more pieces than you want to admit and you feel uncomfortably sick.
Renegotiating the Rules
What if you created an agreement with your Enforcer and Rebel voices by allowing yourself a bit of candy every once in awhile, agreeing that it isn’t forbidden and that if you really want it you can have it in moderation. Now you have calmed down the Rebel voice that will have a tantrum by overeating if it doesn’t get its way. The trickier voice to negotiate with is the Enforcer. This is because the Enforcer is the one that enforces your beliefs.
When your beliefs are black and white and don’t allow for some grey, then the Enforcer will instigate the Rebel. If you allow for moderation and satisfaction along with some guidelines for restraint, then the Rebel and Enforcer will both quiet down. If you also allow for throwing out the candy when the family has enjoyed it and had enough, everyone wins.
Creating Strategies for Moderation
To put this in practice, try the fol- lowing strategies (or guidelines) to help both the Enforcer and Rebel trust that their needs (meaning your needs) will be met. The first guide- line is to eat candy along with a meal so that you aren’t eating it alone and driving up your blood sugar levels, which in turn leads to cravings.
The second guideline is to pay atten- tion to when you are satisfied or the first signs of feeling a bit full and stop eating. If you know you want some candy with dinner then make room for it instead of eating it when you are full.
Third, pick just 2-3 pieces of candy that you know are your favorites and savor them, so that you achieve satisfaction. And fourth, tell yourself that you can have more at your next lunch or dinner, so you know that you won’t be deprived and can still enjoy this once-a-year candy fest.
After a few days, you will all have en- joyed having a bit of candy and you’ll be left with candy that isn’t your most favorite or you will be tired of it. Now throw what is left out. You won’t miss it, because you’ve let yourself enjoy it. And if that Rebel acts up, tell it that there is always more at the grocery store if it really wants to have it again before next Halloween.
Or you can come up with your own type of strategy or strategies that would work even better for you or for your family. Don’t wait until Halloween. You have a few weeks to consider what type of guidelines might be best. It helps to know your game plan ahead of time, so you can enjoy yourself without any anxiety on the 31st.
Alice is America’s Healthy Lifestyle Coach and bestselling author. She shows people how to finally succeed at healthy eating, regular exercise and long-term weight loss in a way that is enjoyable and feels so good they stay motivated and can easily maintain their new changes. Receive her e- book “Feel Your Personal Best” with 9 tips for success.
www.AHealthyLifestyleWorks.com/ freegift
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