A busy mother whose lifelong battle with her weight saw her balloon to a size 24 has credited a hypnosis app with helping her drop five dress sizes, to a size 14.
Helen Hall, 34, a client services assistant manager from Essex, saw her confidence hit rock bottom when her weight reached its all time high at 17 stone in September 2017.
Having failed to lose weight at slimming clubs in the past, Helen, who is married to client services delivery manager, Michael, 33, turned to a £7.99 virtual gastric band app.
Helen, who has two sons, Bobby, four, and Tommy, two, shed five stone in seven months just by listening to the app twice a day while nodding off on her train to and from work in central London.
As well as the hypnosis sessions, the app provided four simple mindfulness guidelines helping Helen change her approach to food, and she now weighs a happy 12 stone.
Helen Hall, 34, a client services assistant manager from Essex, whose lifelong battle with her weight saw her balloon to a size 24 has credited a hypnosis app with helping her drop five dress sizes (seen before her weight loss in September 2017)
Describing how the ‘hypnotic weight loss surgery’ works, Helen said: ‘It’s fascinating, I still can’t quite explain it.
‘It doesn’t ever feel like I’m restricting myself or sticking to a strict diet, but something just clicks.’
Now a size 14, she added: ‘I didn’t really see my transformation myself until someone tagged me in an old picture from last year, and I thought, ‘Oh my god, is that really me?’.
Recalling her journey, Helen said: ‘I’ve struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember.
As well as the hypnosis sessions, the app provides four simple mindfulness guidelines helping Helen change her approach to food, and she now weighs a happy 12 stone (seen after her weight loss this year)
Having failed to lose weight at slimming clubs in the past, Helen, who is married to client services delivery manager, Michael, 33, turned to a £7.99 virtual gastric band app losing five stone in seven months (seen after her weight loss)
‘Growing up, my age would match my size. So I’d be 11 stone aged 11, 12 stone aged 12, 13 stone aged 13 and so on’.
When Helen hit 14 stone aged just 14, she joined her family in attending a slimming group, shifting some of her weight, but triggering years of yo-yo dieting.
After meeting Michael and welcoming two sons Helen’s size continued to fluctuate, and juggling work with motherhood meant she turned to ‘quick-fix food’, causing her diet to go from bad to worse.
Recalling her typical menu for the day, she said: ‘I’d usually skip breakfast, then start eating at about 11am, with a muffin or a round of toast.
Helen, who has two sons, Bobby, four, and Tommy, two, lost the weight by listening to the app twice a day, while nodding off on her train to and from work in central London
After meeting Michael and welcoming two sons Helen’s size continued to fluctuate, and juggling work with motherhood meant she turned to ‘quick-fix food’, causing her diet to go from bad to worse (seen before weight loss in 2017)
‘Then, it’d be a meal deal for lunch with crisps and cake, followed by a sugary cereal bar as an afternoon snack, then a sandwich when I got home.
‘I would also either finish off the kids’ leftovers, or eat with them and then my husband. My mindset was not to waste food, but I was eating all the wrong things – lots of beige.
‘I’d finish the day by having another round of biscuits with a cup of tea before bed.’
Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, aged 17 – a serious, lifelong condition – her weight and poor diet also made it difficult to manage.
Helen continued, explaining: ‘Type 1 diabetes, the kind I have, is where the level of sugar in the blood becomes high.
‘I was taking regular insulin injections to bring it under control, but my diet wasn’t helping at all.
Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, aged 17 – a serious, lifelong condition – her weight and poor diet also made it difficult to manage (seen before her weight loss)
Helen, seen before her transformation, had an unhealthy high carb low vegetable diet and would skip breakfast
‘I’d be fine when I went to bed, then wake up with sky high sugar levels, which would then lead to mood swings and feeling groggy.’
As well as endangering her physical health, Helen’s weight had massively damaged her self esteem.
She explained: ‘I lost confidence in everything. I didn’t want people looking at me, so it even affected me at work.
‘I kept my head down, didn’t want to stick my hand up and contribute ideas in case people thought, ‘Who is this fat woman who doesn’t know what she’s talking about?’
‘I just couldn’t seem to find a weight loss solution that stuck with me. I dread to think how much I’ve spent on clubs and classes over the years.’
Just as she was about to give up hope, Helen, who also has thyroid issues which can make weight loss difficult, read an online article about 12 Weeks To Wow, a range of hypnosis apps.
Just as she was about to give up hope, Helen, who also has thyroid issues which can make weight loss difficult, read an online article about 12 Weeks To Wow, a range of hypnosis apps (seen during her weight loss which she started in September 2017)
Downloading one called ‘Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis – Lose Weight Fast,’ costing £7.99, she began listening twice a day as she made her way to and from work and the weight melted off (seen this year after her weight loss)
Downloading one called ‘Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis – Lose Weight Fast,’ costing £7.99, she began listening twice a day as she made her way to and from work.
And, to her utter amazement, despite not drastically altering her diet or restricting herself, the pounds soon melted away.
‘As well as the hypnosis sessions, which I’d listen to as I fell asleep, I was taught four simple mindfulness guidelines,’ she said.
‘Essentially, I have learned to eat what I want, not what I can, and to stop when I’m no longer hungry, rather than pushing on until I’m full.
‘Though the app doesn’t recommend anything specific to eat, it has made me more conscious of what I’m putting in my body, so I am more creative with my cooking now.
‘As well as the hypnosis sessions, which I’d listen to as I fell asleep, I was taught four simple mindfulness guidelines,’ Helen, seen with Bobby before she started using the app, said
‘I’ve introduced much more fruit and veg, and drink lots more water too.’
Now weighing just 12st, Helen said her loved ones are astonished by her rapid transformation.
Happily, her diabetes is much more under control,and she also feels far more confident, hoping her success will set a good example to her children.
She said: ‘I’ve completely re-examined my relationship with food. You’re brought up thinking it’s this huge thing – something you’re given as a treat, or to celebrate – but I now know it doesn’t need to rule everything.
‘I still have treats and enjoy myself, but I’m not eating for eating’s sake anymore and, as a result, Michael has a happier wife and my boys have a happier mum.’
‘Essentially, I have learned to eat what I want, not what I can, and to stop when I’m no longer hungry, rather than pushing on until I’m full’, Helen, who now weighs 12 stone and is a size 14, said