Emma's fighting the flab

Session one and not a watch in sight

IN WHAT might turn out to be either one of the best or worst decisions of my life, I have again volunteered go undercover in the name of news.

After filming myself looking after a robot baby that cried into the wee hours (video elsewhere on this website), I decided to try to lose the weight I seem to have gained since getting a desk job.

Aiming to regain my hourglass figure, I went along to my first hypnotherapy session with Lesley.

After hearing an outline of the process I was asked a series of questions to identify the root of my problem (I think chocolate and cakes had a lot to do with it), before being told to visualise the body I want.

I do count myself lucky in the fact my editor hasn't asked for a before and after photograph like they do on television. I think me in my pants followed by a picture of my head super-imposed onto Catherine Zeta-Jones' body would probably lower our circulation figures.

Then came the part I was actually very nervous about- the hypnosis. I was told to lie on a couch but fortunately there wasn't a pocket watch in sight.

It is a very strange feeling being hypnotised. It is like being half in a dream and half listening to the other person. Sort of like geography A-level.

Lesley told me to imagine my body sinking deeper into the seat (which probably actually happened - bearing in mind the reason I was there). I had to close my eyes and imagine I was in a garden, and with each step I took towards the lawn, I had to imagine my body getting heavy.

The actual hypnotherapy, in which Lesley spoke about positive thinking and expelling negative thoughts, seemed to last about five minutes - but looking at the clock, I realised almost an hour had slipped by.

I don't really remember what happened during the hypnosis but when I came out of it my body felt like a balloon, very light and floaty, like a really nice head rush.

Since the session, I have noticed a significant decrease in the amount of chocolate I have been eating, my weakness being Galaxy and white chocolate.

I've been told the thing about hypnotherapy is to have a positive attitude and believe it is going to work, and I do. I really want it to work so by the time my summer holidays come along I can sunbathe on the beach without lifeguards thinking a beached whale has become stuck on the sand.

Only time will tell....