to consider hypnotherapy for binge eating?

Sorry I also meant to clarify
"You won't be able to eat out for about a year"
You will NEVER be able to eat out and have whatever you want. After a year you will have some options but you need to choose wisely. I cannot tolerate bread, pastry, pasta, rice. It simply expands in my (reduced size) stomach and means I can't fit anything of actual nutritional value in there. I am 3 years out now and I can find something to eat at pretty much every restaurant around, I just need to say "can we please leave the bread off" or I just leave whatever I can't eat.

If you do try it, I would be very interested in a follow up thread as it's something that I struggle with too and would love to properly address. I do CBT with a lovely therapist who I work desperately hard with and I can see him mentally banging his head against a wall every time I come in sobbing because I just have no willpower. It's a difficult one to address because you can't just go cold turkey. Everyone has to eat. And I just have no strength to say no to that last slice of cake.

In terms of counseling your GP has few options for binge eating.

Once you hit a BMI of 50, most NHS trusts will refer you for gastric bypass. It's about a 2 year process. It's a major operation and your life afterwards will change drastically. You won't be able to eat out for about a year, you'll have to prepare your food from scratch and often it will mean either blending food or skinning literally everything (have you ever tried peeling a red pepper? Tricky) You can also expect to vomit at least once a day in the first 6-12 months. It's most definitely not an easy fix, but it is the only medically-proven long term weight loss solution (which is why the NHS provide it.)

Something else to consider: Overeaters Anonymous. It's run along the lines of AA and NA, which means it has some religious overtones, but you might find the group setting and support of those who know your struggle to be of value.

After 20 odd years of binge eating I cured myself this year using the brain over binge podcast. Highly recommend it.

Can’t speak to long term affects as I am still in recovery but I’m hopeful.

Wishing you the best of luck op. Binge eating is a horrible affliction.

Hi OP, not the same situation but a friend used hypnotherapy to get over a 40 year fear of flying. A few sessions and his fear went away for good. Good luck x

I'm really sceptical about hypnotherapy. I had hypnotherapy for a spider phobia last year and came out thinking that was shit.
I then joined a group as part of the course and watched people handling them and slowly built myself up to holding them. It took the whole day and even now I'm a bit funny.....
The point I'm trying to make is you need to throw yourself into it. Not half hearted. See the counsellor. Go to your gp. Go for a walk or swimming or whatever. Give yourself some serious motivation.

I am a hypnotherapist and would suggest you go for a consultation with your therapist (or a few therapists), usually at no/low cost. I’d be looking to address the cause, identify secondary gains, replace unhelpful habits and thoughts and mediate between the conflicting parts of your subconscious. Hypnobands etc are popular, and have some success, but I’d be looking for more than that. Meet some therapists- it’s important you like and trust the one you go with, be honest and see what they offer.

I have no idea if you can get counselling on the NHS but the GP can advise on weight loss.
I'm not convinced that hypnotherapy works for everyone, and it could be expensive.
You need to be distracted for being around food all day.

I did hypnotherapy (a virtual gastric band) four years ago and almost immediately started losing weight without even trying. I'd tried every diet under the sun in the past (gave myself gallstones!) and nothing stuck.

I was a size 18 and within a few months of steady loss, dropped to a size 8. Now I've stabilised at a size 10 and stayed there. I'm so impressed with it, I'm starting training in September to become a hypnotherapist myself!

Do it, you won't look back.

@WeirdScenesInsideTheGoldmine Which apps worked for you? OP I also binge. My tummy is sore this morning from last night's epic consumption.

Hypnotherapy can be very effective for this, but as pps say, it will only be a temporary fix unless the underlying reasons for overeating are addressed. Steer clear of anybody offering a 'hypno-gastric band', or similar, and go for somebody properly trained.

I had hypnotherapy for weight loss about 3 years ago. I'm currently at my heaviest ever weight...

I would make an appointment with the GP. Counselling or CBT might be more suitable.

I tried hypnotherapy for weight loss a few years ago. Didn't help a single bit. My mum also tried it, was supposed to never want ice cream or biscuits again. Never helped her either I'm afraid.