The Slimming Pool Weight Loss Blog: Hey, I was Eating That!
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Managing Cravings with EFT
How to Use EFT for Managing Food Cravings
There are several ways to manage cravings; you can attempt to stop eating the food entirely, i.e. out of sight out of mind; you can modify your eating habits around a particular food, i.e. cut back on the quantity or how often you indulge; you can use EFT to diffuse the attachment you have to this particular food; or you can try the compulsion blow-out procedure (you'll need an NLP practitioner for this one).
Eliminating the offending food entirely is rarely successful. We can only limit ourselves for so long before we go crazy, eating everything in sight to make up for the deprivation. Modifying your behavior can be successful, but it can also be difficult. We want to change, but despite our best efforts, we still find ourselves craving the same things, day after day.
Today I read another post from someone saying she's craving cookies and cake and what can she eat instead? I say eat the cookies, but first, use EFT to help lessen the cravings. Usually a food craving is more about the emotions underlying that craving than the actual food. Remember when you were small and a cookie helped soothe the pain of a skinned knee? Today, when you're feeling small, you want a cookie and nothing but a cookie will do!
EFT is often helpful to diminish or demolish the cravings!
You've said you are going to stop nighttime snacking, and then the voices start, "I've been good all day, I deserve a treat, just one won't hurt..." You're basically talking yourself into it, and then you're off and running to the kitchen. Most of us find that once we say yes to that voice, there's no holding ourselves back.
Use EFT as soon as you notice yourself doing the "talk myself into it routine." The first round you might notice the craving is somewhat reduced (or it could disappear entirely), but it will likely be lessened. Once you have done one round, re-rate your desire for the food, and if it is still high (more than a six), do another round of EFT right then:
Set-up: "Even though I still want to eat cookies (or whatever is your craving), I'm fine just the way I am."
Reminder: "Still want to eat _________."
While I'm doing the EFT round, I might find myself thinking things such as, "It's not that I want to eat them all, it's just that once I start I can't stop."
So, for the next round I'll use that statement:
Set-up: "Even though I can't stop eating cookies once I get started, I deeply and completely accept myself anyway."
Say the "even though" part with gusto, you really mean it! You are okay, just the way you are.
Reminder: "Can't stop eating cookies," or "Won't stop if I get started."
This round might lead to, "That's not true, I can decide how much I want, I just don't want to limit myself," so the next round might be:
Set-up: "Even though I hate to limit how much I eat, I deeply and completely..." or "Even though I don't want to limit how much I'll eat," or whatever words fit your situation.
Reminder: "No limits"
Make this process yours and let your personal thoughts guide you. Doing this will help you unearth core issues and beliefs you may not have realized were there. Remember, it's not the precise words you use, but the thoughts that accompany those words. You can do EFT without saying anything at all, so don't get all caught up in not knowing exactly what to say - that's just another trick your mind is playing to keep you stuck.
Do EFT at least three times a day for best results, and if you want ideas or suggestions, just ask. I'm happy to help. ;-)
