Paul McKenna "I can make you thin" support thread

[Breathmiller]

I found out about this book and audio this week from another thread and poster (thanks @ppeatfruit) and am finding it useful.

I found an old support thread from years ago but I dont think its still active.

Does anyone who is interested in this want to chat and support?
Or anyone who has used it in the past with good results want to give hints and tips?

I have tried every diet going and have had real issues with yoyo dieting but my big aim this year has been to make food not such a battle.

I feel this might just be the way forward for me. But I'm aware I'm in very early days.

Thanks ppeat I'll start those this evening. I'm still loving this, I'm really finding my appetite is greatly reduced. If I feel a need to snack, I'll have an apple or a few grapes. I'm generally finding that I don't need to eat until around 1.30/2 in the afternoon - and then a sandwich or a bowl of soup or a salad is sufficient. Dinner is whatever I would usually cook, but eaten much more slowly and consciously and enjoyed more as a consequence.

That's good news pont

I'm off to Blighty soon. Good luck everybody, have a Good Easter, I'm off line while at DM's

I have to restart as eaten biscuits and a jar of biscoff spread today uuurgh self sabotage so back on it tomorrow. How are all you ladies getting on xx

Hey coconut it's easily done isn't it? Ive definitely gone off piste today too. I'm going to listen to the audio again tonight in readiness for getting back to it tomorrow.

Hi! Checking in as I realise I've not posted in forever. It's great to see so many new people following this too. I'm doing okay. Not perfect, but overall, eating much more mindfully and the binge eating has still mostly stopped. Weight seems to be coming off slowly too. I want to dig out my havening cd again and do that for a few days in a row, as I found that super helpful last time I did it. Now to not eat all the chocolate over Easter 🤣

Restarting day 1 today. Definetly trying to assess my fullness and when to stop. Also recognising cravings over actual hunger. I need to learn other ways to self soothe rather than sugar. Hope everyone else is doing well x

Hi everyone
Sorry, I haven't been on lately.

To be honest I have gone back to some other mechanisms so thought I really shouldn't be on here.

I am back logging on my fitness pal and weighing myself more than is advised. But it's very different this time.

I feel I have taken a lot from the Paul McKenna way of eating, in fact more than I am taking from the weighing and calorie counting way. They seem to work hand in hand for me which I'm aware might seem a contradiction. But it works. For me.

I have a high daily limit on MFP and don't in anyway get worried if I have a day that goes over, it just shows me that I was hungrier that day and that's fine. Lots of days that go under naturally because I am full.

Its like a soft boundary. And I've realised I'm quite good with boundaries.

But...I eat much more slowly, I move much more in an appropriate way because I enjoy moving my body. I stop when I'm full. I NEVER berate myself or starve myself or eat anything that I don't get full enjoyment out of. I am enjoying food, delicious food. I am enjoying my body even though it's far from perfect.

I'm enjoying my friendliness and compassion to myself. And that happy emotional state means that I haven't binged for ages. It's like I don't eat for comfort anymore. I have been on a plan for the last few months of self nourishment. Lots of lovely nourishing, nurturing practices and it has paid off. I feel so good in myself. And it is in no way related to my waist size.

And, I enjoy EVERY single mouthful of my food. Whether it's a juice, a smoothie or a salad, or a rich decadent chocolate cake, Easter Egg or carbs. If I fancy it - I eat it. And enjoy every bite. And stop when I'm full.

So, although I am following the plan a bit and I have gotten more out of the PM way than I have for years, I'm aware that I'm not following it to the letter so I'm happy to bow out of posting much (or at all as I realise it's not in the full essence of the plan) and just keep reading in at how you are all doing.

Hi breath sounds like you have worked out a hybrid system that completely works for you. The removal of guilt is a big thing isn't it? I've had a couple of days off piste, but the difference for me this time is that I haven't had the guilt that then leads me to think 'o f*CK it' and self sabotaging. Now can draw a line and crack on with listening to my body. Like you, the more I am getting into this, the less concerned I am about my waist size!

@Breathmiller you sound like you are doing really well. Good on you having no binges. Yes to the self compassion I am trying to be kind to myself and nourish my body. I too use mfp as I need to keep track of my intake and I am a daily weigher even though the scale never moves.
I enjoyed the visualisation today of a lively food mixed with hair, it really works.
I hope we all have a good April with mindful tasty eating and learn to assess hunger and fulness. I am really enjoying the nighttime hypnosis and visualisation xx

I've just started with this book so any advice would be appreciated

Hi Bobo welcome! I'd say to definitely listen to the audio every night, it doesn't matter if you fall asleep to it. For me though, the most powerful thing has been slowing down my eating. Thoroughly chewing and enjoying each mouthful is still a work in progress but it's a game changer.

@Breathmiller that sounds like you're doing so well :) I think, like with everything in life, it's about finding what works for you, so if that means tracking etc and not following someone's plan 100%, that's fine - we're all individuals and find different things helpful.

I was chuffed yesterday, I wore a jumper that I bought after I had Dd (7) and I know last time I tried it on, it was too small and I felt awful in it. Yesterday, it fitted fine :) so even though the weight isn't falling off, I am getting slimmer bit by bit. But, I feel a lot more in control around food, and the emotional eating that I used to do in the evenings is mostly a thing of the past. That's the biggest game changers for me.

I've just read "lose weight, feel great" by Rangan Chattergee, and it was brilliant, very very similar ideas to McKenna, but he has some more info about working in other healthy habits, and it's more focused on the science of what's going on in our bodies, that McKenna does (not deep science, but he links articles and studies etc at the end). I read his habits book earlier in the year, and found it helpful (Altho the chaos of home schooling etc meant I've not implemented things as consistently as I'd hoped), but I really like his ideas and will be trying some of his tips. He makes a really good point about "exercise" being less important that just consistent movement and has some good ideas for working in some tweaks to do things like lifting some weight while you boil the kettle etc. Really interesting read.

I've been a bit less mindful with eating this weekend, so aiming to focus on that this week :)

I hope everyone has a lovely day. We're off for a play in the park in the (cold) sunshine

Hi everyone. I haven't posted for a while either but really enjoying reading everyone's experiences. @Breathmiller I log my calories as well. I think you can adhere to Paul Mckenna's principles and use other techniques that work for you. I need the accountability of logging food - it encourages me to be more active and eat mindfully. I weigh myself every fortnight. Since this thread started, I've stayed the same weight (I keep gaining and losing the same lb!) I'm a healthy weight for the first time in years, so I see this more as a maintenance thing now. Over Easter I ate more than usual and instead of berating myself, I've enjoyed the extra treats and now I'm back to mindful eating and increasing my exercise levels. Checking in here is good for my motivation too. It's a lovely day here. I've just done a workout with the "walk at home" programme and had a bowl of oat bran with frozen mango. I'm going to do a bit of work on my computer and go for a walk outside later. Have a good day everyone.

So I weighed myself on Monday after 14 days and... I put on 2 pounds! I knew it wasn't going to be a big loss as I couldn't feel a big difference but wasn't expecting to gain after I'd been sticking to the rules and enjoying it. (I've actually lost 2 pounds in the 2 days since so probably fairer to say I stayed the same and had some fluctuations).

But it's been a very useful eye opener as I knew straight away why I hadn't lost weight and I had just been hoping I could sort out my diet first - my lockdown wine consumption has crept up and when I looked at the calories I was drinking it gave me a wake up call . So I'm taking a month off drinking and carrying on with Paul Mckenna and seeing how that works.

Oh I’m off the bandwagon.

A few late nights working and I couldn’t face listening to the app. I need to regain some focus I think.

Tbh I’m a bit fed up, I ordered some lovely yoga leggings, most money I’ve ever spent in such an item, and they are a thing of true beauty... I was looking forward to wearing them and feeling all slinky and bendy and getting some motivation to be all fit.... and they are too small

I can’t really return them as I live abroad and the postage is prohibitive.

I am going to try to use this a motivation and a goal to work towards.

It’s really made me have to face up to the fact that I’m really quite lardy. I think I was putting my head in the sand and thinking I could get away with these few extra pounds and not really take losing weight seriously.

Looking at my sausage meat squished into my beautiful new leggings has definitely been a wake up call.

@guess I hear you I feel like a big pasty potatoe all rotund in the middle. All we can do is keep picking ourselves up and keep trying. Xxxx

Persevering with it. Finding it unpleasant to chew food 20 times. Still enjoying the visualisation. Hoping it will all slot into place x

How's everyone doing? I've had a few wobbles, but not fallen totally off the wagon. Been much better again today, I'm not chewing 20 times - but definitely slowing down and chewing more thoroughly than before.

I cant visualise anything

I dont know someone who loves and respects and doesn't think I am fat

I cant remember the last time someone paid me a compliment and meant it

I will keep going, second time around might be easier

Hello there, I'm ressurecting this thread it's the best way to lose weight IMO and E. I'm back and soooo agree with doing a hybrid version of watching our weight , I've done it for years. Paul Mack's approach just helped me be more sensible and really taste the food. I go on and off it without any problems.

elizabeth just pick the bits that suit you!

Just eating consciously works too IMO and E coconut

I noticed you're really on the right track now Breath Brilliant !

Oh those easy 'babysteps' to sit ups I posted upthread work well for toning our waists btw

Can I join in this please? I am doing a hybrid plan - or planning to do it! I realise that it helps me if I gave some accountability. There's an activity I do Ive set up a challenge to post something most days. Three friends aren it and I find it really helps me to have them there reminding me and encouraging me.

My plan is a hybrid of PMK, Susie Orbach Gillian Riley etc it is to eat 3 -4 times a day and no rules or restrictions on what I eat, but to try and get in touch with my hunger and fullness and until I've got a better sense of my hunger etc I'm planning my meals eg what I'll eat and the amount I'll eat. Any advice and support is welcome

I don't think diets work, I only started to put weight on when I joined WW and various diets I'm working on unpicking my bad habits and trying to find my natural way of eating

So many mistakes and typo's so here's an amended first paragraph

Can I join in this please? I am doing a hybrid plan - or planning to do it! I realise that it helps me if I have some accountability. There's an activity I do and over lockdown, I've set up a challenge to post something most days. Three friends are in it and I find it really helps me to have them there reminding me and encouraging me.

I'm not Breath but of course you can join leek it's THE best way to lose weight IME along with healthy eating to create a new and fit you!