One of the fascinating aspects of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is the ability to apply simple yet effective techniques to create behavioral changes, and often very quickly.

One such technique that I have used and taught my own clients is known as the Swish Pattern. We can use the NLP Swish pattern to lose weight by eliminating cravings for unhealthy foods like chips (potato chips), chocolate, pastries, and even alcohol.

The snap sends the brain in a new direction, so the person ends up feeling compelled to eat healthy food, instead of forcing themselves to eat the candy bar. The standard crop is believed to be effective with approximately 70% of the population.

Using the Swish technique, you need to find the “key image” that initiates the behavior. It is important to find the visual cues that occur immediately before the unwanted behavior. The key image might be seeing your hand as it reaches for the candy bar, just before you eat it. Once we have this image, we turn it into a large associated image that we see through our own eyes. Once we have this in place, we can set it aside for now.

Now, we find a behavior that we would prefer to have instead of eating chocolate, maybe eating an apple or a pear, for example. The desired behavior must be “similar behavior”, such as eating for eating, drinking for drinking. We then see this desired behavior in a dissociated way, almost as if we were seeing ourselves on a movie screen. Make this desired behavior really compelling and desirable.

Now let’s put the snapping technique into perspective. Imagine the reference image and make sure you are seeing it through your own eyes (associate). Make this a big picture that you can see, feel, or imagine in your mind.

Now overlay the desired image on top of the reference image and make sure it’s a very small image in the center of the reference image. It is important that you are seeing yourself dissociated from the desired image, that is, when looking at the desired image you see yourself eating the healthiest option.

Once you have both images in your mind, it’s time to make a snap. The whistle is done very quickly, about 1.5 seconds. See how the image of yourself as you want to be quickly becomes larger and brighter, as the reference image shrinks and becomes dim and overwhelming. Then clear your visual screen or open your eyes. Repeat this process 5 times, each time faster.

When the snap is successful, it will be difficult to keep the key image; it will be spontaneously replaced by the desired self-image, which may or may not be conscious. The beauty of this technique is that it is very quick and is an effective tool in your arsenal to lose weight and make healthier food choices.