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