View source for You Can Think Yourself Thin by Ursula James

{{infobox1 
|title= You Can Think Yourself Thin
|author= Ursula James
|reviewer= Jo Heffer
|genre=Home and Family 
|summary= This is a fantastic book which aims to help you not only lose weight but retain the weight loss through focusing on the state of your mind and well being. Ursula James uses hypnosis in order to help you feel better about yourself and to 'think yourself thin'.  Don't borrow the book - buy it.  You will need your own copy.
|rating=5 
|buy= Yes
|borrow= No
|pages=288 
|publisher= Century
|date= June 2008
|isbn=978-1846051982 
|cover=1846051983
|aznuk=1846051983
|aznus=1846051983
}}

I wanted to read this book because I have always struggled with my weight since having my two children. Although more traditional diets have worked for me in the short term I never seem to be able to maintain the weight loss so I was fast reaching the conclusion that I needed to work on my mind as well as my body. Ursula James' book ''You Can Think Yourself Thin'' came along at just the right time for me and I have been absolutely astounded by the effects of reading this book and listening to the hypnosis tracks. I had never tried anything like this before and was even a little skeptical but not any more!

The book works on the premise that if you are going to lose weight successfully you will need to deal with any issues you may have. These could include lack of sleep, your environment, relationships with others and your personal history. You may not think that there is anything you need to deal with but, as Ursula James says, if you only follow 20% of the suggestions you will be successful. All of the language in the book is extremely positive and as you are reading it you feel that she is addressing you directly. Everything she says is very thought provoking and even if it doesn't always appear relevant there is always something you can associate with it. There is also a lot of repetition which is good because it reinforces all the key messages she is giving. The most important message is all about taking control and this is a recurring theme in every chapter.

The book is broken up in to nine chapters which help you think about all the different stages of your life, starting with the past then moving into the present before addressing the future. All of these stages are accompanied by different tracks on a CD and you are told when to listen to these. There are a number of tasks which she asks you to do such as clearing out your wardrobe and dedicating at least an hour a week entirely to yourself all of which are helping you to create a positive self image.

The hypnotherapy tracks are amazing especially if you have not tried anything like this before. I was very impressed at how easily and seamlessly I was taken into a 'deep focused state' You don't always remember what has been said but the idea is that after you have listened your subconscious will work on the suggestions made while you are sleeping. After I got used to them I found that I really enjoyed these sessions and there were quite afew of them because although you only listen to the past and present tracks once, you are required to listen to the future track twenty one times. This is because apparently it takes three weeks to either make or break a habit. Also, the CD is always there for any future use particularly if you feel you are starting to fall into your former bad habits. I'm hoping I won't need to use it too often.

The effects that this book and the CD have had on me have been wonderful. I have been reading and listening for the last month and I really feel like I am a changed person and I have also lost ten pounds in weight without even trying. I no longer snack between meals and I am no longer finishing off all my young daughters' leftovers which was possibly my worst failing. It's not even as though my willpower has improved – it's just that I don't want to do these things any more. I seem to have lost my taste for sweet and sickly things, I have slowed down my eating and therefore improved my metabolism and I'm drinking much more water. Also my motivation for exercise has increased dramatically and I am no longer finding excuses for avoiding it. In fact now I'm actively looking for opportunities to exercise. I feel healthy and I also feel confident and I'm much more able to take difficult situations in my stride. Of course, the proof will be in how I feel three months from now but I do feel more positive that I will continue to lose weight and then maintain it.

I cannot praise this book enough and I really do feel that through reading it and following the instructions that it has changed me. I've also talked about it with so many friends who have all asked to borrow it but I'm afraid I told them to go out and get their own copies. This one's mine and I'm keeping it just in case I need a dose of positive thinking again!

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

Here at The Bookbag we were worried that this might be another book like [[The Secret by Rhonda Byrne]] but fortunately it's infinitely better than that.

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[[Category:Lifestyle]]