EFT and change

So I tried EFT again. I’m not one of those who believes that the tapping must be in a certain place and way, thereby creating a physical change. I do believe that EFT can help you stay on track to modify habits.

Recently I was reading about EFT on the World Center for EFT web site  http://www.emofree.com/ 

A counselor with successful EFT weight loss patients uses a serial technique to explore issues more deeply. This is neat, because you get to use the emotions that come out of reducing the first one and make deeper, more sustainable progress.

Here’s a quote:

We then talked about John’s family’s attitude toward food when he was young. He said, “I never told you about this? My father hated and still does hate fat people.” John said he was continually criticized for eating too much, for being sluggish, and for enjoying reading novels and writing rather than playing sports as a kid. (Please note that John is now an extremely successful writer with both a staff job and several freelance projects for which he is well paid) We tapped as follows….

“Even though my father hated how and what I ate…”

“Even though my father criticized me for being overweight as a child…”

“Even though my father wanted me to exercise instead of read…”

“Even though I wasn’t accepted for who I am…”

“Even though he never accepted me for who I was/am…”

John wept during and after this last set up. He said his self-esteem was incredibly low during adolescence because of his father’s constant criticism and obsession with his weight and what he ate. He was surprised by the intensity of the emotion and then admitted that not being accepted by his father was the most painful part of his life he could remember.

John then remembered feeling inadequate and poorly about himself in school. We tapped….

“Even though I felt ashamed of my body and the extra weight…”

Two tapping rounds aimed at his shame reduced the intensity of the emotional pain to a faint feeling of discomfort. He was able to take a deep breath and relax. John then went on to describe other emotions connected to his daily eating habits. We tapped as follows….

“Even though I feel guilty EVERY time I eat…” and

“Even though I feel guilty spending money on food…I deeply and completely accept myself anyway.”

There’s nothing like intense guilt to trigger more anxious eating.

For John, having a high enough salary to enjoy sophisticated New York restaurants whenever he chooses has caused him a great deal of guilt. He feels disloyal to his parents for being successful and for spending money on dining out. He struggles with guilt each and every time he and his friends eat out at a restaurant.

When I saw John 2 weeks later, I noticed his face looked thinner. He confirmed that he had been surprised when he looked in the mirror and noticed it too. The last time he checked, he had lost at least 5 pounds. He had been tapping on himself for mild cravings and general anxiety, and found that it had been surprisingly easy to control his portions and avoid sweets–except for an occasional dessert. He felt in control, relaxed and more peaceful.

I am continually impressed by EFT’s effectiveness in the areas of compulsive overeating and weight loss. I hope this case offers more encouragement to the list members who are overeating to manage and tranquilize anxiety. EFT works for weight loss if you use it consistently AND if you address the deeper underlying emotions that are being anesthetized by food.

Dr. Carol Look

Yesterday or the day before I used one to reinforce my 80% full habit, but I didn’t know where to go next, except to repeat the same thing again. Now I have some other ideas.

• Even though sometimes I eat more than minimum at a meal, I deeply and completely accept myself
• Even though I don’t always wait for deep hunger, I …
• Even though I was ashamed of my family, I …
• Even though I used fat as protection, I am able to release it now
• Even though I am embarrassed going out in public sometimes, I …
• Even though I have to give myself permission to lose weight because my family never got to end their suffering, I deeply and completely accept myself

Plenty to do and work on.