Gastric Band Hypnosis- Everything you Want to Know

By Susanna Sweeney, MSc, MBACP, CHT

Gastric band hypnosis is a hypnosis treatment for weight loss. This treatment is sometimes also referred to as ‘hypno gastric band’, ‘virtual gastric band’, or ‘gastric band surgery hypnosis’.

You are probably here because you want to lose some weight and are weighing up your options. I have written this article about the hypnotic gastric band for you so that you can find out what this treatment involves and decide if it may be for you.

What is Gastric Band Hypnotherapy?

Gastric band hypnotherapy is a powerful suggestive program that convinces your subconscious mind that your stomach is already full, although, in reality, the portion size was very small.

The virtual gastric band offers a natural alternative to a costly surgery which, like all medical interventions, comes with risks as well as potential benefits.

Who is Gastric Band Hypnosis Suitable for?

Have a look back at my article: 'Could you Lose Weight by Hypnosis?'. There, I introduce you to a list of twenty questions that can help you establish whether your weight loss issues fall into the bracket of conscious eating issues, or if you may be an emotional eater.

Generally speaking, I would suggest that gastric band hypnosis is an ideal part of a hypnosis weight loss program for someone who:

• Has more than just a few pounds to lose
• Identifies as being on the emotional eating side of the spectrum

Gastric band hypnosis is the ‘heavy guns’ approach in the portfolio of a weight loss hypnotist. It can give the weight loss program that extra little edge.

Having said all that, there is nothing that precludes someone with a conscious eating issue to include the virtual gastric band in their weight loss program. If you feel drawn to gastric band hypnosis, it may be just the thing for you.

What Does the Gastric Band Hypnosis Treatment Involve?

Like any other hypnosis program, gastric band hypnosis starts with a deep relaxation protocol that aims to get you as relaxed as possible both physically and mentally.

Once you are deeply relaxed, the hypnotist will use a powerful suggestion based script that pretends to your subconscious mind that you are undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

The basic underlying concept here is that the subconscious mind does not know the difference between reality and imagination. If you can convince your subconscious mind that you can do something, then your subconscious mind will deliver success.

To convince your subconscious mind, your hypnotist may even use smells and sounds you would associate with a hospital setting. This will be combined with implanting powerful post hypnotic suggestions to the effect that, from now on, your stomach will only be able to eat small portions.

Does Gastric Band Hypnotherapy Work?

There are many success stories of people who have lost weight with gastric band hypnosis, for example this one here which was featured in the Daily Mirror.

Another article here featured in the Irish Times gives a more complex picture. As well as presenting success stories, it makes a couple of good points about how to best use this powerful form of hypnotherapy treatment that I want to reiterate here.

Firstly, gastric band hypnosis used on its own in a once off session may not be enough to help you overcome your weight issue.  It is much better used as part of a comprehensive weight loss hypnosis program which addresses all aspects of your weight issue in a way that’s tailor-made for you as an individual.

Secondly, you mustn’t take the idea of the gastric band completely literally.

What do I mean by that?  Let me explain.

The virtual gastric bypass surgery will be performed in a hypnotic trance state so that the suggestions will sink into your subconscious mind. If they sink in even just a small bit, your subconscious mind will help you lose weight by directing you towards eating smaller portions.

Do not expect that your conscious mind will be convinced that you have actually undergone surgery. It won’t be. It doesn’t have to be. That is not what matters in the process.

Instead, change your mind set and expectations to look at the virtual gastric band as a tool, as a means to an end. What matters are the effects of the treatment on the subconscious mind and the changes you make to your diet post treatment.

When you adopt this pragmatic mind set, you are better equipped to get the best out of your treatment because you won't get side tracked  by your mind's inbuilt censors (Read about them in my article: 'Healing with Hypnotherapy') 'evaluating' how realistic the session was for you.

What Clients say About Gastric Band Hypnosis

Joe’s Story

“At sixty, my doctor told me I needed a heart bypass. He urged me to lose weight starting from before the surgery date. That was easier said than done. I had been overweight for most of my adult life. I am a ‘foodie’.  I enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes. I enjoy inviting friends over for dinner. What to do? A friend told me about weight loss hypnosis and I decided to give it a try. I was full of doubt whether it would do anything, and I didn’t notice much initially. The gastric band session made all the difference. It was after that I started finding my way. I continued to eat what I enjoy, but I started eating smaller portions, and I started- for the first time in my life- to really chew my food, to take my time and enjoy every bite. The first week after the gastric band hypnosis I lost four pounds and I continued losing weight from then on. I now maintain my weight and don’t need any more maintenance sessions.”

Bernadette’s Story

“After I had children, I became an emotional eater, always grazing, especially in the evenings after the children were in bed. There was an emptiness inside me and I was trying to fill it. I put on a lot of weight over the years. I tried various weight loss programs and I would lose weight, but it never lasted long. Eventually I tried hypnosis. I lost five stone after a virtual gastric band.

I had the session twice as part of my program because I found it great. After four hypnosis and four coaching sessions over fifteen months I am now greatly improved. I am much more aware of what I buy and where the hidden sugar is, and I make sure I get some exercise, too.”

Gastric Band Hypnosis as Part of a Weight Loss Hypnosis Program

• Suggestion work which addresses conscious eating issues
• Suggestion work that dresses emotional eating issues
• Suggestion work with the virtual gastric band
• Regression work clearing up how past issues (typically early childhood experiences) have impacted the relationship with food
• Coaching work focused on integrating changes and establishing new habits

This work will be spread out over an extended period of time, which allows sufficient time for both body and mind to adjust to the changes made. Regular but infrequent sessions are ideal.  They allow for regular top-ups while also spreading out the cost of the treatment over a long period of time.

Other Articles on Hypnosis and Weight Loss

• Could you Lose Weight by Hypnosis?
• Hypnotic Weight Loss- 12 Things you can do to Support your Treatment
• Quit Smoking Without Gaining Weight
• Self Hypnosis for Weight Loss
• Weight Loss by Hypnosis- 7 Huge Benefits for You
• Weight Loss Hypnotists- 11 Tips for Finding the Best one for You
• Weight Loss Through Hypnosis- The Science

Is Gastric Band Hypnosis for you?

For gastric band hypnosis to work for you, first and foremost, you will have to like working with hypnosis as a method. There are a number of articles I have written that can help you gain a clear picture of what hypnosis treatments are like and if and how you may benefit.

New to Hypnosis?

The following articles are designed to help:

• What is Hypnosis gives you an insight into the basics- a simple explanation for what hypnosis is and how it is used therapeutically.
• Discover the Power of Hypnosis is designed to 'wow' you with ten amazing hypnosis facts you have likely never heard about before.
• Does Hypnotherapy Work helps you to overcome your doubt about the efficacy of this powerful therapy although the answer I give may be different to what you expect.
• Hypnosis or Self Hypnosis Trance is an important read so you know what it will feel like to be hypnotized.
• How Does Hypnotherapy Work is a great introduction to suggestion based hypnotherapy that will help you understand what to expect.
• Once you have established that you want to give working with hypnosis a go, get rid of any internalized hypnosis myths. You are likely to have at least some of these false beliefs about hypnosis and if they are not cleared up they could limit how much you benefit from your treatment.
  

Also check out the benefits of weight loss by hypnosis so you know what you can look forward to.  You should then start to get a sense of whether or not you feel drawn to working in this way. Trust yourself and let your intuition guide your decision making.

Finally, if you want to try out gastric bypass hypnosis, let your hypnotherapist know. Be clear and ask for what you want.

Regards,

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