The Gastric Mind Band
A recent article featured in the January 2011 issue of Marie Claire magazine followed Laura Graham as she tested the power of hypnotic suggestion by undergoing a gastric mind band to help her shed some unwanted pounds.
Last year when reaching 13st 8Ib and weighing in a stone heavier than her 6ft partner, Laura felt so unhappy and concerned about her health she decided to take action.
After her sister first mentioned a clinic in Spain which promised weight loss using the power of hypnotherapy, Laura simply laughed off the idea that the mind could be key to a healthier lifestyle. However after much research and investigating methods used by the clinic, Laura realised that it was her attitude towards food that needed to change and so she booked herself in for treatment.
Laura’s first consultation involved an in depth session with a therapist, who quizzed her on the relationship she had with food, how she dealt with cravings and where she thought her addictive eating patterns stemmed from.
The use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helped Laura to identify the fact that perhaps the reason she finished everything she ate even if she was not hungry was probably because she was raised in a family which was taught not to be wasteful.
After an additional counselling session Laura was shown a video of the gastric band operation. Though she found it uncomfortable viewing she said it gave her a stark view of what was going on.
After this the next step is to hypnotise the patient into believing they have had the operation done themselves. The process itself works so well because when deeply relaxed we become highly responsive to any positive suggestion or direction.
Laura explained how her therapist began by taking her along to a crossroads where she had to make a choice between the path on which she would not lose weight or the path where in a years time she would be much happier. After this the actual ‘procedure’ begins where the individual is talked through the operation as if they are undergoing it themselves.
Laura explains that though afterwards she knew she hadn’t had the operation, her stomach felt tight and sensitive.
One year later and Laura explains how she can’t overeat at all and is now a much happier 9st 8Ib.
The treatment Laura had is carried out over four sessions at the Elite Clinic in Spain.
If you would like to find out more about Gastric Band Hypnotherapy please visit our online fact sheet here. Or to contact a qualified hypnotherapist specialising in this area please use the search tool located on the homepage of this site.