| Food Cravings: How to Practice PatienceDuring | | | | worksheets and instructions specific to weight loss |
| holidays and parties you may try to "plan ahead" | | | | or visit for general information on learning |
| so you can avoid some of the rush. Last year at | | | | EFT).===== EFT for Patience in EatingWhile |
| Christmas I realized I had to take three major | | | | tapping the P.R. (psychological reversal) point |
| dishes for Christmas Eve dinner and it suddenly | | | | say,"Even though I want to eat the cake, except |
| dawned on me that I'd have to bake the cake | | | | I'm not supposed to because it's for tomorrow's |
| the night ahead.Baking a cake then waiting to eat | | | | dinner party, I deeply and completely accept |
| it is not my favorite thing at all. I've always had a | | | | myself."Repeat that statement three times and |
| difficult time in making a cake a day ahead, in fact | | | | say it like you mean it.Then tap the rest of the |
| I tend to avoid receipes that say it needs to sit | | | | face and body points, using a short reminder such |
| eight hours. (Whenever you catch yourself saying | | | | as, "eat cake." The entire time think about that |
| the word "always" that's a hint something to use | | | | cake and how much you want it and how |
| EFT on is coming to mind and notice I said I | | | | delicious it would be. Make it as strong a desire as |
| always have a difficult time with this? That's when | | | | you can (this is how EFT gets a strong |
| to use EFT).My past behavior has been to want | | | | neuropathway to disrupt so don't fear you'll make |
| to eat the cake as soon as it's finished, so if it | | | | your cravings stronger, it actually will do the |
| must wait for a day, it's torture. I also prefer | | | | opposite)."Even though I can't stand waiting, I |
| making huge three and four layer cakes that take | | | | choose to give myself permission to |
| up the entire refrigerator causing me to see the | | | | wait."Reminder: "Can't wait.""Even though I hate |
| cake and nothing but the cake every time I open | | | | this waiting and I'm going to stick my face in it |
| the refrigerator door.Practicing Patience in | | | | right now, I deeply and completely accept myself |
| EatingPatience can be practiced all day every day. | | | | anyway."Reminder: "Hate being told what to |
| It is necessary when dealing with strangers, | | | | do.""Even though I can't seem to deny myself |
| family, and most of all yourself. Just because you | | | | what I want, I deeply and completely love and |
| usually give in to your immediate desires for food | | | | accept myself and give myself permission to |
| doesn't mean you must do so. Maybe you are | | | | wait."Reminder: "Can't deny."Practice this on some |
| trying to avoid feeling deprived but practicing and | | | | food or beverage that seems to call to you, and |
| learning to exercise some patience may be of | | | | see whether it helps ease that pull. If you are |
| good use.If I bake a lovely cake and see it in the | | | | reluctant because you are afraid you'll lose the |
| refrigerator, it beckons to me. Knowing I cannot | | | | desire for the completely (and this is you favorite |
| take a slice without ruining the presentation | | | | food so you don't want that to happen), don't |
| doesn't seem to help me avoid the siren call. I | | | | worry. That's not going to happen. You may |
| could be sitting, minding my own business, when I | | | | come to want it less often and certainly you'll no |
| suddenly snap my head upright, as if I've heard a | | | | longer feel a compulsive need for it, but most |
| ghost, "Come and get a piece of cake," it calls to | | | | people discover they still enjoy the food just as |
| me. "I'm waiting," it cries. "Stupid cake, I | | | | much, they just no longer feel out-of-control |
| think."Leftover cake isn't such a big problem | | | | about it. The control issue is what is being |
| because I plan ahead to have at least one piece, | | | | addressed. The desire or compulsion to have |
| sometimes two every day as long as it lasts. | | | | something that seems beyond a rational desire, |
| That's another reason I prefer baking to take it | | | | that is what you are working to reduce.Smile |
| somewhere rather than just making it for | | | | today at every person you see, and practice |
| home.Rather than trying to analyze why I have | | | | patience. Think of an inside joke, remember a |
| this strange desire to eat cake, I'm just going to | | | | happy moment, or a funny movie you saw. Put a |
| tackle it head-on with some EFT. I may also use | | | | happy memory in your head and carry it around |
| the Swish Technique (taught in the Ending | | | | with you, then whenever you see someone just |
| Emotional Eating workshop, Session 4).If you've | | | | smile to yourself. Even in the crowded stores, |
| had similar struggles, try these suggested EFT | | | | people will treat you better when you put a |
| phrases, or devise some for your situation. (EFT | | | | happy bubble around yourself, and you'll lift their |
| is easy to learn and use--see my site for | | | | spirits as well. |