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MNHQ

Live Webchat with Paul McKenna

481 replies

RachelMumsnet · 10/01/2011 18:20

Paul McKenna is joining us for a live webchat on Wednesday evening between 7 and 8pm. Paul will be chatting about his latest book, I Can Make you Happy which claims it can make you feel happier than you had ever imagined.

Paul will also be happy to answer questions on his 'I can Make you Thin' programme which he says has helped 71% of people who have tried it successfully lose weight and keep it off. He will be taking over the Hammersmith Apollo on Saturday 19th February to host his first Live Weight Loss Seminar.

Paul is Britain's best selling non-fiction author and is published in 30 languages as well as hosting television shows and seminars in hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming and motivation.

Join us on Wednesday evening to chat to Paul, or send in your questions in advance to this thread and he'll attempt to answer as many questions as possible over the hour.

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 12/01/2011 19:05

Welcome Paul, we'll try and be gentle (we are bunch of harridans but some of us have extremely good hair ) Wink

solo · 12/01/2011 19:05

Hello! Goodness, I feel like a little kid!

solo · 12/01/2011 19:06

Is no one going to ask a live question? Blush

HowToLookGoodGlaikit · 12/01/2011 19:07

I already asked mine and its only 1 per person :(

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:07

@TessToo

Wow, this is exciting! I would like to say hello and ask the following. I was abused as a child and while I am now "safe", I still have flashbacks and am very anxious about contact with the outside world, to the point where it is affecting my work (and financial situation!) and it is a vicious circle as the longer I leave things, the worse it becomes. Do you have any advice for overcoming this kind of trauma and getting rid of my email phobia?

I'm really sorry to hear about this - and indeed, modern psychological techniques such NLP (neurolinguistic programming) and TFT (thought field therapy) are excellent at helping people overcome traumatic pasts. There are people I can recommended, although I don't have the details with me. You can find people who practice locally and talk to them first if they're the right person for you.

Deafworm · 12/01/2011 19:07

i think we have all already asked

nuttynatty16 · 12/01/2011 19:07

I really like the common sense behind the ICMYT book. However you 100% correct when you say that people shovel food in their mouth to get the serotonin high. I don't do this with normal food but do with chocolate bars and find that when I am trying to do the program I don't enjoy chocolate as much if I have to eat it slowly. Every other aspect of the plan appeals to me as I can stick to it for life but I feel so strongly about missing this high/ enjoyment of chocolate it makes me stop following the plan. Does anyone else have this? I think my husband thought I was crazy when I explained this. I thought about trying to slowly stop e.g. when start still allow one treat a day eaten quickly but following the other rules and slowly wean myself off? Would love to know your thoughts........

whomovedmychocolate · 12/01/2011 19:07

What kind of biscuits -do you like-- Grin

ktwiltshire · 12/01/2011 19:07

dear paul

i have suffered with bulimia for all of my teenage years and (so far) all of my adult years. My Drs say they wont treat/help me until I am ready to make changes, but meanwhile im stuck in the middle. Would your techniques for weight loss apply in my situation i.e. to help stop comfort eating, trigger foods etc etc?

Many Thanks
Katie

VJay · 12/01/2011 19:07

Hello Paul, I would like to say that I got your 'I can make you thin' book and I started following it 2 weeks ago, and by this 2nd week I've realised it's working, brilliant! The only thing is in the evenings when I put dinner on the table for us all I'm not hungry, and ideas?

solo · 12/01/2011 19:08

Ok, would you recommend anything for a 12yo grammar school boy that seems to be unable to keep friends? he's really confident and a nice boy, but lacks...something?

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:09

@gladdycat

Hi Paul, I have suffered two berevements in the past two years, as well as being bullied by my boss to the point of leaving my job with depression. I have had counselling, and tried several courses of anti- depressents, non of which has had great effect upon me.

I am tearful a lot of the time, and to be perfectly honest feel 'what's the point?'
I try to count my blessings, I have a lovely home, a loving partner and daughter, but cannot shake off the black cloud that is part of my life now.

I just want my life back again, to feel the way I used to. Do you think your book can help me in any way (honestly). Your advice would be really appreciated. Thanks.

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear about the recent course of events. Sounds like it might be best if you see someone one-to-one who practices TFT or NLP.

I think it might be worth trying my book and the CD in particular to see if it helps, although I suspect that the one-to-one help with somebody good would be of greatest assistance to you.

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:11

@missmakesstuff

Hi Paul,
Hi am a week or so into I can make you thin, seems to be going well - I am however confused about alcohol - surely it's empty calories? But you gloss over this in your book - I have found on other calorie counting diets that it's the wine, maybe two bottles over the course of a week that I drink - which 'used up' my calorie quota.

Now I know you say eat til you're full, but I could happily drink a bottle and never be full Grin

However, I do think maybe you have put something into the CD about it, as I have been drinking less, I just don't seem to be bothered about it as much as I used to be.

So do you really believe there are no fat alcoholics?

This is a common question. There are plenty of thin alcoholics, so it's possible to drink alcohol and still lose weight.

However, one of the most important parts of my weight-loss systems is to be conscious while you're eating, and the point of alcohol is to become less conscious, so maybe over then next few weeks, try not drinking alcohol while you're eating and try to become more conscious of the eating itself.

I don't subscribe to calorie counting, I don't believe in diets, they have a success rate of less than 10%. My system doesn't work for everyone, but it does work for most people most of the time, the success rate is 71%.

HowToLookGoodGlaikit · 12/01/2011 19:11

I have another Q - I have 5 CDs for the ICMYT series, should I listen to a different one each night? Or stick with the main one? What works best?

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:11

@AnyFuleKno

How exciting! Please ask this question as I have been brooding on it for a while.

Paul, I'm a devotee of your books, in particular 'I can make you thin' of which I bought 2 copies just in case I lost one. I lost 2 stone and kept it off for 2 years, and hoped to do it again after giving birth.

However, I read Russell Brand's second book a few months ago (one of your famous clients) where he describes some advice you gave him with regard to his co-star who he had fallen in love with. I won't repeat it here, but I was quite shocked by it and a bit disappointed as it came across as misogynistic. I feel conflicted now as I love your work but have to admit it made me view you differently.

Can you please say anything to reassure me that you are pro-women?

Hi there,
Yes, I'm very pro-women, Russell Brand is a comedian and therefore uses his comedy license so some of those things he said you have to take a pinch.
He's a friend of mine, and he's actually very funny, although some people are not always convinced by that, but he wouldn't mean any offense, I hope none taken.
I'm so glad to hear that you've lost weight with I Can Make You Thin, and appreciate your kind comments, God bless.

BecauseImWorthIt · 12/01/2011 19:11

Ooh - yes please to tickets!

And welcome, Mr McKenna to the nest of vipers Mumsnet!

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:11

@whomovedmychocolate

What kind of biscuits -do you like-- Grin

I don't really eat any biscuits! The last one I ate was when I was a kid, it must have been a digestive or something.

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:12

@jooseyfruit

I stopped smoking thanks to you, I am still overweight however.

do you put subliminal suggestions in your CD's. I had sex dreams about you after listening to them, you norty boy.

No, but I was good in the dream.
(You've given me a good idea though!)Best, Paul.

whomovedmychocolate · 12/01/2011 19:12

That wasn't really my question but well done, you did better than our previous PM in answering it! Grin

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:12

@GandalfyCarawak

Hello Paul.
I was just wondering about your feelings on the connecion between hypnosis and the kind of mental trickery Derren Brown uses to great effect and entertainment. Now obviously you have recently gone down the road of using your skills as a hypnotherapist and not a hypnotisit iykwim, but I was wondering if it's all a part of the same thing- This interest in the mind, the psychological possibilities of suggestion etc...

Derren is an illusionist - he's a good entertainer but it's a magic show, in the form of psychology/mind-reading, and lots of people find it very entertaining, but remember it's not real.

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:13

@whomovedmychocolate

Why is it that I can lose twenty pounds or so on the CDs but as soon as I stop listening to them, they stop working? The problem is after about six weeks of listening, I put the CD on, pass out completely, and it seems to stop working. Now I know you can be very relaxed and take it in, but it just seems to not do it after that point. Would I benefit more from a seminar for example?

So glad to hear that the CDs are working for you, however yes, maybe you would benefit from coming to the seminar - let me invite you and a friend to come, as my guest.

(Please contact MNHQ)

fatpantsandgladrags · 12/01/2011 19:14

Hello Paul,

I have a lot of weight to lose......5 or 6 stones. Would ICMYT work for me? I've tried so many things in the past but am still fat Blush

jooseyfruit · 12/01/2011 19:14

I couldn't possible say. blush

you were ok, I was frickin' amazing Grin

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:14

@BluTac

Hi Paul, just wondered whether you have read "Fat is a feminist issue" by Susie Orbach? If so what did you think of it?

No, I haven't!

PaulMcKenna · 12/01/2011 19:15

@MotherSnowyMountainGoat

Do you think your techniques could be used to deal with chronic neurological pain (where other methods - yoga, CBT, autogenic trining ? have had little or no success)? Have you ever treated chronic pain with hypnosis?

A friend of mine does very well with using the same techniques I do with pain. His name is Kevin Laye, and his website is www.kevinlaye.co.uk/ and he's really good at pain control.

Hope you feel better soon.