbs) by their second appointment two weeks later and will all have reached their goal weight by the end of 2009 - some a lot sooner.

Sometimes it's easy to get overawed by the amount of weight you want to lose so try this:
Assume just 2lbs a week weightloss (anything over 3lbs is water anyway). Some weeks it will be more, some well, life will happen and it will be less, but take 2lbs a week weightloss as your average goal. So that's half a stone a month. So how many stones do you want to lose? In 12 months you can lose 6 stones at that very steady rate! Some of my new clients will reach their goal by the summer, some will take longer - all will stay at their new goal because they will have changed their eating habits, exercise habits and lifestyles - for good! If you're ready to join them give me a call.

Here's a small tip to get you on the right path: Buy some raw almonds.

Almonds can lower cholesterol and help with weight loss They give you fibre, protein, and monounsaturated fats - and fill you up. Recent research from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto showed that almonds minimize the negative effects of a processed carbohydrate meal - so if you're out and about and are still eating McDonald's or sandwiches for lunch almonds will help! In the study, men and women ate 50 grams of white bread, along with one, two, or three ounces of almonds. (A one-ounce serving is about 22 almonds.) Adding the almonds to the white bread prevented the rapid rise in blood sugar caused by eating white bread alone. What you're doing is bringing the glycemic load of the "meal" down by adding the almonds to the bread and it's the glycemic load of the meal (or, if you like the sugar in it) that needs to be kept low. Of course, this doesn't mean that if you eat almonds you can carry on eating white bread! But just occassionally, think on, stock up on almonds and make them your snack of choice.

Losing weight, improving health

2009-01-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a few simple tips for taking control of your weight and your health

1. Avoid sugar-filled puddings, white bread, potatoes and pasta and focus on low-glycemic carbohydrates like brown rice. Fill up on vegetables and salads.
2. Keep fruit juices to a single glass a day and replace its high sugar kick with whole fruit which releases the sugar slower and includes fibre
3. Eat protein with every meal to put your body in fat-burning mode. Protein is also satisfying so you feel full for longer. Good quality protein comes from free range beef, chicken, eggs (preferably organic), fish, nuts and beans.
4. Some fats are healthy - so eat the healthy fats like olive oil and avocado. Numerous studies have concluded that people who eat healthy fats, and supplement with omega 3 lose weight easier, and faster and stay healthier.
5. Eat plenty of fibre through vegetables and fruits and wholefoods.
6. Read the label. And ask yourself - is it healthy if it's got a LABEL???!

Don't diet - change your eating habits to healthy eating habits. And if it's too hard - call me - hypnosis makes it easy!

Hypno-diets

2009-01-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

Hope you've picked up on my latest information on "hypno-dieting" "The latest craze to sweep the US and Hollywood". It's being talked about in the Daily Mail, Grazia and many other magazines as the way that singer Lily Allen lost her weight. And Of course, it's exactly what I've been doing here in Leeds and Huddersfield for the past 7 years!

Using hypnosis to help you eat healthily ("diet" meaning, simply what you eat) is the easiest way to reach your goals. In the sessions we talk about nutrition and health, what you need to do to lose weight and be healthy - and what you need to stop doing! Hypnosis helps you to change what you do, what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat and why you eat. So you don't want to snack just because you're bored. You don't feel the need for a bar of chocolate just because you're having a break. You don't eat for any negative or positive emotional reasons. You eat for nutrition only. Food and drink aren't a substitute for anything else - or an answer to a problem.

If you didn't want chocolate/crisps/pizza/wine/a pudding then you wouldn't miss them - would you? How easy would it be to lose weight if you didn't want the sugary and fattening foods?

Yes, that's how easy it can be!

Message to Self - and breakfasts

2009-01-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

Message to Self: I must keep up with this blog!
Yet again, busy people haven't got time to blog! And isn't it true that, often, busy people haven't got time to look after themselves and their families properly?

Answer this question honestly. How often do you miss a breakfast because you don't have time? Occasionally? Once a week? Most days? If you want to become - and stay - slim then eat breakfast. Even if it's only a piece of fruit, or a slice of toast. This will get your metabolism working and, literally, break your fast! A working metabolism means it's burning calories and that's got to be a good thing! PLUS you'll feel better and much less stressed! If you get up and sit and eat breakfast with your partner/kids you will all feel better and much less stressed.

Ideal breakfasts include wholemeal toast (add a boiled or poached egg and make it even better) or a bowl of wholewheat cereal. For example, 2 weetabix, 2 shredded wheat, bran flakes are OK (Allbran actually isn't wholewheat) or of course, that wonderful, filling, cholesterol busting porridge! As always, if you're eating cereal read the label! Some cereals have more sugar than you want in your system so avoid them at all costs.

Oh, and cereal bars DO NOT COUNT! They are just a way for Mr Kellog's to recoup some of the profits they lost when so many people got too busy to eat cornflakes!

Eating "on the run" is to be avoided (see stress above) but better an apple and a few nuts in the car on the way to work than nothing at all!

More tips on getting slim tomorrow (or when I have the time!!)

Taking control of your weight

2009-01-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

My son always says "if you can read you can cook" and I think he's right. These days everything you buy has a label that says how to prepare and/or cook it. And how many chef's are there writing recipe books these days! You don't have to buy ready meals (heat complete in the microwave) when you can buy Tesco's Finest or M & S Ready to eat meals all nicely packaged yet still fresh and top quality food. But in the same vein most meats, fish and even some vegetables have the cooking instructions on the pack so why not cook "from scratch" and save some cash?!

My saying is "if you can read you can lose weight" because my big thing is to READ THE LABEL. Checking for additives and extra sugar or sweeteners in foods has become second nature to me. Almost all packaged food is labelled with calories, fat and (most important for me) sugar levels. As a rough guideline look at the "percentage of daily amount" figures. Based on three meals and two snacks a day nothing should be more than 25% of your daily sugar or fat intake. (Why is sugar important? - come back tomorrow and I'll tell you!)

Then there's the cereal bars, meal replacements and "slimmers" foods. STOP. Read the label. Most cereal bars have as many calories - and a lot more sugar - than a piece of toast with a bit of butter on it! Get to know the calories of some of your favourite foods - and then check that you're not "giving up" something you love, to eat something that's manufactured and, in fact has just as many calories!

If you want to lose weight just cutting down on one thing a day could make a big difference - so have 3 glasses of wine instead of 4 and save 200 calories!!! Let's face it one of anything may taste nice, the second good, the third OK but the fourth? That's just STUFF going into your mouth! Think about wine, lager, pizza slices, biscuits.....3000 calories extra is 1lb in weight extra. Two weeks of "one less" a day could be 1lb lost! This is how you put it on - so this is how to take it off - slowly! And if you think 1lb every two weeks isn't enough multiply it out.... It's nearly 2 stone in a year. 2 stone lighter by next Christmas? This easily? Try it!

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T08:48:00.000-08:00

Well here we are at 1st January 2009.
Ready to make some New Year's Resolutions?
Not AGAIN!! How many years will it be before you realise that resolutions lead to failure?

The key to change is not just making the decision but taking ACTION - ASAP, immediately, NOW!

Here is the NLP way to make changes.

1. Make it positive - what do you want (rather than what don't you want!)
2. Can you influence it? For example winning the lottery is out of your hands even if you've bought a ticket! And you can't change anyone else! But you CAN stop smoking, lose weight, reduce stress.
3. Be Specific. If you want to lose weight state how much; give yourself a specific goal not a general one.
4. Describe what you will see, hear and feel when you have reached your goal. How will you KNOW that you have what you wanted? How will you look? What will others say to you? How will you feel?
5. If you could have it NOW - would you have it? This is a good check on goals which maybe we should want but don't really want. How will achieving your goal change you life? Your relationships? Is that what you really want?

So here's an example.
Problem:You're overweight and are ready to take control.
Plan: I want to lose 2 stone and weigh 10 stone by the summer holiday.
I can do this by changing what I eat and exercising more (and booking in for some hypnotherapy to make it easier! :)
When I weigh 10 stone I will look great in a pair of tight jeans, be able to run upstairs without getting out of breath, my friends will tell me how well I look, I'll feel more confident.
If I was 10 stone NOW I'd be able to wear the trousers I bought last Christmas!

So now, go set those New Year's Resolutions!

If you've missed me for the past month (hope you have!) I proved the one thing I've alwasy said - only people with time on their hands can possibly have the time to write a blog!!!!

Trying to change?

2008-11-27T11:18:00.000-08:00

I just read about a follow up to a YouGov survey that was done last year for the World Cancer Research Fund.

You may remember the original research because many of the papers picked up on the point that we shouldn't eat bacon and other processed meats because they increase the risk of bowel cancer.

Well a year later a follow up report has asked how many people have made changes to their diet and lifestyles because of the report.

Of the 2,124 people surveyed 11% had said they had tried to cut down on processed meat.
37% of over 55s had tried to cut down - but only 6% of 18 to 34 year olds.
26% had tried to eat more fruit and vegetables and 18% said they had made more of an effort to lost weight.

Quoting from the AOL report: Richard Evans, head of communications for WCRF, said: "It is really encouraging that so many people remember our report and have tried to make lifestyle changes as a result of it. A big part of our work is interpreting the latest scientific research and then giving people the information so they are then in a position to make informed decisions. This survey shows that if people are told how they can reduce their risk of cancer then many of them will make changes.
"However, recent market research has shown that despite the wall-to-wall media coverage of our report, many people are still unaware of how things like diet and physical activity affect cancer risk. For example, only 57% of people are aware that having a poor diet increases your chances of developing cancer."

Now two things struck me when reading this. The obvious one is just how much do you have to tell people before they finally realise they have to take responsibility for their own health. Every newspaper, magazine and TV news bulletin covered this story!

The second is how often the statistics related to people "trying" to change. So it's quite likely that many of them actually failed to actually make a change - they just tried! As Yoda said in the very first Star Wars (when Luke Skywalker got his spaceship stuck in a bog) "there is no such thing as try. Either you do it or you don't"!!! So how many people actually did cut down and take responsibility? Really?

Stress Relief

2008-11-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

Do you run a company with employees? Or perhaps manage a team? Are you and your colleagues stressed?

We're all under more pressure than ever before to perform well. At home. At work. Financially we have to get it right. And don't even mention Christmas!

Here are a few things for you as manager or director of a team (or as Mum or Dad) to think about.

Have you and your colleagues got somewhere to chill out? Maybe a small office or empty meeting room could be equipped with a couple of comfy chairs? Would you like a copy of my Stress Relief CD for your MP3 player or iPod? Cigarette smokers often tell me that their cigarette break is their only break in the day. No wonder they're so stressed!

Make sure your staff have access to water. A place for a break. And a proper lunch break. Time to eat. And digest. And think. I'll guarantee that the afternoons will be more productive!

At home a quiet room is essential. Away from the TV and games machines. A place to listen to relaxing music maybe - or my Stress Relief CD! Instead of getting home and reaching for the gin/wine/beer bottle why not reach for an easy chair and a glass of water. I guarantee that your evening will go smoother!

Breathe! It's what your body needs!

Red Bull and energy drinks

2008-11-23T04:35:00.000-08:00

Tired? Weary? Ready for a pick-me-up? Red Bull anyone? Well when I see this I see Red and I think "Bull"!

A study in Australia has found that people who regularly drink sugar free Red Bull (that means laced with aspartame and other sweeteners) had a cardiovascular profile similar to that of people with heart disease!

Just one sugar-free Red Bull increased the "stickiness" of the blood and raised the risk of blood clots!

Only the other day in the paper I read about a teenage girl who was drinking 8 cans of this stuff - a day! Just the caffeine is enough to make you hyper!

Why put chemicals in your body if you don't have to? Stick to Green Tea or water for a healthier body!

Green Tea, sugar and 7 a day

2008-11-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

In the last few days I have read several articles about the help that Green Tea can be for weightloss. There's a new chinese weightloss tea which includes green tea extract being advertised on the internet and research is being reported about how people who drink three cups of green tea a day lost more weight on a healthy diet than those who didn't drink green tea.

So if you're trying to lose a bit of weight then green tea could be a great help! It is also, obviously lower calorie than a latte (!) and full of antioxidants which makes it a good addition to your "5 a day"

Actually the "5 a day" is now "7 a day". I recommend 5 vegetable portions and 2 fruit as fruit is higher in sugar. Sugar is said to be one of the main contributors to ageing so avoiding sugar won't just help with weightloss it will keep you looking younger too!

Healthy eating is so easy! Make sure you have 5 vegetable portions a day, 2 fruit, 2 wholemeal (e.g. two slices of wholemeal bread, two weetabix or shredded wheat) and protein (meat, fish, egg, cheese) at every meal. Have the fruit and green tea between your 3 main meals and you'll never be hungry! Oh, and stop when you're full! And drink 4 or 5 glasses of water a day (assuming 3 green teas). And that's it.

Of course, if you find this too hard you can call me and come for hypnotherapy and NLP!

Stress-less!

2008-11-19T11:07:00.001-08:00

My next business venture will be a stress-less consultancy for companies.

Everybody is so stressed at the moment with the economy; house prices are going down, food prices are going up, it's such a rollercoaster!

So what can you do to reduce stress at work?

Have you got a room where you can go for a break? How do you "get away from it all" for a few minutes - a quick ciggie outside???!!!

We all need breaks - but we need breaks that actually make us feel better!

The ideal would be a room where you can go to get away from the phone and the computer for half an hour. A comfy chair where you can sit and relax. And preferably an MP3 player with my Stress Relief CD on it! Half an hour of bliss!

But if half an hour is too much in your busy, busy schedule what about 5 minutes of bliss?
A room, a chair, a few deep breaths and maybe a little time taken imaging your favourite place, your favourite person, your favourite pastime. That would make so much difference to your productivity for the rest of the day!

If you're a boss please think about creating a space for your staff to rest. Please encourage them to take a break, a short walk, to eat a healthy lunch - away from their desk!

I read an article today about a wonderful way to de-stress - singing!

Dopamine is the substance that is released when we take drugs or gamble. But having sex (I shall recommend this in my consultancy practice!) and singing release dopamine too. And it gives us positive feelings - and drives us to want to experience them again and again! Endorphins give us a high after exercise and studies show that they are also released into the brain when we sing - giving us that tingling, pleasurable feeling.

Also singing releases nitric oxide into the bloodstream which lower blood pressure and combat harmful bacteria viruses. So singing really is good for you!

So a room, a comfy chair, a choir.....how will you stress-less?

Stop smoking discount ends soon!

2008-11-18T06:37:00.000-08:00

If you're still undecided about stopping smoking with me then this is the time to give me a call and talk about your fears. Let's face it, most people are frightened of stopping smoking. What will you do with your hands?! What will you do in your breaks? What will you do without your "little friends"? Some people are so frightened they don't stop incase they start again!

What's your excuse for not stopping? Have you tried before and failed? Maybe the method you used just didn't work - patches 16% success rate, gum 12%, willpower alone 10%. No wonder people are frightened to fail again.

I am still offering 10% discount until the end of next week and have a few spaces left to fill. I'll even work on my "admin" day if you want me to!

Frightened of putting on weight? Here's a sneak preview of next month's Special Offer:

Half price weightloss session when you book to stop smoking in December. Or you can take a Stress Relief session at half price if your weight isn't your problem.

Call me - what have you got to lose?

Dr Inderjit Hunjan and hygienist Alison Holliday are offering FREE screenings for Mouth Cancer Awareness Week during a walk-in clinic at the practice - 14 Alexandra Road (Tel: 0113 259 0190), Monday November 17 to Friday November 21, 10am to 4pm, and Saturday November 22, 9am until noon. Full denture patients are also encouraged to take advantage of the screening.

Dying to be Thin? Lighter Life?

2008-11-15T05:09:00.000-08:00

Yet another article appears in the press about the dangers of crazy diets!

This time it's LighterLife that is highlighted. If you haven't come across LighterLife it is a low calorie diet which replaces all meals with nutritionally balanced shakes. It is aimed only at those people who are extremely overweight. Unfortunately, these dieters survive on just 500 liquid calories a day and some healthcare practitioners are now saying that this is extremely dangerous. Starving yourself in this way loses weight fast - but also "depletes the protein and muscle of the internal organs" according to leading obesity expert Professor John Garrow.

Side effects have included generally feeling unwell, hair loss, menstrual disorders and inabality to concentrate and although people do lose weight some people have reported an unhealthy "dislike" of real food which has stopped them eating sensibly once they reach their goal weight.

I have had numerous clients come to me after they have lost weight with LighterLife because they have put much of it back on since returning to eating real food. Unfortunately, they have returned to their old, poor eating habits.

With hypnosis and NLP my clients get a choice about what they eat, how much and when, but have changed their feelings around food so they don't overeat, don't eat unless they're hungry and automatically choose healthy food. They are not "on a diet" just eating sensibly, losing the weight slowly and exercising to ensure their bodies stay healthy.

Many of my clients say that they have stopped obsessing about food, stopped worrying about their weight and stopped looking for comfort from food and trying to use food to solve their problems.

To remove the problem of obesity once and for all we need to start eating healthy foods in healthy amounts. We need to know what is healthy and what is not (back to Home Economics and Domestic Science is schools I say!). But most of all each of us needs to take responsbiliyt for our own health. Right Now. No more excuses. No more weird diets.

Mouth Cancer - free check up

2008-11-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

Yes I'm still going on about Mouth Cancer!

The Alexandra Road Dental Practice, Horsforth, will offer FREE screenings for signs of cancer for the duration of Mouth Cancer Week - that's NEXT WEEK. The practice has become the first in the area to use a Velscope cancer screening machine - which can help detect cancer at an early stage, before it is visible to the eye.

Dr Inderjit Hunjan and hygienist Alison Holliday will offer screenings during a walk-in clinic at the practice - 14 Alexandra Road (Tel: 0113 259 0190), Monday November 17 to Friday November 21, 10am to 4pm, and Saturday November 22, 9am until noon. Full denture patients are also encouraged to take advantage of the screening.

I'm going to be visiting the practice to give advice about stopping smoking (and drinking) too so if you'd like to have a chat to me before you book an appointment give me a call or drop me an e-mail and I'll tell you when I'll be there.

Please tell everyone you know about Mouth Cancer Awareness Week and let's cut the "one person dies every 5 hours from Mouth Cancer down to something more sensible - preferably down to NIL!

Champix Suicides

2008-11-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

The papers today are - yet again- talking about the controversial anti-smoking drug Champix (varenicline) which has been linked to depression. Health Chiefs are now saying that ten people have committed suicide after taking this drug.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency website says that 24 people have died whilst using the drug - 10 of them committed suicide!

Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers in the US have been banned from taking this drug.

Although a clinical trial lasting years and involving thousands of patients was carried out only about 24% of people actually stopped smoking. Whilst that's better than the 16% that stop with nicotine patches it's really not a very good success rate. In fact, isn't less than 50% success rate just luck?

Many of my clients often tell me that they are coming to me as a last resort to stop smoking. They have tried everything else including patches, Zyban (the other anti-depressant with nasty side-effects) and Champix.

Why not avoid any chance of side effects and jump straight to the easy, painless, drug-free option of hypnotherapy?

I'm still giving 10% off for November.

Pre-Christmas discounts for everyone

2008-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

Pre-Christmas discounts for everyone

My diary is fast filling-up with smokers and drinkers taking advantage of the 10% discount for November so I'm now thinking of ways to offer a discount to those of you who are ready to take control of your eating habits!

While I'm thinking here's a few more tips on changing your eating habits.

Many people say they hate wasting food - so they put it on their plate and eat it! If their children leave food they eat that too! Are you one of those people who goes out for a meal and has to eat everything because, after all , you have paid for it? If there's half a glass of wine left in the bottle do you just have to drink it?

Well of course it is a waste to waste food and drink. But it's a waste to reduce your energy, weaken your knees and ankles and shorten your life by over-eating!

If you're one of those people who hates wasting food then here's a technique to use to help yourself reduce the amount you eat. Buy expensive food. Yes, that's right. Spend the same amount but buy a small amount of the absolute best.

Better quality chocolate, cheese and even cakes taste wonderful. If you buy the best you get less for your money, you get real taste so you don't need to eat as much and so you eat less calories!

Buy really nice chocolates and eat just one a day. SLOWLY savour the experience.

Buy good quality drinks. Drink them like a wine taster. Pour a small glass. Smell it. Look at the colour. Sip it. Taste it. SLOWLY.

This way you enjoy food for what it is - tasty and satisfying!

Overweight people think about food all the time - except when they're eating it! Then they're just shovelling it in!People who are "normal" weight only think about food when they're shopping, preparing or eating it. Which one are you?

So now I've decided on the Special Deal for weightloss. The Special Package of 3 sessions plus a follow-up already has a saving of £25 on the 3rd session and the 4th is free! How can I better that? Well here goes. The Special Package of 4 sessions PLUS a 5th session for half price when you book and take the first session before Christmas. This way I can help you keep control over the Christmas season and keep you "on track" in the new year ready forthe next swimsuit season! Please mention this blog when booking.

credit crunch and christmas

2008-11-06T11:36:00.000-08:00

Today's interest rate cut should help us all in one way or another if only the mortgage companies and credit card companies will follow the lead of the Bank of England! Oh well. Perhaps we shouldn't hold our breath!

Of course, if you've got savings or shares today's news will do you no good at all!

As we all look for ways to save money my clients are finding their pockets are getting heavier with the tinkling of change as they stop buying bars of chocolate and packets of crisps - not to mention the savings from stopping smoking!

I don't hold with the idea that we should all give up our cappuccinos to save a couple of pounds a day. I don't know about you but I think I deserve my cappuccino when I'm having a busy day! Of course, I do encourage everyone to make their own lunch but not to save money - to make sure what they eat is healthy and low in sugar and salt!

Money isn't a good reason for stopping anything - but it is a good reason for staying stopped as you get to spend the money on something else! So my advice is if you do decide to stop smoking then spend the first £25 you save on something nice for yourself maybe a new piece of clothing or a nice meal out. Then spend the next £100 on something really nice. Then spend the next £200 on something really nice. This way you give your "unconconscious mind" the message that spending the money this way is MUCH better than spending it on dirty, smelly, dangerous cigarettes!

The same goes for cutting out those unecessary snacks. Just one bar of chocolate and one bag of crisps a day can add up to £1 or more. What could you buy with that £30 at the end of the month?

If you are going to be buying presents for Christmas and are looking for a bargain take a look at this website for discounts and commission. Look at the top right hand corner to see how you can have your own website - and pass it on to all of your friends. www.ei42.com/juliewoodcock

food and you

2008-11-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

We're coming up to the Christmas season - a time to eat, drink and be merry before starting yet another diet on 1st January!

What's easier than dieting; takes less time commitment than weightwatchers or slimmers world, cheaper than private slimming clinics and safer and less painful than surgery and a gastric band?
You guessed it - NLP and Hypnotherapy!

Really there are only two steps to take to lose weight:
1. Eat Less 2. Move More

There are lots of techniques you can start using right now to cut down and take back control.

Use a smaller plate. This way you can eat everything on your plate which will psychologically make you feel as though you've had a full meal.

If you're drinking have glasses of water in between alcoholic drinks. You will feel better because you'll be less dehydrated and you'll cut the "empty sugar" calories.

If you're eating out have a salad starter - you'll be less likely to want a pudding!

At home there's a really easy technique - if you don't buy it you can't eat it! Do your food shopping after you've eaten and don't even walk down the biscuit and cake aisles!

Buy more expensive, tasty things and eat smaller portions - taste the food! This is particularly good with things like chocolate and cheese.

We have just six working weeks until Christmas and someone asked me today if it was too late to start a weightloss programme! Certainly not! It's never too late to change a habit and eating and drinking habits are no different.

You can lose 2 - 3lb of fat a week so starting now could mean over a stone lost by Christmas - wow - how good would you look at your Christmas party!

Of course for many people Christmas means gaining weight! Three sessions over the next six weeks could ensure you keep control of your eating (and drinking) and don't gain any weight between now and the New Year!

I introduced a Special Package price for weightloss clients about a year ago and it's still 4 sessions for the price of 3. The processes I use help clients to eat and drink sensibly without dieting or feeling deprived - who'd want to diet or feel as though they can't enjoy themselves during the Christmas and New Year festivities?

How do you want to look for Christmas? Keep that picture firmly locked in your mind then book your appointment!

Welcome

2008-11-03T02:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my first blog!

I have started this blog spot to be able to quickly share information and special offers. My website http://www.breakthehabit.co.uk/ has all the details of who I am and what I do.

So here's the first Special Offer!

16 - 22 November is Mouth Cancer Awareness Week. I have been approached by a local dentist to get involved in their week of raising awareness and so started reading up on the subject.
I was horrified to hear that someone dies every 5 hours in the UK from mouth cancer. So while you and I have done a morning's work someone has died. This afternoon someone else will die. This evening between you and me finishing work and going to bed someone else willl die.

Now we could start, right here and now raising money to help find a cure. Or we could focus on prevention. If you haven't already guessed it the main causes of mouth cancer are smoking and alcohol. So right now I'm offering a 10% discount on Stop Smoking and Stop Drinking sessions for the whole of November. I will also ask every client to donate £5 to a cancer charity and I'll match it.

I'll let you know the results.