How I Tapped My Cravings Away

I was on an emotional freedom technique (EFT) “Tapping for Weight Loss” conference call and was craving McDonald’s so much that I had my keys in my hand, ready to head there while still on the call.

Then conference call leader and Weight Loss Coach, Karen Donaldson, asked for a volunteer to tap with. I hit *2 on my phone as quickly as I could, and she called on me. I said, “I know I am on a tapping call for weight loss but I am about ready to head out the door to McDonald’s. I’ve been thinking about McDonald’s the entire call.  And I know McDonald’s isn’t good for me and I will get sick after I eat it, but I am really craving it right now.”

Karen asked me what I would order. I told her exactly what I would order, where I would eat it and how I would physically and emotionally feel afterward. I was going to order a quarter pounder with cheese meal with a small chocolate shake and possibly some cookies, too.  I was going to eat it in the parking lot across the street from McDonald’s because I didn’t want to eat it inside the restaurant because I wanted to hide what I was doing.

Afterward, I knew I would be upset with myself for eating McDonald’s despite not wanting to eat it. I would be upset with myself for being out of control once again. I would be upset with myself for not choosing healthy foods that better nourish my body.  And then after that self beating my stomach would get upset and I would need to run to the bathroom.

We tapped on all that I shared with her.

Then Karen asked me for a connection to McDonald’s from my past.

The first thought that popped up in my mind is that I used to work at McDonald’s. It was my first job. Then immediately after that a memory popped in from when I was younger…

My parents were divorced and on Friday nights my Dad would pick my brother and me up to stay with him for the weekend. We waited for him at the end of Oak Avenue. We watched all the cars coming down the boulevard – we were looking for his car. He had a brown and white Dodge Dart. Then when we saw his car we jumped up and down waving our arms all around in excitement and excitedly shouting “Dad! Dad!” as he was coming towards us.

He picked us up and took us to McDonald’s. We connected and would share what was going on in our lives since the last time we saw him. This same scene played out every other Friday night for years and years.

We tapped on through the tapping sequence on that memory– and that’s when I figured out my mind was associating McDonald’s with love and connection so as an adult when I was feeling stressed, feeling anxious, or out of touch with people then I would CRAVE McDonald’s.

My subconscious mind would take control and get me to McDonald’s to help reduce my stress

and help me feel love and connection instead of whatever negative emotion I was feeling. I couldn’t control it – and in fact, I felt out of control.

Even though that was a beautiful story of connecting with my Dad when I was a child– as an adult in her 40’s that association was no longer serving me.

Since Karen and I tapped through the tapping sequence on acupuncture points on that associated memory from my childhood, I have not craved McDonald’s since. I can easily drive by McDonald’s even when I am stressed and NOT have the desire to stop.

Tapping is a powerful tool to help overcome cravings and many other emotions and beliefs that hold you back from the weight loss you truly desire.

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