Why hypnotic gastric banding may not be the answer to managing your weight!

Hypnotic gastric banding may not be the answer to weight loss needs. Before explaining the reasons, let's first look at some benefits of gastric banding hypnosis:

1. Capitalises on motivation while it is high.

2. Hypnotherapists typically have shorter waiting lists than hospitals

3. Simplicity

4. Non-invasive, and potentially safer

5. Available to everyone

But are there any downsides?

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that a client might mentally 'experience' the same physical problems that can occur with real bandings, such as vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and pain. Some hypnotherapists even conduct an imaginary operation in trance. What if the 'operation' goes wrong due to negative thinking? If it is so realistic that it makes a difference, shouldn't the hypnotherapist be a surgeon?

Gastric banding reduces food 'volume'. In fact, food 'type' is what normally matters most in attempts at weight loss. Put simply, you can eat lettuce or cucumber all day and not get fat.

Wouldn't it be more empowering and sustainable to choose to eat healthier rather than feel it is down to the 'gastric band' or the power of the hypnotherapist?

Hypnotic gastric banding is based on the flawed model of ‘symptom removal’. Behind the symptoms (unhealthy eating) are the causes. When the root causes of unhealthy eating are found, e.g., escaping from life’s stresses, comfort eating due to grieving, trauma, illness, and so on), these can be dealt with. Tackling symptoms leaves the causes waiting to re-establish themselves.

It's rather like a gardener chopping the leaves off a dandelion and hoping it won't grow back. If the symptom - unhealthy eating - is removed, but the root cause remains in place, it might resurface later as a return to unhealthy eating.

Or it may result in a new problem, such as a desire to drink more alcohol, for example. Most people are familiar with how smokers who stop the symptom - smoking - often find themselves dealing with the cause (such as stress) manifesting in a new form, particularly overeating.

Another question you might ask of a therapist offering hypnotic gastric banding hypnotherapy is this. "If the therapist can make me eat less by suggesting I have a band around my stomach, why wouldn't they play safer and suggest something more empowering, such as I have an inability to put too much in my mouth? Or I will buy healthier foods"!

Want to work towards a lifelong weight management solution? Tired of fads and harsh weight-loss diets?

Karen is an advanced practitioner, specialising in mental health and behavioural change for over 20 years and uses a combination of Hypnosis, Mindfulness, CBT & NLP in her work. Interested in finding out more about how hypnotherapy could help you feel empowered to sustainably lose weight??Schedule your free 20-minute call to find out more

In 2008 Karen co-founded the?Academy of Advanced Changework, a hypnotherapy and NLP academy providing training from beginner to advanced practitioner.

Her Academy provides?attended Diploma courses in Hypnotherapy & NLP on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth & Sydney, Australia, and a range of online & distance CPD courses internationally, including an?Advanced Diploma?in Hypnotherapy.