I Can Make You Thin - Paul McKenna

I just started watched Paul McKenna's I Can Make You Thin on TLC. It seems like a lot of common sense stuff to me but its still very difficult for me to do b/c im so used to eating whatever and whenever regardless of how Im feeling...

Has anyone else seen or stayed with the program...and what do you think about it?

I did see part of the show and talked about it with my cousin over Easter. It really sounds like reasonable advice but I sort of got the impression, yeah he can make me thin but not necessarily healthy. My cousin talked about his theory about eating only what you love and her issue with that is that she really only loves pizza, tacos and cookies. Sure his theory teaches you how to limit your intake but do you really get all the nutrients that you need?

Sorry, I may be way off simply because I have done no formal research on his theory. This is just what is seemed like from the 15 minutes of watching his show and talking with my cousin (she is actively following his program). I am interested to see what other people have to say about this.

I think part of the idea is that when you really focus on what you are eating, fast food, greasy food and salty food don't taste quite as good. So you eat less and tend to gravitate toward healthier food. If you listen to your body it tend to tell us what we need.

Just finished watching the first episode, and most of what he said has been said before.  Time and time again the basics need to be re-explained and he seems to do a reasonable job of it.  Another person who is like this is Covert Bailey, although he focuses more on the biology of eating rather than the psychology.

I just watched an episode, and he took an experiment DIRECTLY from the book "Mindless Eating" by Brian Wansink! The endless soup bowl experiment was done by Wansink's team of scientists years before this show ever came out. The book was even published in 2006. I'm surprised more people haven't noticed this!

If I could eat when I was hungry, and eat what I want sensibly, I would have never been overweight in the first place.

I actually watched this show today. And if you 'imagine' things that you crave as being disgusting and covered in worms, then it might work. *shrugs* This all goes back to mind over matter. But squeezing your fingers together where your left hand gives you disgusting feelings, and your right makes you feel good? That's just down right cheesy.

I wouldn't call it a program or diet tho.

I should pick up that 'mindless eating' book myself.

I've been using the techniques for 3 weeks now with a LOT of success. Lost 8 pounds, 3 inches & feel better mentally, emotionally & physically. Paul never claims to be the 'orginator' of these techniques. I had never heard of these techniqes until Paul. For me, it doesn't really matter who introduces the techniques, so long as they work for people. You learn real quick what you do & don't like after chewing 20 times & focusing on the taste/texture of it. Many foods I once loved I can't stand to eat anymore. Too salty, greasy or just plain gross once I really payed attention to it. Also noticing that 100% whole wheat bread has flavor that continues no matter how often you chew it, as well as carrots. So, for a junk food junkie/fast food lady like me, these revalations are pretty dern amazing!

Different things work for different people. I am just thrilled to find something that FINALLY works for me!  

Best of luck to all of you!~RM

It all makes sense to me, but I have failed with the "eating consciously" part.  All my life when at home I have read or done puzzles while eating.  I have really tried, but have failed to eat without some type of distraction.  I have been putting off eating until late in the day when I am so hungry that I have to eat quite a lot before I feel full.  Finally, today I decided to try eating a snack for five minutes with no distractions, repeat this and gradually increase the time until I can eat a full meal without the book, etc.

Am building up the no. of steps per day and have decided to put myself in Reese Witherspoon's body.  Have also stopped bringing home the sweets, cookies and chips.  Don't miss them.  These parts of the plan are so much easier for me.

 

 

I wanted to watch the show but missed it. Can  someone fill me in on the techniques he's used?

My mom watches it, and she's read his book. She's lost about 30 pounds. I, however, didn't have much success with it, but that's just because I'm a skeptic and I prefer math to mind-over-matter.

All of his techniques are shown in videos on his site, mckenna. com. you have to register, but it is free, so that is no biggie.

Hope you have much success with this program too! ~RM

I just got his book yesterday & he specifically mentions Mr. Wansink doing this experiment. He gives credit to those who originated the theories or techniques he discusses.

I laughed during the whole episode.

 

Original Post by haley_2008:

I laughed during the whole episode.

 

There have been four episodes so far.  Am curious to find out what made you laugh so much.  I believe the next show will be the last.

Developed carpal tunnel syndrome from picking up/putting down utensils after every bite LOL

 

I watched the first episode and I don't agree that you should eat what you want, when you want it.. I mean, yeah to a certain extent but he says make a list of all the foods that you love (pizza, nachos, etc.) and go to the grocery store and buy them.

He teaches you to 'eat sensibly' but come on, IMO if you have all that stuff laying around your house you are much more likely to binge and fail. Seems like you are kinda seting yourself up for failure.. isn't the point of losing weight, is being healthy too.. i don't get how eating nachos sensibly is gonna help me become more healthy..

Original Post by star_dust_03:

I watched the first episode and I don't agree that you should eat what you want, when you want it.. I mean, yeah to a certain extent but he says make a list of all the foods that you love (pizza, nachos, etc.) and go to the grocery store and buy them.

He teaches you to 'eat sensibly' but come on, IMO if you have all that stuff laying around your house you are much more likely to binge and fail. Seems like you are kinda seting yourself up for failure.. isn't the point of losing weight, is being healthy too.. i don't get how eating nachos sensibly is gonna help me become more healthy..

 It seems like that would be the case, but in actuality, it is BECAUSE you can eat what you want that the need to binge disappears. Not to mention, after chewing something 20 times, you learn real quick that healthier foods actually taste better. As Paul says, this program flies in the face of the 'diet' mentality, but ya know what, it Works. I have had more success in one month of this program, eating what I WANT, than months of eating 'healthy cardboard' that yielded next to nil weight loss. Different strokes for different folks, but I am thankful I learned these techniques & continue to be amazed at how effective they are.

I did not watch the show, I take issue with anyone who says "I can make you thin!". Um no...only I can make me thin. Sounds like a snake-oil salesman to me.

From what I have heard about it though....I am with x17star17x....If I could eat when I was hungry, and eat what I want sensibly, I would have never been overweight in the first place.

And all that chewing and tapping...is it really reasonable to think that this is a sustainable method of weight-control? One of the things that has worked for me so far is thinking to myself, is that something I am willing to keep up for the rest of my life?

Behaviour modification is fine for short-term results, but until you get to the root of your problems, you are doomed to repeat history..and that includes weight gain.

It bothers me that the show was so popular...that so many people seem to be just looking for someone else to make then thin rather than just going through the necessary life-long changes to get there themselves.

I have been using Paul McKenna's 'I can make you thin' book and hypnosis CD since February and lost 12lb.

I have been trying to lose this weight for over 2 years but I have failed because I am an emotional eater ( and a serious binger )

I have felt a real difference since using the hypnosis cd everyday...I don't constantly think about food and I feel more incontrol when I am faced with things that would have seriously tested my willpower before using the system.

The cd uses techniques that actually make you want to exercise and  improve your self esteem and body image and have greatly improved my confidence in myself...and therefore reduced my emotional eating.

At first i thought it was all a load of old nonsense...especially seeing the TV show on UK tv....but I bought the book+CD on Amazon (and I have been roughly counting calories too) I am so glad I did.

Honestly...I can't recommend it enough!!!

''Behaviour modification is fine for short-term results, but until you get to the root of your problems, you are doomed to repeat history..and that includes weight gain.''

I definately feel the hypnosis cd had helped me deal with the root of my problems...and I know history won't repeat itself with me falling into my old ways of yo-yo dieting. It feels so liberating!

Original Post by victoriagirl:

I did not watch the show, I take issue with anyone who says "I can make you thin!". Um no...only I can make me thin. Sounds like a snake-oil salesman to me.

From what I have heard about it though....I am with x17star17x....If I could eat when I was hungry, and eat what I want sensibly, I would have never been overweight in the first place.

And all that chewing and tapping...is it really reasonable to think that this is a sustainable method of weight-control? One of the things that has worked for me so far is thinking to myself, is that something I am willing to keep up for the rest of my life?

Behaviour modification is fine for short-term results, but until you get to the root of your problems, you are doomed to repeat history..and that includes weight gain.

It bothers me that the show was so popular...that so many people seem to be just looking for someone else to make then thin rather than just going through the necessary life-long changes to get there themselves.

How can you critique something you didn't watch? I Can Make You Thin is the name of the show, but that's probably because I Can Teach You To Make Yourself Thin is just too damn long of a name. I watched the show and I don't follow the program, but I'm glad somebody is out there telling people that starvation is not the right way to diet.

As for sustainability and behavior modification - yes, some people can do this all their lives, and behavior modification can have long-term effectiveness. I have several friends who learned at a young age to chew slowly, put their forks down every once in a while, sip water between bites, and today they still do it.