With the weather now finally turning warmer and one’s flesh having to be on show after being covered up by those winter layers for what seems like forever, many of us are turning our attention to losing a little weight and toning up.

Sometimes the temptation is to go for a quick-fix, those diets that promise 10lbs loss in 10 days seem very appealing. The downside is that, as soon as we go back to those old habits we tend to put all the weight back on (and more besides).

The real secret to lasting weight loss is changing our habits so that we are eating less and exercising more – it’s really that simple, but often so hard to put into practice.

Hypnotherapy works by sending messages to the sub-conscious mind to only eat when we are hungry and to notice that full-signal sooner, and stop eating. What also happens is that we have an increased urge to take exercise.

For those people who have over three stone to lose, the hypnotic gastric band is a powerful way to reduce appetite and shed the pounds easily and for good.

If you are considering hypnotherapy for weight loss, I would be really pleased to hear from you – you can call me on 01449 780352or 0781 7158429, or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Enjoy the nice weather.

Wendy x

In a week which has been dominated by media coverage of the death of Margaret Thatcher, I was disappointed to see that the death of Professor Sir Robert Edwards, the pioneer of IVF treatment and somebody who brought hope and joy to many thousands of infertile couples, has warranted very little mention.

It’s interesting to note that they were both the same age at death, 87 years, and both had great personal conviction about what they believed in, despite facing much opposition. Whatever your politics, it is impossible to deny Margaret Thatcher’s achievement as first woman and longest serving Prime Minister. However, I believe that Sir Robert deserves the most accolades, as it is thanks largely to him and his collaboration with Patrick Steptoe, a gynaecologist, that infertility is now a treatable condition.

Of course, I would sing this man’ praises, as if he hadn’t conducted this work, then my wonderful and talented son, Olly, would not exist.

So between him and Margaret Thatcher, I know which one I would give the state funeral to.

Wendy x

Are you one of many people who suffer with IBS? This debilitating condition seems to affect more and more people, and it seems that mainstream medicine is limited in providing a cure for this.

The problem is that very often there seems to be no physical cause of the symptoms of IBS which can include diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, wind along with crippling abdominal pain. Once your GP has ruled out any obvious physical cause of the symptoms, very often you are advised to look at any anxieties or stresses which may be potentially causing these debilitating symptoms.

This is where hypnotherapy can help, and in fact is now recommended by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) as a treatment option for IBS. The reason for this is that hypnotherapy is an excellent way of calming and relaxing the body and mind, and in addition to this, specific suggestions can be given which help to calm the stomach and digestive tract, so that it can begin to work normally again.

If you are troubled by IBS symptoms, please give me a call on 01449780352 or 0781 7158429 or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Best wishes,
Wendy x

I am currently reading an excellent book by Miriam Akhtar ‘Positive Psychology for depression’. Miriam was one of the first UK graduates of the Masters programme in Applied Positive Psychology, and she works a great deal with youngsters with mental health issues.

One of the techniques which she advocates as a way to build positive emotion and resilience is to savour those moments of sheer joy which we experience – and this can include anything from a warm hug with a friend, that first taste of a creme egg, or feeling the warmth of the sun (I know, the latter is not so frequent). The more you do this, really luxuriating in the moment, savouring it with as many senses as you can, then what actually happens is that:

– you find yourself experiencing a greater sense of wellbeing
– it shores you up against stress and depression
– you start to find yourself noticing more of those moments

So this Easter, make sure that you notice those moments whether its time with family and friends, a nice chilled glass of Sauvignon blanc or luxuriating in bed on Monday morning.

Have a wonderful Easter everyone.

Best wishes,
Wendy x

I often find that people come to me as a last resort. They have tried all sorts of different treatments, therapies or medication in order to feel better, but to no avail, so they then think about trying hypnotherapy as there seems to be little else left to try. After a successful outcome, which happens in the majority of cases, the client then confides in me that they wish they had come to me first.

Why would hypnotherapy work, when nothing else has?

In my view the reason is that, by and large, none of the other treatments or therapies have dealt with the root cause of their particular issue. Hypnotherapy, by contrast, deals with the unconscious mind and therefore tackles the condition at its base level and so does not simply treat the symptoms, but the origin of the problem. When we weed a garden, if we simply cut the weeds down, they will come up again very quickly, and perhaps even stronger and thicker. It is only be pulling the weeds out by their roots, and then tending the area carefully can we ensure a rich fertile area, ready for those plants and shrubs that we actually want to have in our garden.

So, if you feel that you need treatment for a particular issue, why not try hypnotherapy first – it may save you an awful lot of time (and weeding).

Best wishes,
Wendy x

It’s National Sleep Awareness Week this week and anyone who knows me well will know that I cannot get enough of the stuff. I actually love sleep, but, I hasten to add it is really important to get good quality sleep, not just alcohol or sleeping pill induced coma-type snoozing. So this means that you need to get the right balance of REM sleep – this is rapid eye movement sleep or dream sleep – along with the deeper kind. A good mix of both and in addition ensuring you get between about 7 and 9 hours will usually be sufficient.

To me, there is nothing better than a good night’s sleep. And in the same way, there is nothing more energy-sapping than not sleeping well. If this then continues night after night then it can lead to all sorts of health problems, both physical and mental, and it sometimes seems that the more you long more sleep, the more elusive it becomes.

The phrase ‘sleep-hygiene’ is often used nowadays, (and this doesn’t refer to making sure you are really clean before you go to bed), what this actually means is having a good look at your daily routine and perhaps tweaking it a little in order to see if this could help you get into the habit of experiencing good quality, restful sleep, most nights. Some of these things are obvious, so excuse this but they should still be mentioned:

– caffeine – check that you drink no more than 3/4 cups of coffee or tea per day, and ideally none after midday

– try and get a little bit of exercise and fresh air during the day if you can, but do not exercise just before bed

– alcohol may get you off to sleep quicker, but you will be more likely to have a poor quality sleep, and/or wake up during the night

– try to have a light meal in the evening, ideally before 7pm – if you eat a big meal before bed, then you will tend to not sleep very well

– do something relaxing in the evening, such as reading, sewing or listening to music. Television is ok, but try to watch something soothing or uplifting before bed if you can

– learn self-hypnosis/relaxation techniques, simple ones that you can use just before bedtime

I often find that many of my clients, as a side-effect of the hypnotherapy treatment they receive, start sleeping much better and this happens even if they have not come to me initially with sleep problems.

If you would like to find out more about how hypnotherapy could help you to sleep more soundly, then do contact me on 01449 780352 or 07817158429, or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Sweet dreams,
Wendy x

This week I attended a really interesting course on motivation, and it really brought home to me the fact that we are all so very different when it comes to being motivated to do something, or to not do something, whichever the case may be.

Some people find that the possibility of negative consequences is more motivating for them than anything else, and I am reminded of the tv programme ‘Supersize versus Superskinny’ when Dr Christian takes the overweight volunteer to the States, and gets them to spend some time with a morbidly obese person who has all kinds of health problems. With some people this type of ‘shock factor’ can be so effective as a wake-up call to start losing weight. For them it is a stark reminder of what could happen if they do not change their lifestyle.

With others, the promise of positive benefits is more appealing, so getting the person to focus on how they want to look/feel in a few months from now when they walk down the aisle or when they are laying on the beach, or in whatever situation they can imagine themselves in, can really galvanise them into action.

As a hypnotherapist, I tend to concentrate more on the positive future benefits for my clients, but, having said that, I do realise that for some people thinking of the negative consequences of a habit or course of action is more effective at motivating them. Therefore, I am always minded that my treatment is adapted to suit each individual client in order to achieve success.

Whatever your motivation, you may have been thinking that hypnotherapy could be beneficial for you – I would love to have chat with you about this, so do call me on 01449 780352 or 07817158429, or you can email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Best wishes,
Wendy x

At last we are seeing some tiny signs of spring, and after a very hard winter this is really welcome! Just to be able to go outside without being rained on, snowed on or turning to ice makes a wonderful change.

Mr Chalk and I spent a lovely weekend with some good friends by the sea – it was nice to catch up with them, they are truly wonderful hosts and we had lots of fun and giggles and some excellent food, whilst enjoying some good sea air and bracing walks. And we have started the week thoroughly refreshed and relaxed.

We are so lucky to have such opportunities, and I am endlessly grateful for the rich and fulfilling life that I lead.

I have spent a lot of time recently concentrating on positive psychology techniques, and one of the things that I urge my clients to do is make a regular habit of listing your ‘gratitudes’ – this could be as simple as being thankful for a good friend or the fact that you have your sight, or really appreciating a lovely meal. Try to list ten ‘gratitudes’ each night. It might sound a bit cheesy, but what happens here is that by making a habit of this, you are setting up positive neural pathways in your brain, which in turn make you much more resourceful and resilient during stressful times. And it does not have to be anything extravagant or grand that you are grateful for, in fact I believe sometimes the simpler the better.

Try it for a little while, it takes a bit of practice, but you will find eventually that you can come up with things automatically, and your ‘default’ setting may change from being quite often negative, to much more positive. The amazing thing is you can then start to notice all sorts of wonderful things happening in your life.

If you would like to find out more about the incredible power of the sub-conscious mind, then please contact me on 01449 780352, or 07817158429, or email me wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Best wishes,
Wendy x

I don’t tend to get out much, so last weekend was a real treat for me. It hadn’t originally been planned to be fun-packed from Friday to Sunday, but that’s how it worked out.

I had originally booked for a group of us to go and see Strictly at the O2 on Sunday night, and then it just happened that my brother and his wife invited us for an evening at his Mayfair club on the Friday, staying the night there too. So, as it would have been silly to come back to Suffolk and then return to London on Sunday, we decided to stay for the weekend.

So, after an evening of the most delicious food, Mr Chalk and I enjoyed a wonderful night’s sleep at the very comfortable Lansdowne Club (where, I am informed, Mr Harry Selfridge spent some years as a regular guest) and then spent the following day walking across London, taking in the sights and enjoying perusing various markets. In the evening I booked for us to see ‘the 39 steps’ which was most entertaining, and then the following day I met up with my Strictly buddies for a bit of a shopping spree before the show.

So you see, this was not an average weekend and I was determined to enjoy every bit of it, from soaking up those wonderful views of London to enjoying the comfort and hospitality of a London club and then rounded off by the excitement of seeing Louis Smith performing his winning Strictly dance. A-ma-zing darling ….

It is at times like this that I am very mindful of ‘being in the moment’ and relishing all the sights, sounds and smells around me, because otherwise the weekend could just pass by in a blur. There is a difference between merely experiencing something, and being fully aware of the experience. It is true that this does take practice, but being able to live in the moment makes life so much more rich and exciting.

If you would like to find out more about learning to be in the moment, please do get in touch. You can phone me on 0781 7158429 or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Wendy x

I always feel a little bit better once January has gone, and we can start to look forward to spring flowers and the days drawing out. I think spring has always been my favourite time of year as it seems to signal that wonderful feeling of new possibilities, renewed life and energy.

In the meantime,  we can still start to think about preparing for spring and summer and put our minds to eating healthily and exercising, ready for those summer holidays. Its a really good time to start now, and I am still feeling great doing my 5:2 fasting – I find that it fits so well into my lifestyle, as well as being a proven way to improve your all-round health.

This weekend Mr Chalk and myself are going to London, and I want to be able to feel that I can enjoy myself – one of our treats is to have a wonder around Borough Market and explore the lovely food stalls, wonderful arrays of all sorts of different hand-made, artisan products – so tempting. And the benefit of the fasting regime is that I can  eat really lightly a couple of days in the week, and then allow myself to be relaxed for the rest of the week. But the strange thing that I have found is that my appetite seems to have been much reduced, and on the days when I can eat anything, I no longer eat as much as I did previously. I am also well aware of the effect that fasting will have on my long term health, particularly when it comes to age-related illnesses. My parents both have poor vision and my mum has age-related macular degeneration. Knowing how debilitating this is, I am keen to find ways that I can prevent it occurring to me.

Having always said ‘don’t do diets’ I do feel a little bit hypocritical, but I feel that this one is different and it does seem to be backed up by medical research, and is something that I will be happy to continue indefinitely.

If you feel that this might be a good idea for you, or you would like general advice on health and weight loss, please give me a call on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429, or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Wendy x