Sometimes, it’s simply hard to say no to that third cookie or plate of French-fries. Whether we admit this to ourselves or not, our relationship with food is psychological and is never limited to physiology. If you’re looking for that push that will get you back on track in keeping to a healthy lifestyle, admit to yourself this relationship and accept that moderation is key.

If you still find yourself reaching for that unhealthy snack, then perhaps you should consider Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis, exclusively available at the Soor Center Kuwait. When we first heard about this interesting treatment, we thought we’d end up trying out yet another fad diet! We sit down with none other than Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, as he dispels the myths associated with this treatment.

Hi Dr. Naif! Tell us about Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis. Is this yet another diet fad?

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis is a weight loss program that applies clinical hypnotherapy to reprogram your mind to accept smaller servings of food. The hypnotherapy enables the brain to get the message that after eating a certain amount of food, the stomach is full. Diets are generally for a short-term basis and can make a person feel deprived, eventually causing them to give it up. Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis allows you to eat anything, but in moderation, so it leaves you feeling much more positive.

What’s the difference between the actual medical procedure and Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis?

The actual medical procedure involves surgery to reduce the size of the stomach by removing or constricting parts of it, so much so that the stomach can only hold an ounce of food. This is done by fitting an adjustable band around the top part of the stomach, which creates a small pouch, limiting the amount of food that can be eaten in one sitting. It’s a lot more expensive and can have certain side effects like nausea and vomiting.

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis makes the client feel they’ve undergone the same but it’s a non-surgical technique for weight loss with no risks or side effects. You can eat whatever you like; you’ll just be helping yourself to smaller portions.

There is no comparison between surgery and hypnosis. Surgery physically changes your body. Hypnosis does not. Sometimes with surgery people do not change their eating habits and this leads to less weight loss and eventual weight gain. Gastric Band Hypnosis can work with surgery to help achieve the best results possible.

Can you please describe the experience for a typical client wishing to undergo this method of treatment?

There are four sessions, one 90-minute session and three 60-minute ones. In the first 30 minutes I would explain the expectations and gather information through a focused intake to personalize the hypnosis to the client’s needs based on their eating habits. The actual sessions are usually one week apart. The hypnosis is augmented with sounds and smells from an operating theater in a hospital and personalized hypnosis recordings are made for the client to listen to in between sessions.

What does the client experience after their first session? What’s a typical timeline for a first time client undergoing this treatment?

They’ll observe immediate changes in their eating habits and have more control over them. Clients generally lose an average of 1-2 kg in the first week. It takes at least four sessions for it to take effect. That being said, most people lose weight in the first week.

What do you think is the most challenging part of achieving healthy weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle?

What’s more challenging, is to keep the weight off. It doesn’t help that you get bombarded with advertisements of food wherever you go. We live in a culture that gives a lot of importance to socializing over meals and it can take immense willpower to stick to your goals and resist gorging. It becomes harder and harder to resume a healthy lifestyle once you’ve given in.

It is common in our part of the world to see families always serving large amounts of food at the everyday dinner table. Do you believe that educating people about their perception of what makes for a healthy plate is important? If so, what are some tips that you would recommend to the average household to better manage their eating habits?

Definitely. Eat in moderation but make sure you consume the recommended daily intake of nutrients. Drink a lot of water throughout the day. When grocery shopping at the supermarket, be careful what products you pick up. It’s a lot easier to avoid binging on snacks if they’re not in your house in the first place.

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis is exclusively available at Soor Center Kuwait. Call 2290 1677 or email info@soorcenter.com to book an appointment. For more information, visit soorcenter.com.