WEEKLY COACHING TIP #191                                                                                             

WHY SLIMMING PRODUCTS HELP SELL CHOCOLATE BARS!

Some of you may know that I have been working on my Holistic Weight Reduction programme over the last 20 months or so. 

It came about because I was truly appalled at the amount of people who

a) want a quick fix, even though they know they will probably put the weight straight back on, and

b) will put weight loss higher on their list than health, relationships and work! 

Some people have been so brainwashed by the media and society on how they should look, regardless of their particular body type, that they will go to any ends to achieve it.  I have seen a lot of very unhappy, self loathing people who are destroying their current life experience because they don’t know how to get out of this dieting cycle.

On my programme I really want to address this problem from a physical, emotional and psychological aspect, not to mention a bit of metaphysics too!  So thinking on these lines, I thought you might be interested to know why advertisers put seemingly contradictory messages on TV.

When you watch TV you are in a trance state already. When adverts are shown, the rapid succession of images only deepens the trance. The consequence is that most of the messages sent by the adverts will bypass your conscious mind.

Remember Derren Brown in the shopping mall programming people to raise their hand? If not watch the video.

So even if you believe you are not really suggestible, believe me, it will go in, otherwise why would advertisers would spend a fortune each year.

The best proof is the following admission from Patrick Le Lay, CEO of the first French commercial TV TF1 who in 2004 made the following statement: "There are many ways to speak about TV, but in a business perspective, let's be realistic: at the basis, TF1's job is helping Coca-Cola, for example, to sell its product. What we sell to Coca-Cola is available human brain time. Nothing is more difficult than obtaining this availability. This is where permanent change is located. We must always look out for popular programs, follow trends, surf on tendencies, in a context in which information is speeding up, getting manifold and trivialized." (Patrick Le Lay, in Les dirigeants français et le changement, 2004, ISBN 2-914119-33-X)

For example have you ever noticed (if you managed to get out of your trance state) that in the same sequence of TV ads, you may have a slender ‘stick insect’ having a fabulous time by taking x slimming product, and straight after that ad, you may see one for something very unhealthy and fattening, be it a burger or chocolate biscuits, with a similar ‘stick insect’ eating them.

So as your conscious mind is more or less turned off you really have to ask: “What is my brain going to do with this apparently contradictory message?”

Well, on one side people who think this body image is attainable are the ones that will go out and buy the slimming product.

On the other side, people who found the previous image of the ‘stick insect’ something unattainable, will probably sub consciously; be feeling a bit low about the fact that they don’t perceive themselves as ever being that weight or shape, so they will indulge even more in unhealthy, fat making foods.

So can you see? Not only both commercials will complement each other but they will work in synergy. The ones who feel they can’t reach that weight, will, after indulging even more, be more than likely go out and buy the slimming product anyway, because they now have enough ‘pain’ in their life by putting on even more weight. That’s clever isn’t it? You can get people buying both products, forever! It’s a win/win for the advertisers?  They just can’t lose!  

So yes, we are being hypnotised, very seriously!

I’m sure you now understand more why so many people are yo-yo dieting. This is why in my Holistic Weight Reduction programme I particularly want to work with those people, to empower them so they can break the pattern.

Next week we will look a little closer at

1. Why the brain is pushing those frustrated people to eat more

2. Why people respond more to body image than body weight

In the meantime, think very carefully before you watch any ads, in fact make it a point to turn the TV off or leave the room until they have finished, if you are going to be brain washed make sure it’s healthy, informed, self directed brainwashing!

Until next week (and hopefully longer) remember you don’t have to be a sheep!