Gastric Band Hypnosis

Gastric band hypnosis is a new, non-surgical weight-loss treatment that has been shown to be very effective. Patients who have undergone the treatment have lost weight and kept it off, without any risks or side effects associated with surgery.

A gastric band is a silicone band that is placed around the stomach to help reduce the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. This helps patients lose weight by making them feel full after eating smaller amounts of food.

Anyone who has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more can be considered for a gastric band on the NHS. People with a BMI of 35 or more may also be eligible if they have a serious underlying condition that could be improved with weight loss, such as sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure.

The benefits of a gastric band include:

• Losing weight and keeping it off
• Improving your health
• Reducing your risk of developing obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke
• Improving your quality of life by increasing your energy levels and making it easier to do everyday activities

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved in having a physical gastric band fitted, these include:

• Adverse reactions to anaesthesia such as allergic reactions, breathing problems, blood clots, and possibly a heart attack post-surgery.
• Gastric band slippage can happen if the band moves from its original position. This can cause nausea, vomiting and heartburn and may require another operation to fix it.
• A leak in the gut caused by a gastric bypass may cause food to leak into the stomach causing infection that may require further surgery to correct.
• Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis) causing a blocked gut, creating tummy pain, issues with bowel movements and even trouble swallowing.

The alternative is to have a virtual gastric band fitted via hypnosis. How does this differ from a physical gastric band? Let’s take a look.

Gastric band hypnosis is a new, non-surgical weight-loss treatment that has been shown to be very effective without the risks or side effects associated with surgery.

As one of many experienced hypnotherapists in London, I practice solution-focused hypnotherapy that starts by identifying the root cause of overeating. Once we know what is causing the problem, we can begin to change the way you think about food and your relationship with it. For many people, the root of their problem is related to emotional eating.

Emotional eating is when a person eats to comfort or soothe themselves. It can be a way to deal with stress, sadness, anger, boredom, or any other emotion. When people are emotional eaters, they often eat unhealthy foods and/or too much food. In the short term, emotional eating may make a person feel better by boosting their mood. However, in the long term, it can create a vicious cycle where guilt and shame, lead to a continuation of unhealthy eating patterns, leading to weight gain, eating disorders and other health problems.

After an initial conversation about what outcomes you’re looking for with hypnosis, a solution-focused hypnotherapist will discuss what a happier, healthier version of yourself would be like. Discussing this in detail helps create a picture of the future you and how you would like to feel. This is important because it helps your subconscious mind start to believe that this is possible for you.

The process differs from some forms of hypnotherapy that encourage you to remember and relive past traumas and events in your life. This can be counterproductive as it can lead to feeling worse and more helpless. Instead, solution-focused hypnotherapy concentrates on the future and how you want to feel.

During the talking process, the hypnotherapist may also help you understand patterns and behaviours that have contributed to your weight gain that you may have not recognised. This can be beneficial as it can help you to understand why you overeat and what triggers your emotional eating.

After the talking process is complete, the hypnotherapist will guide you into a state of relaxation where your subconscious mind is more open to change. It is in this state that the virtual gastric band session will take place.

During the gastric band hypnosis session, you will be given a series of suggestions that will help you to believe that you have had a physical gastric band fitted. These suggestions will help you to change your eating habits and the way you think about food.

The virtual gastric band is not a miracle cure and it will take some time and effort on your part to make the necessary changes.

The difference between diets and gastric band hypnosis is that with diets, the majority of people will eventually give up and return to their old eating habits. The virtual gastric band works with your subconscious mind to change your relationship with food. In addition, many diets require you to change your eating habits abruptly, which can be difficult to sustain in the long term. With gastric band hypnosis, the changes are gradual and more sustainable.

During the hypnosis part of the session, patients are guided into a deep state of relaxation. Once in this trance-like state, the subconscious mind is more open to change. The hypnotherapist will then give a series of suggestions that the patient has had a physical gastric band fitted.

The subconscious mind is not affected by logic or reasoning in the same way as the conscious mind is, and so is more likely to accept the suggestions that are given to it. This works because preconceived notions and beliefs that we have about ourselves prevent the subconscious mind from accepting change.

Many prominent hypnotherapists believe sustainable change is achieved by our authentic selves. In other words, when we make changes that are in line with our values and beliefs. As solution-focused hypnosis relies on co-creation, the future version of yourself we discussed at the beginning of the session is more likely to be something you believe in and are more likely to achieve.

It’s worth noting that gastric band hypnosis will require work on your part. The hypnotherapist can guide and support you, but it’s ultimately up to you to make the necessary changes. Learning about nutrition and making healthy food choices is an essential part of the process. Making time for exercise is also important as it will help you to maintain your weight loss in the long term.

In the first instance, it’s worth doing some research, taking a look at reviews and finding a qualified clinical hypnotherapist that is experienced. Your initial consultation will be an opportunity for you and the therapist to get to know each other and discuss your goals.

You’ll be asked questions about your eating habits, why you want to lose weight and what your ideal weight is. You will also be asked about any previous attempts you have made to lose weight and whether you have ever undergone any kind of hypnotherapy before.

The therapist will also ask you about your medical history to ensure that gastric band hypnosis is the right treatment for you. You should also be prepared to talk about any psychological issues you may have that could be contributing to your weight gain.

Once the initial consultation is complete, the therapist will devise a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs.

In the hypnosis part of the session, you will be guided into a deep state of relaxation. Once in this trance-like state, the subconscious mind is more open to change. The hypnotherapist will then give a series of suggestions that the patient has had a physical gastric band fitted.

As the session progresses, the therapist will give you suggestions about how the gastric band is shrinking your stomach. They will also talk about how you are feeling fuller quicker and how you are losing weight.

The therapist may also use other techniques such as visualisation to help you to imagine yourself at your ideal weight.

At the end of the session, you will be given a ‘post-hypnotic suggestion’ which is a positive affirmation that you can repeat to yourself when you are feeling tempted to eat unhealthy food.

If you are considering gastric band hypnosis, it’s important to remember that the treatment is not a quick fix. You will need to be prepared to make lifestyle changes in order to lose weight and keep it off in the long term. However, if you are committed to making a change, gastric band hypnosis could be the treatment for you.

The good news is that gastric band hypnosis has been shown to be an effective weight-loss treatment. A study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis found that patients who underwent gastric band hypnosis lost more weight than those who didn’t.

In addition, a study published in the Journal of Obesity Surgery found that patients who underwent gastric band hypnosis were more likely to stick to their diet and exercise plan than those who didn’t.