Our weight-loss columnist and type 1 diabetic, Alice Dogruyol, tries hypnotherapy sessions to reset her relationship with food – but discovers the secret is to prioritise her self-care with a low-carb bread-baking ritual.

Words: Alice Dogruyol. Images: Shutterstock, Pexels. Headshot: David Venni

Even though I am on the road to coming off Wegovy and Mounjaro, they do work wonders at curbing cravings, managing hunger and reducing the pull towards unwise food choices. But as effective as they are, they’re only part of the puzzle. The missing piece? Mindset and self-prioritisation.

Looking after your health and making wise choices requires more than medication – it takes intention and effort. I have lost nearly 20kg in a year, but I know there is more I could be doing. That’s why I sought the expertise of Gillian Dalgliesh (changewithgillian.com), a clinical hypnotherapist and intuitive life coach based in Edinburgh. Gillian specialises in weight management, stress and anxiety, offering in-person and online appointments. She is author of Weight Loss Without Willpower and I was curious to see if she could help me.

Finding my confidence

Our journey began with a phone call. I shared my struggles with eating habits and dieting. Gillian’s ability to intuitively understand and identify underlying issues set the foundation. Our first hypnotherapy session was by video call. I got comfortable in my bed with my laptop. Gillian identified specific areas I needed to work on: fear of coming off Mounjaro, getting my BMI into a safe zone to initiate my last IVF attempt, and keeping away from caffeine and carbs. Gillian’s calming presence transcended the screen as she guided me into a state of deep relaxation. Hypnotherapy aims to access the subconscious mind – where habits and behaviours are formed.

We identified negative beliefs I have about myself as well as positive beliefs to reaffirm. Gillian guided me, and I felt secure and in control, yet profoundly relaxed. Afterwards, I experienced a notable shift in my mindset and felt a sense of wellbeing and self-awareness, less fear and more confidence in myself to make the right choices. Her approach blends hypnotherapy with life coaching, so it taps into far more than just feelings around food, helping with issues from anxiety and phobias to confidence and relationship challenges.

I have a tendency to self-sabotage with negative self-talk, such as: ‘I can’t stick to exercise’, ‘I’m too busy to make my low-carb bread’, or ‘I can’t manage without Mounjaro’. She was quick to identify this. Food issues aren’t so much about your relationship with food, it’s about your relationship with yourself. Being at peace with yourself is the ultimate goal. So, she worked with me to flip these scripts in a practical way.

Prioritising self-care

The second session focused on something surprisingly straightforward yet deeply impactful: prioritising myself and what I need to do to stay healthy. At the top of that list? Making my low-carb bread. To anyone else, bread might sound trivial. But for me – a type 1 diabetic – it’s a lifeline. Low-carb bread helps me balance my blood sugar and has been a game-changer for managing my HbA1c, now down to an impressive 44 (pre-diabetic status!).

However, actually finding the time to make the bread is a different story, even though it makes a huge difference to my health goals. So, Gillian formulated a hypnosis session targeted on prioritising my needs, my health – and my bread making. She listened carefully, understanding this wasn’t just about bread – it was about self-care, balance and creating a sustainable routine.

We also spoke about the challenges of being confronted by carby foods at events and accessing my inner strength to say “no” to sweet sabotage foods and accepting occasionally I will eat cake – and that’s ok – just not at every opportunity! Gillian helped me set the goal of a Sunday bread-making ritual. When Sunday came around, something clicked.

I didn’t just think about making bread – I did it. I even made two loaves to last a few weeks. I wasn’t rushing; I was fully present, enjoying the warm, satisfying smell of bread baking in my kitchen. This small act of prioritising myself set the tone for my week. With the bread ready, I could plan meals with ease, knowing I had a staple to keep my blood sugar in check. It felt empowering to take charge of my health in such a tangible way.

Working with Gillian Dalgliesh helped me refocus on self-care and break free from the cycle of negative self-talk. She gave me the tools to prioritise what really matters, so I could build a sustainable foundation for my health. Sessions with Gillian aren’t just about hypnosis, they are about creating a mindset shift. She helped me understand that prioritising myself doesn’t mean pushing other things aside – it means carving out intentional time for the things that make me feel good, healthy and in control.

To connect with Alice, visit instagram.com/Alice_Dogruyol.

Read Alice’s weight loss columns here!