Hypnotic Gastric Bands - Do They Work?

Hypnosis is a powerful tool for personal change and with it you can achieve results through the power of suggestion in a unique way. Gastric bands are used with people who are very overweight to restrict the physical size of their stomaches, reduce their capacity to eat any type of food, and in this way helps the person lose weight. They are physical interventions carried out by a surgeon and involve an operation and a stay in hospital.

A hypnotic Gastric band is a process whereby a trained hypnotherapist works with a client to suggest in their unconscious mind the experience and belief that they have undergone a similar procedure. There is no operation, no stay in hospital, no high fees. Yet the results can be just as effective.

When the client first contacts me I carryout a brief investigation over the phone and then meet them for an initial consultation which lasts about an hour and a half. During this session I explain the procedure and what the responsibilities of the client are to the success of the treatment. At this time I make very sure that the client is really committed to change and ready to take on a new lifestyle. If I feel that the client is not willing to make changes for themselves then I ask them to re-consider before proceeding. In my experience there is no point a client simply expecting the therapist to take responsibility for their health is both unethical and unrealistic. As a result there are always a few clients who I ask to go away and re-think their overall intention at this point. A very few people exit the process at this point.

The next stage to consider is the reasons why people are overweight in the first place. In this day and age with an abundance of cheap very available and not very nutritious food available it is too easy to put weight on. If, however they have a history of being overweight for emotional reasons then I suggest doing some emotional clearing. All too often the clients that come to me have may reasons why they over eat.

One young lady had was overweight and could not understand why as she was active and had a very healthy diet and lifestyle. When we looked into her past it transpired that she had had problems in school. She had experienced considerable peer pressure to take on relationships with boys - she didn't want to do this and her bodies response was to put weight on in the belief that this would make her unattractive - it did and she was able to achieve her academic and life goals much more easily. Now, however, she wanted to get married and could not loose the weight. Uncovering this response to previous needs and allowing her to let it go has a real impact on her weight in advance of the Hypno-Band.

Once any emotional clearing is complete - which can take one or two sessions we begin the Hypno-Band Process. The hypno-Band process is modelled on the medical Gastric band process with pre- assessments - weight management and food recording and a lifestyle audit before the procedure. The first session mirrors the initial consultation with the surgeon. We look at the eating and lifestyle of the client in depth. We use a food diary, look at eating habits, exercise routines, and the clients targets. In this session the hypnosis elements focus reducing or eliminating cravings, reducing portion sizes, changing negative thoughts and behaviours towards and around food. The client then uses a food diary between sessions. They work towards loosing a target amount of weight in a set time.

The nest session is where I conduct the Hypno-Band process. In session there is a lot of theatre to condition and support the the process of instilling the suggestion of the fitting of a gastric Band to the client. Following this session there is continued motoring of the clients changes. I offer follow up sessions for the clients where further changes to their relationship to food and any cravings remaining can be addressed. I even offer a further 'operation' session where the band can be tightened.

Typically, my clients fall into two categories those who are highly successful and loose weight and those who really have no commitment to responsibility and change and who do not make it past the first session. I structure the clients participation in the programme in stages setting challenges for the client each step of the way. As they meet each one they loose weight from the first session - the biggest looser lost 14lbs in two weeks - simply by addressing cravings and eating habits. This however is the exception and a more moderate wight loss rate is far more preferable. All of my clients have their programme tailored to their needs and ongoing weight loss. Following this approach all my clients go on to be successful in achieving their weight loss targets. They know that they need to take responsibility for their own health and lifestyle - and they do! Hypno-Band Works really well - it is an effective approach to weight loss, but it is much much more than a simple set of hypnotherapy sessions to deliver a series of suggestions. Working with a therapist who operates in this way and being prepared to take responsibility for their own health and well being.

If you are considering using this process to loose weight then it is vital that you enter with the right intention and motivation. If you have this then you can be confident that with the right therapist you will be successful.