Six weeks ago, three readers took up our challenge to lose weight through hypnosis and healthy eating. Maxine Gordon reveals the results.

DIETS loom large at this time of year. Most of us are figuring out how we are going to squeeze into that little black dress, or how to avoid piling on the pounds over Christmas.

But for three readers of The Press, the hard work is already done. Mandy Tyson, Margaret Whitehead and Sandra Lumby have spent six weeks undergoing a life-changing weight-loss programme with York therapist Lisa Clifford, where the emphasis is on mind over matter - and lots of healthy eating.

Lisa, who was trained by Paul McKenna, uses a combination of life coaching, hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming to help dieters achieve their goals.

The aim is to "free people from the barriers that hold them back in their lives", according to Lisa.

For most clients that involves swapping their calorie-loaded lifestyles for healthier ones. Bacon butties, booze and biscuits are exchanged for fresh fruit, vegetables, lean meat and fish.

It may sound extreme, but the results are encouraging. To date, Lisa reports a 100 per cent success rate. She used the methods on herself and lost two stone. She expected our three readers to lose between 10lbs and a stone in six weeks. Here's how they got on...

Margaret Whitehead is a 50-year-old self-employed tennis coach and lives in York. She has put on weight over the past ten years and found it difficult to shift. Her weakness is for a glass of red wine.

Height: 5ft 10ins
Original weight: 12 stone 6lbs
Target: 11 stone 6lbs
Weigh in: 11 stone 4lbs
Total loss: 16lbs

Margaret says:
It's been fantastic; a life-changing experience. I said I wanted to lose a stone and now that I have I need some new jeans.

I did have some headaches in the first week going through the detox when I had to give up caffeine. But it has given me such a boost, and lots of energy. I've spent less money on food too because I'm not buying lots of wine and milk and filter coffee. I feel less sluggish.

The hypnosis helped me. We did lots of visualisation: Lisa would say: imagine yourself at 11 stone; what you are wearing' so that when you come in from tennis one night starving and really want some chips you think of that image and have an apple instead.

Now that I have reached my target weight, Lisa says I can go on the diet 80 per cent of the time. That means I can have a glass of red wine at the weekends. If I do put on three pounds, I have the confidence to know that next week I could lose it."

Sandra Lumby is a 42-year-old personal assistant who lives with husband Paul in York. She has two children, Rachel, 22, and Martin, 20, and a grandson, Joshua, four. She wants to slim down for her daughter's wedding next year.

Height: 5ft 2ins
Original weight: 11 stone
Target: 10 stone
Weigh in: 10 stone 1lb
Total loss: 20lbs

Sandra says:
"I can't believe I've done it in six weeks. The first week was hard and the food we had to eat was a shock. I never cooked: everything used to be pre-packaged or we'd have chops, pie, chips and tinned peas. I've been making casseroles and curries and I've bought things I've never bought before... garlic, ginger and peppers.

I don't like soup, so I've eaten salads at lunchtime and I still have cereal in the morning with a little bit of milk. I have two cups of tea a day but now drink green tea too and water.

My husband doesn't want to change, so I still make him his meal and I have my own. I thought it would be too time consuming, but Lisa told us to cook in bulk and freeze portions.

I've got into a routine and just do it. I had terrible irritable bowel syndrome but that has improved. I feel really good. I loved the hypnosis. I've got more energy and confidence. When I get into my dress for my daughter's wedding I'm going to feel so much better."

Mandy Tyson is a 40-year-old York nurse. She is married to Chris and has two children, Annie, four, and Fintan, seven months. She used to be eight-and-a-half stone, but made no effort to lose weight between babies. She works full time.

Height: 5ft
Original weight: 12 stone
Target: Nine stone
Weigh in: 10 stone
Total loss: 21lbs

Mandy says:
I'm really pleased. At first I was really starving and craving all the foods I was missing, but that disappeared after four days. I also worried that I would be lacking in energy, but I felt really good.

I'm half way to my target weight in six weeks and I have re-introduced certain foods and I am still losing weight.

I eat fruit for breakfast and snacks, home-made soup for lunch and fish or chicken with veg in the evening. My husband has lost a stone too.

I found the methods were good. Through hypnosis, Lisa taught me to say "not now, thank you" any time I looked at something I shouldn't eat. It's got to work because before I might have known I shouldn't have had it, but I'd still have eaten it. I look completely different and am wearing jeans I haven't been into since 2003. I think I'll be asking Santa for some new clothes."

Lisa says: "I am so pleased with the results. These women really wanted to lose the weight. I am not surprised at the losses though because this programme delivers these kind of results for clients day in, day out. All three were extremely committed to the programme and failing was not an option. This combined with re-programming the mind and removing any possible blocks made it easy for them."

Lose a stone in 28 days

Lisa Clifford is running a series of healthy eating programmes in York which promises fast weight loss. Each programme includes three sessions over a five-week period. Places are limited to 12 people and there will be separate workshops for men and women.

Each person on the programme will enjoy a combination of personal coaching, hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming.

Sessions will cover topics such as setting goals and introducing a healthy living plan as well as group hypnosis.

Lisa said: "This is a tried and tested programme where all clients have lost a minimum of 10lbs in 28 days and up to 2 stone in six weeks. Clients feel energised, healthy, fit and positive and find it so easy."

The next set of workshops starts on Saturday, from 1pm to 3.30pm at the Holiday Inn, Tadcaster Road, York. Places cost £100. To book, contact Lisa via email at: lisa@lisaclifford.co.uk or by phone on 07795 634671.