You aren’t going to believe this, but when Lily Allen wanted to shed some weight, it was a matter of mind over munchies.

Allen, 22, turned to London-based hypnotherapist Susan Hepburn, who – for $600 an hour – used hypnotherapy to help Lily think herself thin.

“Lily wanted to lose weight for health reasons,” says an insider. Allen once blogged about considering gastric-bypass surgery and laser liposuction. “Her self-esteem was in the gutter. She did it for herself, not for outside approval.” Another incentive: rumored new boyfriend Ed Simons.

Over the course of three months, Lily used treatment to drop from a size 8 to a size 4, shedding 10 pounds from her 5-foot-2 frame. “Lily came to me and said, ‘Nothing is working for me,’” says Hepburn. “She said she felt uncomfortable at her weight.”

There’s no reason to believe that hypnotherapy works for weight loss, it certainly hasn’t been proven scientifically, but according to Hepburn, she put Lily into a state of heightened awareness (or hypnosis) to plant suggestions in Allen’s subconscious.

Hepburn, who claims her clients require only two or three sessions, told Lily to eat slowly and savor every mouthful: “I said, ‘When you’re full, put down your knife and fork. You don’t have to clean everything off your plate.’”

Lily Allen’s Diet Instead of sugary snacks, Hepburn suggested that Lily eat organic fruits and veggies and drink water, because thirst can often be mistaken for hunger. And Lily’s never felt better.

“After the hypnotism, I want to go to the gym every day,” she says. “I just want to get more toned and healthy. I’m really good about everything at the moment – I’ve never been happier.” [via]