Paul McKenna - Live webchat and opportunity to join google hangout, Monday 7 January 12.45 pm

[RachelMumsnet]

To kick off the new year we're delighted that Paul McKenna will be joining us again to talk us through his latest venture, Hypnotic Gastric Band which Paul describes as 'the closest thing to real magic that he's ever witnessed'

Hypnotic Gastric Band is step-change in helping people achieve and maintain permanent, healthy weight loss. The audio programme and book offer 'a psychological procedure that convinces the unconscious mind that a gastric band has been fitted, so the body behaves exactly as if it were physical present'.

The procedure recently caused a stir in the States when Paul demonstrated the procedure on the Dr Oz Show and he's anticipating a similar response as the book is launched this week in the UK. The webchat will take place between 12.45 and 1.45pm on Monday 7 January. Join Paul then or post a question in advance of the webchat to this thread. Everyone who joins in the discussion will be entered into a draw to win one of five copies of the book.

After the web chat is over, we're giving four people the opportunity to talk directly to Paul McKenna over webcam in a live Google Hangout at 2pm.

If you've never seen a Google Hangout before, it's essentially a group video chat that anyone can watch. You can see an example .

To be able to take part, you do need...

• To be available on Monday at 2pm
  
  
• To have a webcam either in, or attached to, your computer
  
  
• To have a good internet connection (wired, ideally, but wifi is OK if it's a top-notch signal)
  
  You don't need to have a Google+ account set up right now. We can talk you through how to set it all up nearer the time.
  
  If you'd like to take part in our Google Hangout with Paul McKenna please email us on [email protected]. We'll get straight back in touch to talk you through what you need to do next. Everyone who joins in the hangout will receive a copy of Hypnotic Gastric Band
  
  And we'll let everyone know more details on when and where you can watch the Hangout in a few days' time.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

Hi Paul,

I've been following your ICMYT system for about a year with some ups and downs! I'm now 24 weeks pregnant but still trying to apply to rules to minimise the weight gain while I'm pregnant (I've only gained 3lb so far!). Is the new system compatible with pregnancy or should I wait until I have the baby before trying it?

[PaulMcKenna]

@timidviper

Hi Paul, I work in healthcare and am amazed at the number of people I see who think a gastric band is a magic wand which I am sure you'll agree it is not!

To be overweight you have to eat more than you need i.e. eat when not hungry. A gastric band removes hunger but it does not remove the urge to eat IYSWIM. How does this system deal with that? Is it just convincing you that you are too full to eat or does it somehow address other "hungers"

Hi what a great question. You're absolutely right, most approaches to weight loss - diets and the gastric band operation are dealing with the symptom rather than core problem. eg emotional eating. Whilst the operation definitely helps people it's costly and dangerous. It's an £8,000 operation.

The hypnotic gastric band is a safe and very inexpensive way for some people to get the same benefits. It is certainly worth trying if you have tried everything else and failed. Also, unlike the the medical procedure, because it is a sophisticated psychological procedure it deals to some extent with some of the core issues which are at the heart of weight gain.

[PaulMcKenna]

@bopper198

Hiya paul

I would just like to thank you really for writing your books. I can still remember the first time I read icmyt and it changed my life. Even though I could not seem to make it work for me. This was my mental state and not the system. Now I am feeling much better and purchased your new book as soon as I saw it in the shops.
I am starting it today and feel that I am in the right state of mind now that it will work for me.

But I too was wondering, the book says to listen to the cd once a month untill you have been at your goal for 6 months does this mean that the effects of the cd wear off over time? And can you listen to it more than once if you feel like it has, if that makes sense.

Thanks again.x

Hi Bopper many people are asking do I need to listen to the CD more than once? This will totally depend upon you, some people listen to my smoking CD once, and never smoke again, but others need to listen to it a repeat number of times to get the benefits. I recommend repeat listens as repetition is the mother of success - it's only half an hour a day.

[bopper198]

Thank you x

[lililolo]

Hi Paul,

I came to your live show at the Hammersmith Apollo and ended up losing a couple of stone (yay!). I have kept it off (was it really two years ago?) but really could do with losing another couple to get into healthy weight ranged. For some reason I seem to have stalled, although I don't over eat or anything anymore I don't think. Any advice?

Many thanks

[OnTheBusesOlive]

Breaking the rules by asking a supplementary question here, but is the new gastric band system available as a download?

[PaulMcKenna]

@OnTheBusesOlive

Breaking the rules by asking a supplementary question here, but is the new gastric band system available as a download?

Not yet, but it could be later on in the year. Until then you can download the CD that comes with the book to your computer and then load it on to your ipod.

[PaulMcKenna]

@Saker

Hello
I read your book "I can make you thin" last year and one question constantly bugged me. If I have understood correctly, you are saying that you can learn to really tune into your body and use it as your guide so that you don't eat more food than you actually need. I see the logic in that, but to actually lose weight you need to eat substantially less than your body needs - and I can't see why your body would "tell" you to eat fewer calories than you need? I can see that it is an excellent approach to not regaining weight, but I can't understand how you would actually lose weight in the first place, at least over any length of time (probably you would lose some at first as your metabolism adjusts and you increase exercise etc).

Another great question, if you've starved and binged continually over a period of time it is very likely that you've desensitised yourself from the signals that tell you if you're full or not. The hypnotic gastric band will help you recalibrate these signals.

The point you raise about why would your body tell you to eat fewer calories than you need is at the heart of why we are in the worst obesity epidemic in history. Put simply, diets encourage you to starve yourself, which helps you to lose weight in the short term. However, this then causes your metabolism to slow down, and creates habits that make you crave food. Scientific experiments continually show that starving usually ends in binging. So when you deprive yourself of food when you're truly hungry, your body thinks there's a famine on, and stores fat as a survival mechanism. This is why around 70% of people gain more weight when they come off a diet. Nobody wakes up up one morning 5 stone overweight, they gain the weight by going on one diet after another, crashing the weight off at the cost of slowing their metabolism, so they become very efficient at storing fat. Now, the good news is that metabolism is not fixed. If you've ever looked at thin people and thought it's not fair they can eat chocolate, fries, pizza and ice cream and you though they were lucky with a fast metabolism. You can too. Stop starving yourself - otherwise known as dieting. Move your body more, otherwise known as exercise. Exercise is not necessarily going to a gym and pumping iron - exercise is any movement of your body. You might be interested to know that American researchers have found that the difference between a thin person and someone who is overweight is 2,000 steps which is a fifteen minute walk.

[PaulMcKenna]

@HavingALittleFaithBaby

Hi Paul,

I've been following your ICMYT system for about a year with some ups and downs! I'm now 24 weeks pregnant but still trying to apply to rules to minimise the weight gain while I'm pregnant (I've only gained 3lb so far!). Is the new system compatible with pregnancy or should I wait until I have the baby before trying it?

I'm not a medical doctor, however, when you're pregnant you're building a baby so it's understandable and natural to gain weight because you're eating for two. I totally understand that you want to look your best, however, I recommend you talk to your doctor and use the system after you've given birth to return to your natural weight.

[PaulMcKenna]

@OnTheBusesOlive

Welcome back to MN Paul.

We met on your previous webchat when I berated you for once comparing me to Olive from On the Buses in one of your stage shows. You're now mostly forgiven, especially having kindly let me have tickets for the seminar in Hammersmith, where I met some lovely MNers and ripped up my Weight Watchers card.

I found the ICMYT programme initially very useful, and have been on the MN "Pauling" thread on and off under various identities.

On the positive side, I have:

• Realised that I come from a family of emotional eaters, rationalised that food does not equal love, and have broken some nasty bingeing habits.
  
• become less obsessed with food
  
• Resigned from the clean plate club
  
• Learnt to understand hunger better
  
• Taken up regular exercise for the first time in my life and really enjoy it
  
• Cut down on significantly (I know this isn't part of your remit though)
  

On the downside, however:

• I have lapsed from the programme. The very small amount of weight I initially lost has gone back on and some.
  
• I kept forgetting to listen to the CDs.
  
• I still can't bear to look at myself in the mirror.
  
• I feel like I'm back at square one.
  

I definitely need a kick start of some sort, so would like to ask how is the gastric band hypnosis experience different to the ICMYT programme? In particular, do you have to keep listening to CDs? And have you done any research to see how long the effect lasts?

I'd love to join the google hangout, but a) for various reasons, I can't blow my anonymity and b) those webcams can make your face look really fat.

Hi Olive - I'm so glad to hear you ripped up your Weight Watchers card, but more delighted to hear that you've had some success with the Thin system. Even though I've met many people who have lost as much as half their body weight, I have never met a single person who has done this system perfectly every day from the moment they started it. In fact, unlike a diet where you 'fall off the wagon' and then give up, my system is more of a way of life that it based upon the natural relationship you should have with food.

If you're having a bad day - as everyone does, put in your CD and I'm there to help. However, the reason I made the Hypnotic Gastric band is because I believe in doing everything you can to get the outcome. This is an entirely new approach that is compatible with the existing system. Its primary job is to feel fuller faster.

[cm22v077]

Hi Paul,

Can I just say that I used to love your show 'The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna' - do you plan on doing any more light-hearted/comedy shows like this?

Nice to have you at Mumsnet :)

[PaulMcKenna]

@sarahcrowe

Hello Paul
I've just bought your Hypnotic Gastric Band book. My question is do I only listen to Track 2 once? I'm not sure it's working and wondered if I should listen daily!
Best wishes
Sarah

Hi Sarah some people notice changes straight away and for some people it takes time - like many things in life. It's a very good idea to listen to the hypnotic track (track 2) regularly - many people find it helps them sleep.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

Thanks Paul. My concerns relate more to the fact that my BMI was 30 when I got pregnant - I don't want to gain lots to put my or my baby's health at risk. I will concentrate on eating well and exercising within my limits while I'm pregnant.

[JustFabulous]

Slightly off topic but I wanted to thank you for writing the I Can Mend Your Broken Heart book and CD. I had a few wobbles after but it definitely set me off on the right road.

I had less success with ICMYT. I lost only 2lbs even though I did it but tbh my food issues are too complex.

[PaulMcKenna]

@Mudwiggle

Hi PM
Please can you advise if this is a 'for life' solution in itself or is this to get rid of the excess weight and then go back to ICMYT techniques?
I ask because as much as I love ICMYT principles and agree with each and every one, I don't lose much weight with it - and I've got lots to lose. I do love the CD, I listen to it at night and always sleep like a baby and wake up feeling great.
Also will you be doing shows for this like you did with ICMYT cos other MNrs that have been report great success.
TIA

Hi Mudwiggle, if your find the 'thin system' has already helped you in some ways I can only see that this can help further. Its relatively inexpensive unlike the operation and very relaxing, plus the early results we've seen from people who've used it are astounding.

I'm glad you asked me this as it gives me opo to mention the weight-loss event I have in Feb. Mumsnet will be posting up details to folllow. Let me invite you and a friend as a guest and spend the day with me and let me help you change the way you think about food forever.

[PaulMcKenna]

@awsangel

Hi Paul.....Have you ever had a weight problem yourself and if so is that how you developed this way of eating. Thanks.

Hello angel. I haven't had a weight problem, but I come from an overweight family and of all the things that I help people with this is the subject that I feel most passionate about. I've spent the last couple of decades in the trenches. I don't believe you've had to have suffered from a problem to help people with it.

[Mudwiggle]

Wow!!! Thank you Paul, that sounds awesome, thank you. x

[WeightWars]

As a student mental health nurse interested in working with people in a clinical setting to lose weight without life altering surgery hypnosis is something that comes up again and again. Most of my clientel have ongoing depression which feeds their weight problem and self esteem issues making a circle of depression.

Do you think this system could be used in a clinical setting? How do you think it could be implemented by staff? (big question I know! I'll be chatting onthe web chat later though)

[PaulMcKenna]

@marmitetoastie

Hi Paul,

When I go out, I'm always "the friend". You know, the nice girl that no one wants to actually date. Will your new book give me a killer pair of legs to add to my lovely personality?

I did lose weight with ICMYT but I went up and down like a yo-yo on it, every time I lost 10lbs, I put it back on again. What would you recommend for this type of threshold problem, where it all falls apart at the same point, again and again?

Thanks, MT

Hi marmite. The good news is that if you've managed to lose weight with the Thin system then you know it works. I often hear smokers say that they tried and failed. I ask them how long they stopped for and they say they stopped for 6 months. I say, that's amazing, if you can stop for 6 months you can stop for 6 years. It's the same for the Thin system. I believe that the gastric band system will be the difference that will make the difference.

[PaulMcKenna]

@OnwardBound

Hi Paul,

I have your ICMYT book and cd but I don't think it really worked for me

I used to be quite slim and had a will of iron in regards to eating healthily and not too much.

However since two pregnancies and being at home with two small DC I find that I snack and nibble on the food I buy for them - high fat cheese, biscuits, non diet yoghurts, etc.

I think my willpower has completely deserted me and I snack because I am tired, or bored or because I can't bear to see good food go to waste and so polish off the leftovers from my children's plates.

I also seem to find myself at coffee mornings where biscuits and cakes are in plentiful supply and I just can't stop myself.

I am in some sort of negative cycle where I want to lose weight and hate the way I now look but eating nice [fatty] things has become a treat and I crave the sugar high...

Would your new book and cd work for someone like me [desperate!]?

Hi there. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to what you're saying - it doesn't count when you take food off someone else's plate. You're a busy mother so you have to grab food when you can and to finish it all off you eat when you're not truly hungry but are stressed or bored. You are the person I made this system for. I know it seems hard to believe that things can significantly change, and you probably don't want the feeling of disappointment again if this doesn't work for you. However, I really think it's worth giving the gastric band a trying - and I'd also like to also invite you and a friend to my weight loss event on the 23rd. As I think you just need a little help - let me help you.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

Hi Paul,

I'm about to chat to you on the hangout, and I am so nervous but excited too. I really hope this is going to change the way I interact with food.

I have a 3 year old and the last thing I want is for her to have the same issues I have.

[pinkcrystalkid]

Hi Paul,

I have tried gastric band hypnosis in the past. It worked really well for about 6 months until I had a bereavement. I clearly am an emotional eater, how does your new system help with this?

[OnTheBusesOlive]

Many thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I can't really claim success though. Although my attitudes have changed, I've ultimately put weight on. Will try combining ICMYT with the gastric programme though, as it sounds intriguing.

[PaulMcKenna]

@zipzap

Hi Paul

I'm a long-standing admirer of your techniques (I attended a fab week-long NLP training course you did with Richard Bandler about 10 years ago, except I missed the last few days thanks to a flu that ended up knocking me out for 6 weeks, despite trying the self hypnosis techniques to overcome it!).

Anyhow, one thing that I haven't managed to sort out is how to teach myself to like something. I can manage the reasonable portion sizes, healthy food, avoiding chocolate etc which is great up to a point. But my problem is that I hate hate hate drinking water - it's the taste, makes me gag, always has unfortunately. Instead I tend to drink fruit juice or squash (I also hate things like tea, coffee and milk).

I stopped drinking the squashes with the low calories sugar substitutes in a few years ago, having been frighted off with tales of how bad these substitutes were for you, especially if you consumed lots of them. But it's meant I ended up drinking elderflower squash which is quite high in sugar and my weight has rocketed.

I know I need to stop drinking it. But before I do that, I need to find something to replace it with and I would like to be able to drink and enjoy water. I've been trying to drink it 'normally' for years but manage a few sips and that's it for each glass.

So I guess my question boils down to: have you got any techniques that can help me to actively like water please?

Thank you (and sorry if this isn't linked directly enough to your gastric band technique).

Hi zipzap. So glad you enjoyed the NLP training with Richard and myself. I think a part of you is still trying to diet, because you mention portion size, with the Thin system portion size is irrelevant. Diets are all about the external - eat this food, not that, blah blah blah. My system is an internal approach, all your decisions about what you eat, when you eat and how much you eat take place in your mind. Your mind is like a computer and it can be re programmed.

Water is really good for you, in fact, most of you is already made up of it! I have met people before who have negative associations to water. However,you can learn to link pleasure almost anything. Thing of something healthy that gives you immense natural PLEASURE and think about it over and over again, and when you're feeling really good, just for a moment think about water and then go straight back to thinking about pleasure over and over again. After you've done this several times you'll create a link in your brain that will associate water with good feelings.

[sarahcrowe]

Thanks for your reply Paul. Will you be doing any tv shows with this new book?