After reading our February 16 blog post, "Tap Into an Easy Way to Release Cravings", some readers wanted to know if there were other ways to reduce or eliminate food cravings. The answer is yes, and I thought it would be helpful to share some of those techniques and then combine them with CenterPoint Release (CPR) for even faster results.
Think about a delicious, rich piece of cheesecake (or other delicious delicacy you love). Not just any cheesecake. No, this piece is sooo... creamy, smooth and inviting.
Go ahead.
Close your eyes, just for a few seconds.
Open them when you're ready.
Now, check your mouth. Are you salivating? Are your cravings stirred up? Can you almost taste that delicious cheesecake now?
Guess what? You just experienced a food trance.
Mind Field Trance
We go in and out of trance throughout every day. Anytime our attention is on images flashing in mind or we're listening to incessant mind chatter that is usually critical about what we've done, what we're thinking of doing, or what we haven't done, we are lost in what I call Mind Field Trance (MFT). The unconscious drives our bus most of our waking minutes.
We are conditioned through a lifetime of practice to believe the voices and images in the Mind Field are real; that they have power. That we must believe what we see and hear playing in our minds. Indeed, many people believe they are their thoughts and feelings.
The truth is those thoughts and feelings are not real. The only thing real is this moment. The only power those thoughts and feelings have is the power we give them. And 95% of our thoughts aren't true in any objective sense. They are opinions and conclusions based on what you believe to be true.
A Mind Field Thought Experiment
Try this little MFT experiment: Again, imagine that delicious piece of cheesecake on a white plate. Notice the fork sitting just beside the plate inviting you to pick it.
Really get into the MFT image and feeling. Make it big; turn up the lights. Imagine how good it will taste. That's right. You may notice your mouth is again salivating with anticipation.
Notice how high your craving level is. Notice where in your body you're feeling the sense of craving. On a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the highest craving you can imagine, how much do you crave that piece of cheesecake. Write down the number or get it firmly in mind. This number is known as a Subjective Unit of Distress, or SUDs.
Now, close your eyes again and re-imagine that piece of cheesecake. Imagine your hand (right hand if right handed, left hand if left handed) pushing the plate holding the cheesecake away. Reach out and push it away even farther. Imagine your arm is now 10 feel long and push it away even farther.
Change the cheesecake color to red. Red? Yep. Surprised you see a piece of red cheesecake? Add some ants crawling in and out of the cheesecake. Even though it's more than 10 feet away, notice how many ants you see.
Take a deep breath, hold for a couple of seconds, and exhale. Now, re-image that piece of cheesecake and again check and rate your craving, or SUDs level. Is it less, more, or the same? Notice any different feelings in your body when imaging that piece of cheesecake?
Third Person Point of View
Close your eyes and imagine you're watching yourself sitting at the table pushing away that cheesecake. You're standing about 12 feet away watching as if you're watching a play. Look at your face. Now look over at the cheesecake pushed 10 feet away from the "You" you're watching.
Take another deep breath, hold for a couple of seconds and exhale. Now think of the cheesecake. What's your SUDs level now? It's probably lower or it may be zero.
Add CPR and Release at a Deeper Level
If any cravings remain, let's add CPR to the release work. Again, bring the image of that piece of cheesecake to mind and tap with moderate pressure using the tips of your four fingers 10 - 12 times on the area between your eyebrows and say, "This craving, I let it go...I release and let it go."
Move your hand to the indented area just below your nose. Tap 10 - 12 times using your middle finger while saying, "Let it go...I release and let any cravings go."
Move to the indented area just below your lip. Tap again using your middle finger saying, "Let it go...it's safe to let it go."
Move your hand down to the upper sternum. Open your hand and tap 10 - 12 times, again saying, "Let it go, that's right, let it all go..."
Stop tapping, hold your open palm over your sternum and heart, take a deep breath and exhale as you say with heartfelt feeling, "Peace".
Now, again bring the image of that piece of cheesecake to mind and check the SUDs level. The probability is it's zero or very close to zero.
Putting It All Together
Let's put all of this together in a process that takes just 15 or 20 seconds:
- Let's assume you notice a craving for a food you know isn't good for you. Say to yourself, "I'm experiencing food trance."
- Notice where in your body you feel the craving. After noticing the craving, ask yourself, "How strong is this food trance?" Remember your zero to 10 rating.
- As you're looking at the food item or imaging it in your Mind Field, imagine your hand pushing it away. Imagine your arm keeps going for 10 - 12 - 15 feet. Notice how small it is since it's now so far away. Even though it's small and far away, you can notice it's filed with red fire ants going in and out of the cheesecake gorging on all that sugary sludge.
- Imagine four fingers from either hand touching the area between your eyes. Just feel them touching. Silently in mind say, "These feelings of craving, I let them go." Imagine touching the area for about two or three seconds.
- In your imagination, move your hand to the area underneath your nose and imagine touching the area with your middle finger. Again, repeat silently in mind, "Let it go, release and let it go." Hold the imaginary touch for two or three seconds.
- Move your hand in imagination underneath your lip. Repeat the same statements in mind. Again, hold this Under Lip point with your middle finger in imagination for two or three seconds.
- Open your hand in your imagination and touch the upper chest and sternum area. Say silently, "This craving, let it go. I release and let it all go."
- Hold the hand in place over your heart, take a deep breath, exhale, and say silently, "Peace".
- If any craving remains, repeat the steps.
Break the Food Trance
It takes longer to read these steps than to do them. Practice this fast and easy technique whenever cravings show up.
Remember, cravings are a trance. Break the trance and take control by applying new imagery that supports your healthy eating choices combined with CenterPoint Release. It's a powerful, winning combination.
To learn about our Weight for Wellness(TM) one-on-one coaching program, call Stress Solutions, LLC at: 804-677-6772 or email CarterMethod@gmail.com for a no cost, no obligation conversation.
Steve Carter
Stress Solutions, LLC
Home of the Weight for Wellness(TM) program
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