Why do people overeat? Why can’t they control their cravings? It’s not commonly known, but a powerful cause of all these is emotional. Some people overeat to fill a need, either real or imagined, or to reward themselves. Others overeat to be noticed, or to overcome boredom. Suffice to say, people overeat to compensate for the lack of love, to offset fear, to overcome frustration, or sometimes even to avoid sex and intimacy.

Everyone knows how to lose weight – eat less, eat healthy, exercise, etc. But why do so many people struggle for years without results? Why can’t they stick to their weight loss program? This is because of a subconscious resistance to change I call "inner sabotage". A majority of people can’t stick to a weight loss program long enough because their subconscious doesn’t really want those changes. Only after the “inner saboteur” is eliminated will you be able to successfully lose weight.

I call my program: "re-train your mind to be slim". We aim to eliminate negative thinking and develop healthier habits. I’ve been trained in psychotherapy, hypnosis, and the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and I combine these therapies to address weight issues, resulting in lasting results. In essence, I don’t deal with the symptoms of overeating, but look for the causes and eliminate them.

Working with your problem, we’ll address:

• Diet modification – making healthier food choices based on your metabolic type;
• Setting goals and devising steps to achieve these goals;
• Developing an exercise routine and improving your attitude towards exercise;
• Addressing and eliminating your "inner saboteur" so you will be able to stick to your new eating and exercise habits for a long time;
• Improving your self image and changing limiting beliefs about your ability to become slim;
• Eliminating emotional food craving, eating, and binging;
• Uncovering and eliminating food intolerances, which may undermine your efforts to lose weight;
• Increasing your motivation for change;
• Creating an inner sense of peace, forgiveness, and gratitude.

This program is NOT:

• A "quick fix" or a "lose 30 lbs. In 30 days" deal. Healthy weight loss is gradual
• Encouraging the use of pills, stimulants, or any drugs to lose weight
• A "will power" program
• A restrictive, calorie-counting diet
• Promoting any "special" prepared food, meal replacements, shakes, and bars
• Promoting any exhausting exercise regimen
• Asking you to buy anything. We provide healthy advice. It’s up to you to follow them

What this program is is simply a system to eliminate the reasons behind overeating and weight gain.

The techniques used in our sessions include:

• Cognitive-behavioral – to help you become aware of your thoughts and their effect on your behavior and to change habitual ways of thinking to improve your state of mind;
• Psychotherapy – to help you understand emotional issues and their roots in the past to promote your emotional growth;
• Energy psychology or EFT – to help you neutralize your cravings, negative emotions, and limiting beliefs;
• Hypnosis – to help you change unhealthy habits and adopt new ones and to improve motivation in achieving goals;
• Guided imagery – to facilitate your ability to accept new behaviors, better choices, and healthier ideas.

Our service options include:

• Individual sessions are most effective in unlocking your hidden issues that cause your weight gain. For long standing problems like serious health concerns or a weight difference of more than 20 pounds, you have the option of an extended program. I will help you through these extensive sessions, so you’re guided every step of the way. As your confidence develops, it’s you who will know when you’re ready to make a change in your life without my assistance.
• With group sessions, you have the advantage of peer support in dealing with the process. If I feel that we need to address deeper issues, I will recommend an individual session or two.
• If, for any reason, you don’t want to go through multiple sessions, you can attend a 2-day workshop "Weight Loss with EFT". In this workshop, you will learn how to apply effective self-help techniques to decrease and eliminate the deep causes of weight gain, minimize and resist your cravings, stick to a weight loss program, and reduce stress.

You can contact me for a FREE 30-minute consultation to determine what program is right for you.

Note: For your safety, consult your doctor before attempting any weight loss program. This is especially important if you have an illness such as diabetes.

Marina Burova has had extensive experiences in helping overweight people successfully lose weight and change their attitude and self image. If you want more information, you can contact us or call 416-617-9846 for an appointment. Our offices are in the Toronto Healing Arts Centre, 717 Bloor St. W at Christie subway station.