You’ve likely heard of gastric bypass surgery, bariatric surgery, or getting your stomach stapled. That’s when the surgeon shrinks your stomach so you can’t hold as much food.
Well, hypnosis gastric bypass (HGB) is a mental version of that surgery.
- You don’t actually do any surgery.
- But during hypnosis the subconscious mind believes that you are having surgery.
- And afterwards, the subconscious believes that the stomach is smaller, and you eat less.
CNN has reported a great success story about a stay-at-home mom in Michigan. Here’s the link below.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/18/health/weight-loss-julie-evans
The hypnotist in the CNN story did the smart thing by combining the hypnosis gastric bypass (HGB ) with suggestions on how to think differently about food. HGB alone isn’t as powerful, because there’s a risk of the client eating less but transferring her issue to a different area of life.
What do I mean by transferring the issue? Let’s say Jane Smith loses weight by doing the surgery or HGB, but she doesn’t actually do any work on changing her relationship with food.
- That means she’s taken away something valuable, i.e., lots of food, from her subconscious mind.
- But her subconscious mind must have its needs met.
- That means the subconscious could turn to a different behavior, potentially something quite destructive.
Jane’s subconscious might drink a lot, smoke a lot, or have many one-night stands. Jane’s subconscious is saying, “You stapled our stomach? Well, forget that! I have needs, you know! If you won’t let me have lots of food, I’ll find another outlet.”
What needs have to be met? Common ones include safety, love, and comfort.
- For weight loss clients, I’ve found that food is often a substitute for one or all of these common needs.
- Most people think food is about food.
- But rarely is food actually about food.
- Food is often just an inefficient way of meeting an emotional need.
Food can’t really give long-term safety, love or comfort. At best, the food makes us feel better for a short time. And it’s often followed by guilt or other negative emotions.
What’s the long-term solution to weight loss? To give the subconscious what it truly needs and desires. And to give that in a healthy way.
When the subconscious gets what it truly needs, weight loss goes from a struggle to feeling natural. And you don’t have to focus so much on losing weight. Instead, you focus on living, and by living, the weight drops off.
Does it take some work on the client’s part to change these beliefs through hypnosis? Heck yeah! Weight loss is one of the trickiest issues in the hypnosis world, because food issues are often wrapped up in the most complex issues.
- Some people think hypnosis makes it super easy, but let me tell you, it’s not about the hypnosis by itself.
- My successful weight loss clients realize that it takes time, and that with steady work, they control the outcome. They also realize that I as the hypnotist can’t make them lose weight.
- Bottom line: hypnosis is useful as a tool used by the client. The client’s work ethic and ability to follow the steps are #1, and the hypnotist’s skill is #2.