From 97kg to 86kg: A Weight-Loss Journey Through Behaviour Change and Mindset Reprogramming
A lawyer’s personal experience with hypnotherapy.
Mr. Vu Hoang Tung, a lawyer at the Hanoi Bar Association, shared that his weight loss did not begin with a strict diet or an intense exercise program. Instead, the change came from an experience he described as completely different from what he had imagined about therapeutic hypnosis.
Before the experience, his weight was around 97kg. He had tried various weight loss methods but the results were not long-lasting. What made him interested in hypnosis was not the immediate desire to lose weight but curiosity about the mechanism of deep relaxation states and their effects on the human mind.
According to his account, during the first time he was guided to relax, he felt a pleasant, light, and peaceful state he had never experienced before. Later, during the therapy process, he was guided through content related to relaxation and healthy lifestyle changes.
What surprised him most were the changes that appeared completely naturally in his daily activities. He said he lost interest in beer and alcohol, ate less without feeling hungry, and simultaneously increased his water intake and consumption of green vegetables. After about two months, his weight dropped from 97kg to about 86kg, equivalent to an 11kg loss.
When weight loss begins in the brain
For decades, obesity research has shown that weight is not determined solely by calories consumed and expended. The brain plays a central role in controlling hunger, satiety, appetite, food choices, and motivation for physical activity.
Brain regions involved in reward, such as the dopamine system, strongly influence food choices. When a person sees or thinks about foods high in sugar, fat, or alcoholic beverages, the nervous system can activate signals that create desire and urge consumption.
In many cases, prolonged weight gain is not simply due to lack of willpower but relates to behavioral patterns formed over many years. A person may eat when stressed, drink beer in social situations, eat late at night when working, or use food as an emotional coping tool.
Psychological therapies, clinical hypnosis, and cognitive restructuring techniques are studied as tools to help change these behavioral patterns at a deeper level.
Hypnosis and changing eating habits
In modern behavioral medicine, hypnosis is understood as a state of highly focused attention combined with deep relaxation. This state can help people receive positive health suggestions, change perceptions, and reinforce motivation for behavioral change.
Research shows that hypnosis does not cause a person to lose control or be manipulated by others as often depicted in movies. On the contrary, participants remain aware of their surroundings and can reject suggestions inconsistent with their values.
In weight management, hypnosis is commonly used to support:
- Reduction of emotional eating
- Increased awareness of satiety
- Reduction of unnecessary food cravings
- Increased motivation for physical activity
- Reinforcement of positive self-image
- Support for maintaining long-term healthy habits
- Reduction of weight-related stress
What is notable is that many people do not lose weight because they "force" themselves to eat less, but because they genuinely change their relationship with food.
Why can cravings for beer and fatty foods change?
One of the notable points in Mr. Tung's sharing is that he naturally no longer liked drinking beer and felt less interest in fatty foods. From a scientific perspective, food preferences are not fixed. They are influenced by:
- Emotional experiences
- Food-related memories
- Social habits
- Stress levels
- Sleep quality
- Neural reward signals
When psychological state changes, food preferences can also change.
For example, people who reduce stress often reduce their need to seek high-energy foods for comfort. People who sleep better usually crave fewer sweets. People who feel healthier tend to choose healthier foods.
Therefore, reducing consumption of alcohol and fatty foods can significantly contribute to creating a sustained energy deficit, leading to weight loss.
The effect of deep relaxation on metabolism
Prolonged stress can affect weight through multiple mechanisms.
When the body is continuously stressed:
- Cortisol may rise
- Sleep becomes disturbed
- Hunger sensations increase
- Impulse control decreases
- Tendency toward emotional eating increases
Deep relaxation techniques such as:
- Therapeutic hypnosis
- Meditation
- Slow breathing
- Guided imagery
- Progressive muscle relaxation
can all help the nervous system shift from a vigilant state to a rest-and-recovery state.
This change does not directly "burn fat" but can create favorable conditions for behaviors that support sustainable weight loss.
What does losing 11kg in two months mean?
An 11kg loss over about two months is a significant change.
From a physiological perspective, weight loss in the initial phase typically includes:
- Body fat
- Glycogen stores
- Body water
- Reduction of fluid retention due to high salt intake or alcohol consumption
For individuals with high initial weight, losing 5–10% of body weight often brings many health benefits such as:
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved blood sugar
- Reduced cardiovascular risk
- Improved respiratory function
- Reduced joint pain
- Increased mobility
In Mr. Tung's case, dropping from 97kg to about 86kg represents over 11% of his initial body weight, a level of change that can produce significant improvements in overall health.
The value of sustainable change
The notable point in this story is not losing 11kg but that the weight was maintained afterward. Many people can lose weight quickly through extreme diets. However, most will regain the weight within months or years. The reason is that old behaviors remain unchanged.
If:
- Old eating habits do not change
- Stress persists
- Sleep remains poor
- The emotional relationship with food is not addressed
then weight typically returns to its previous level.
Conversely, when a person truly changes their perceptions, food preferences, and lifestyle, maintaining long-term results becomes more feasible.
Scientific perspective on hypnosis in weight management
Currently, some research reviews suggest that hypnosis can be a useful supportive tool in weight management programs when combined with:
- Nutrition education
- Behavioral modification
- Physical activity
- Stress management
- Regular health monitoring
However, hypnosis is not considered a complete replacement for established weight loss principles.
The best results are often achieved when hypnosis plays a supportive role helping participants:
- Maintain motivation
- Reduce emotional eating
- Increase behavioral self-control
- Form healthy habits
Mr. Vu Hoang Tung's sharing
"At that time, my body weight was 97kg. I had used many methods to lose weight but had not succeeded."
"That very evening when I went home, I naturally no longer liked drinking beer."
"I ate very little but was never hungry."
"Fatty foods naturally became unappealing and very difficult for me to eat."
"Naturally, I liked drinking more water and really enjoyed eating more vegetables."
"Exactly two months after the day I received therapy, my body weight naturally decreased by 11kg."
"From that day until now, my body weight has remained exactly the same without any increase."
Conclusion
Mr. Vu Hoang Tung's story shows that weight loss sometimes does not begin at the dining table or in the gym but begins with changes in perception, emotions, and daily habits.
From a scientific perspective, changes such as reduced stress, improved sleep, altered food preferences, reduced alcohol consumption, and increased self-control can have very significant effects on weight over time.
Therapeutic hypnosis and deep relaxation techniques are not miracles that instantly melt fat. However, when used appropriately as tools to support behavioral change, they can help some people build healthier new habits, thereby producing significant and sustainable results for health and weight.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Hypnosis. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hypnosis
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Weight Management. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management
- Harvard Health Publishing. Hypnosis for weight loss. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/hypnosis-for-weight-loss-2019052816693
- Mayo Clinic. Weight loss: Choosing a diet that's right for you. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20048466
- Cleveland Clinic. Hypnotherapy. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/hypnotherapy
Course information
Related course: Haruva – Igniting a New Vitality
Orientation: Self-hypnosis, deep relaxation, stress reduction, healthy habit formation, mind-body health
Instructor: Hypnosis Expert Nguyen Manh Quan
Hotline: 0904.606.965
Under the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations, the center trains special methods to improve health, prevent and support treatment of physical and mental issues, and provides training in learning methods, thinking, and applied psychology for communication, business, negotiation, and sales.
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