by Kelly Jad'on

Book Review: I Can Make You Thin: The Revolutionary System Used by Over 3 Million People (Sterling, 2009) by Paul McKenna, Ph.D.

Paul McKenna is the United Kingdom’s bestselling nonfiction author. His books have sold over 3 million copies in the last 3 years. He has worked with Olympic gold medalists, movie stars, top business executives, and most interestingly—royalty. Using hypnosis, he’s become a self-help guru for those who wish to quit smoking, lose weight, overcome insomnia, eliminate stress, and increase self-confidence.

I Can Make You Thin asks readers to:

• Read the book. (This should take only 2 hours.)
• Follow its instructions.
• Use the hypnosis CD every day for two weeks.
• Notice the change in eating patterns and watch weight “drop off.”

Paul McKenna states this premise, “I have learned that almost all problems stem from the same cause: negative programs running in the unconscious mind.”

I Can Make You Thin follows with a current trend in weight loss—the reprogramming of the mind. The Hardcover Book and CDdifference is, instead of the “dieter” becoming proactive and subjectively changing his habits, McKenna offers the same help in a more passive manner. The reader must set aside a ½ hour of his time each day to destress and absorb hypnotic suggestions from the book’s CD. The reader may even sleep during this time period.

4 Golden Rules to be initiated after reading the book:

1. When you’re hungry, EAT.
2. Eat what you want, not what you think you should.
3. Eat consciously and enjoy every mouthful.
4. When you think you are full, stop eating.

These rules in general are good and can relate to almost every diet. However, number 2 leaves me wondering—Could I just eat ice cream every day?

The forward to I Can Make You Thin was written by Ronald Ruden, MD, PhD of Lenox Hill Hospital, New York. Dr. Ruden is the author of The Craving Brain. He writes, “This is a revolutionary approach and it is the only approach that will be successful long term without the use of medication.” We’re also told that we have been “brainwashed” by the dieting industry into believing that weight loss itself is difficult, but really it’s not. If this is true, weight loss achieved by using only hypnotic suggestions really is a revolutionary idea.

I Can Make You Thin will:

• Reprogram the unconscious mind to think differently about food.
• Help the reader feel better about himself.
• Change the reader’s behavior.
• Lower stress.
• Speed up metabolism.
• Escape from a fixation with food and control cravings.
• Work for anyone, including obsessive and emotional eaters.

McKenna backs up his I Can Make You Thin program with actual past participants’ before and after photos, as well as their statements. He utilizes 14 hypnotic techniques, visualization and repetition, and includes 7-Day success checklists.

Intriguing points to ponder: McKenna’s program doesn’t require a belief in the method, and being overweight isn’t the reader’s fault, but rather is a result of “unproductive habits.” A warning is issued for the CD’s usage: “Do not listen to the CD while driving or operating heavy machinery or if you suffer from certain neurological disorders including but not limited to epilepsy….”

Based on the book’s success in England and the history of actual past participants, I would say that this possibly is at least a partial key to a medication and surgery-free way to lose weight.

4 Stars

Other Books Which Emphasize Changing One's Brain to Lose Weight:

Review: The Body Fat Solution by Tom Venuto

Review: The Complete Beck Diet For Life by Judith S. Beck