How to Get Rid of Food Cravings using your mind

Do you constantly crave sweet or salty foods? Do you have a hard time passing them by when they cross your path? Here is one simple way to end your food cravings!

Step 1

USE YOUR MIND TO STOP YOUR CRAVING: Have you ever heard yourself say, "You just need to tell yourself not to eat it." Or "Mind over matter!" But what are you constantly thinking about when you're telling yourself over and over and over NOT to think about that cookie? 'I DON'T need that cookie.' 'I eat that cookie, and I'll gain all that weight back.' 'That cookie looks SO good, but I'm not going to give in!' Your constantly telling yourself ABOUT the cookie the entire time your telling yourself NOT to think about the cookie. The first step you will need to take when you are having a craving is to redirect your mind, then refocus it.

Step 2

REDIRECT YOUR CRAVING: The first step to take is to redirect your mind. Close your eyes, and with your left hand pinch together your thumb and forefinger. Think about something really gross. It could be that cookie, covered in flies. Or it could be the cookie is picked up by a snotty nosed kid at the playground. You need to focus to the point you are making a disgusted face, or become so incredibly disgusted by that thought that you have to stop thinking about it.

Step 3

REFOCUS YOUR CRAVING: With your eyes still closed, release the thumb and middle finger of your left hand, and press together the thumb and middle finger of your right hand together. Now think of an incredibly good moment. It could be when you got married, or the feeling you had when you stepped on the scale and lost 10 pounds. Think about that happy moment to the point that all of the previous thoughts are out of your mind, and you are thinking only of that happy moment. Then release your thumb and middle finger, and open your eyes. You should not have any desire for that craving. If you do, try one more time; this time really focusing on the really disgusting thought, and the really good thought.

Step 4

OVERCOME MULTIPLE DAILY CRAVINGS: When you are bombarded by multiple daily cravings, continue to work on your focusing technique. Over time, your body will grow more and more desensitized to the craving as long as you can focus and redirect. You won't crave the food you desire, and you will find it isn't as satisfying over time.

Step 5

STOP CRAVINGS WHILE WORKING OR DRIVING: Great advice, but what happens if you are sitting in a crowded meeting room and they are passing out pastries? Or driving home from the office you catch a whiff of your favorite fries? You can still use your mind to refocus without driving off the road! At work, you can discreetly pinch your fingers together and keep your eyes open and use your mind to make a mental picture. If able you can focus on one part of the room. You can grip the steering wheel harder with one hand than another and begin thinking about those fries you want coming covered in snot from an employee with a nasty cold. The great thing about our mind is we can create mental imagery even while we are awake. While this isn't as effective as closing our eyes and visually removing ourselves from a situation, it can still be done just as effectively to help curve cravings.