Are Sugar or Carb Withdrawals Inevitable?

If you've tried cutting down on simple carbs, sugar, or even caffeine, etc. you may have experienced withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be anything from a craving, thinking too much about the food, fatigue, insomnia, or flu like symptoms. They can be mild for some and they can be quite severe for others. This is no joke, these symptoms are real, and they can be really uncomfortable. Even worse, for some people, these symptoms never completely go away and they endure them in some degree for years. I know this, because these folks come to me for help.

It Doesn't Have to Be this Way!

But, I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be this way! Withdrawal symptoms are just an indication of the addictive pattern and the addictive pattern can be changed, and changed for good. The way I know when someone has cleared an addictive pattern related to food, is that when they spontaneously cut down in quantity or frequency of eating that food, they experience NO withdrawal symptoms. That's what I said, No withdrawal symptoms. This can happen with caffeine, sugar, simple carbs, chocolate, whatever food you've felt addicted to. If you say it can't be done, it's just because you haven't tried it yet.

After a session, if my patients have any symptoms whatsoever, it's because they're not completely done with clearing the old pattern. But when it is cleared, it should just feel like:

"Hmm, I don't really care either way about that food, I could have it or not, either way I'm fine."

That's true freedom and that's your natural state of being, feeling neutral about food, not compelled towards it or repelled against it. And the great thing is, that freedom goes right along with the lack of withdrawals. One comes with the other. So, the good news is that if you're ready to cut something out or down in your diet without success, you at least know that you don't have to endure withdrawals to reach your goal. It's just not necessary and I don't recommend it. Why suffer?

Experts May Not Even Know

I recently went to a talk by Dr Mark Hyman, MD, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I wanted to raise my hand in the middle of the talk. I didn't as it was being taped for TV, but I wished he knew about my work. He talked about withdrawal symptoms that can arise when cutting out junk food. But he suggested that his patients or someone getting over a food addiction suffer through the withdrawal phase when changing their diet, as it only lasts a couple of days. While one can certainly do this, why would you want to suffer? We do enough suffering as human beings that we have no control over, why suffer something you do have control over?

Plus, it's not just about suffering through the withdrawals to reach your goals after a couple of days, sometimes the symptoms don't completely fade and the desire for that food can endure for years.  I know this because I have patients come to me with that complaint. Plus, if that pattern of addiction doesn't change, that food can be quite tempting in times of severe stress. But, what if you cleared that addictive pattern and you were simply free of it? That way, weeks or years from now, you know that your cravings and addictions are in the past and some stress won't bring it out of you and send you back to the baked goods or the junk food, etc.

So, my hope is that more people will take the NO WITHDRAWAL approach to changing their eating patterns and becoming free of compulsive food addictions or behaviors. If you'd like help with this, I'm here for you.

Contact me for more information.

Yours in Health,

Where Do Food Cravings REALLY Come From? Or, What's Wrong with Me?

Food cravings are our bodies natural response to stress. Period, it's that simple. When we’re stressed, which most of us are, our brains will do whatever it takes to relieve this stress in the moment, even if it causes stress later on. Food is one of the quickest ways for our brains to regulate our mood and energy. There are other ways to do this, but if we don't have the resources to do that, our brains will default to using food, and usually processed or simple carbohydrates to do it.

Our brains are geared towards the moment we are in and geared to feel better in that moment. So, let’s say we’re generally feeling stressed or uneasy our brains will go to it’s memory banks to find a strategy to relieve the stress. We've had good success in the past regulating our moods with simple sugars, as it releases happy hormones like Serotonin. Our brains know this and will go to the most reliable method that has worked in the past, even if it’s in the far distant past.  It’s not uncommon for this behavior to go way back in time to our childhood. I know this, because my patients have memories or insights to where the behavior started. They have vivid memories of what used to bring them pleasure related to the food they crave in the moment. So, it's not just about sugar, it's the specific form of sugar or carbs that did the trick in the past to help us feel good.

So, as patients are holding Acupressure points and thinking about chocolate, cake, pasta or whatever they're craving, they may start remembering times when they felt so good eating that food. They remember the details and especially the people that were there too. The key here, is that they always remember the people around them as much as the food.

One patient remembers her mom baking her cookies when she got home from school and relished in how special that made her feel. She felt so loved by her mom and remembes how much she loved the attention apart from her siblings. Another patient remembers how he and his friends used to walk to the local candy store and how free and easy he felt on summer days without a care in the world, such great times eating candy.

These are positive memories that our brains have stored and remembered, even if we’ve long forgotten them. When we’re not feeling our best, whether in an acute state of upset, or a chronic state of the blah’s, our brains take us on a search for those happy times, and it doesn’t look far, it goes there in a fraction of a second and without us even knowing. The problem is, all we remember is the food we want in the moment, we've forgotten the memories most of the time. All we can think about is:

'I've got to eat that food, and NOW.'

We are being overpowered by our brains actions to regulate or mood and energy and until we change this, we're victims of this unconsious pattern. There's nothing wrong with us, we just need to update or patterns or strategies.

The good news is, when we make this connection while holding Acupressure points, our brains make the connection that we can have this good feeling if we have this food or not. These feelings can be generated in many ways, we’re not actually locked into getting satisfaction from particular foods or behaviors related to our past. Our brains naturally find new ways to have those good feelings that are more up to date, less of a 5 year olds idea of happiness, more of an adult idea of happiness. Then we have the option to meet that need for stress relief and good feelings in other ways, not just from food. And, that's freedom.

What are those other ways? Your mind will make the connection in the session, it happens naturally and spontaneously, and once it does, you’ll be free to chose what you eat, as your brain will not be reverting back to old habits for feeling better. So, how does that sound? If it sounds good to you, I encourage you to come and find your natural state of being beyond food cravings. Come and transform your life and how you feel, think and behave around food. Contact me if you'd like more information.

All the Best,

Food Cravings: What if You Could Stop at One?

One problem with most food cravings, is that we just don't enjoy food the way it 'should' be enjoyed. If we're craving, we're more likely to overeat, eat too fast, eat unconsciously and regret it afterwards. This is not the way to enjoy food!

But, what if, when you had a natural healthy desire for some particular food, you had a small amount, enjoyed it slowly and fully and were able to easily stop at a reasonable amount? Wouldn't that be nice?

It's possible and it happens when you come into 'right relationship' with that food. You no longer have to fight to avoid it, fight to stop eating it, or fight to stop thinking about it. When food takes it's 'rightful' place in your life, you are not looking to it for satisfaction. It's not there to satisfy a craving, you're looking to it for pure pleasure or pure nourishment, guilt free, not to satisfy a need it was not designed (by nature) to satisfy.

So, in this state of being in 'right' relationship with food, you naturally feel satisfied, but it's an inner satisfaction, and food is just something to be enjoyed, without all the mental and emotional static. This is a transformation that happens from within.

I know that if you experience food cravings, this likely seems far fetched to you to think about being satisfied without food, and not thinking about food all the time. When I used to have out of control food cravings, I could never have imagined being the way I described above. I heard that most women outgrow this disordered eating behavior, but that seemed like an eternity to me and I wasn't willing to wait and see if it happened. But, I'm telling you that it's possible and it's possible for you, and it can happen much sooner than you think. It can happen easily with Acupressure, but it takes a comittment to your healing and recovery.

So, let me ask you this...What would your life be like if you didn't fight with food to stop at just one. What if it were easy to stop at one? What if your day wasn't filled with thoughts of food and what you were planning on eating or thoughts of what you ate and regretted. How much energy do you put into battling with food? What will you do with all this time and energy once this war is behind you? Well, I dare you to find out for yourself.

Come and see for yourself what can happen when food takes it's 'rightful' place in your life, just like everyone else who has done this before you. I invite you to come and have a free consult to see if we're a good fit for working together. If you find help somewhere else, that makes me happy too, whatever works for you is what works, and that's all that matters.

May you have peace with food!

All the Best,

Kara

Are Food Related Memories Sabotaging Your Health and Happiness?

The power of positive food related memories is SO underestimated in the world of food craving treatment or relief. Oftentimes, these memories are what drives our behavior and until they are addressed, they will continue in that same vein, driving behavior that does not suit you. You might be wondering what I'm talking about, and you may not even know you have positive food related memories. So, let me explain a little about how this works.

Why We 'Default' to Relieve Stress

When we are stressed or dealing with some uncomfortable situation or event, our mind will always try to balance things out in the quickest way possible. This is our survival mechanism at play. One of the quickest ways to do this is with eating, as eating can regulate our mood quite quickly and powerfully. So, when we feel dejected or otherwise upset, our mind will take us to a strategy that has helped us feel better in the past. This is where the positive food related memories come in. Our mind will take us to a sure fire solution that used to work in the past, even if it was 20, 30 or more years ago when it worked well.

If you think about it, as kids, we really didn't have the tools we have as adults to regulate our mood. Food was a great resource for mood regulation and it worked like a charm. So, we do well in school and we get to go have an ice cream as a reward. Or, we come home from school and our mother has baked us our favorite cookies just for us. The warm feelings of love are powerful in both instances, and they are something our minds would like to have more of, so the pattern is set. The way that food related memories work is that they are a memory cluster where the event of eating is coupled with positive emotions related to those we love. So, it becomes a powerful magnet that we return to time and time again in an attempt to affect our mood in a positive way.

Current Stress Triggers Old Stress Relieving Strategies

When our boss yells at us when we expected praise, we suddenly can't stop thinking about cookies. It's not the cookies that are the problem, it's the memory attached to the cookies that drives our thoughts and if we follow them, our behaviors. But, this is actually a good thing for you if you have unexplainable cravings that you are having a hard time controlling, because there is relief in sight.

By focusing on the cravings while holding acupressure points, you'll actually find out if positive food related memories are driving your behavior. Not everyone has memories, some people don't experience this and still get good results, but it's always such a special treat to make the connection. The good news is that once that connection is made, you will be able to deal with stress in more adult ways, that are better suited for your current life now. You won't need to go back to old behaviors for a solution, you'll have many alternatives for mood regutation that work much better for you now. It's not really feasible to go out and find some special cookies to satisfy your craving when something else would better relieve your stress, leaving you feeling better, not worse. After all, eating cookies in a stressed out state will only make your stress worse, it's a matter of physiology, it's just the way things are. And, like I said, once this connection is made, it's made and you don't have to keep working at it, it will become natural to reliever stress in the new ways you are shown by your own mind and body. These ways are specific to you and will satisfy you.

There IS Hope

So, if you're struggling with cravings that just don't make sense, and you can't control them though you'd like to, you may be up against a food related memory that is ready to be looked at and retired from active use. It's not like you won't have those memories, you'll still have them and you'll feel good when you remember them, you just won't HAVE to HAVE that food in order to connect into the good feeling; you'll have many more ways to generate that good feeling with or without food. You'll have freedom to choose, and that's what it's all about.

So, it that sounds like something you'd like to explore with me, please take my quiz and see if this might be a good fit for your goals.

Best regards,

Kara

Imagined Eating Can Help End Food Cravings

You'd think that thinking about food would make you want it more, right? Well, imagining eating your favorite food can actually reduce cravings and the tendancy to overeat. I've been using this technique combined with Acupressure with great success for years. I was delighted when a study found what I already knew to be true.

Here's a link to the study in Science, and here's a description from Science Daily:

'A new study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, published in Science, shows that when you imagine eating a certain food, it reduces your actual consumption of that food. This landmark discovery changes the decades-old assumption that thinking about something desirable increases cravings for it and its consumption.'

So, if you'd like to supercharge your results, try using Acupressure (TAT) along with your imaging and you'll find that the results last and last. I'm not sure if they found that in the study, but that's what I've found again and again with my patients.

If you try it, please let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Best,

Kara Sorensen
 

Food Cravings and PMS, What Else Can Acupressure Help With?

I've found that when women have PMS cravings, if we work on this very issue with Acupressure, not only do their cravings fade, but their PMS fades too. It's like a whole ball of yarn that unravels. This is wonderful to see as they really get two treatments in one.

 How does this work?

It's all how the pattern is stored in your body, so by addressing the craving, the underlying dis-order can also be corrected by the body. It's really simple, as we are a whole person, complex and yet simple. We're not separate parts to be treated as such, when we heal, we heal into wholeness, which is the truth about us.



When I work with women around their food cravings, I'm always delighted that when they finish or almost finish their issues with food and find that they can use Acupressure (TAT) for so many other things. These other things can include past traumas, allergies, limiting beliefs, phobias, fears, physical conditions that resist healing, and so much more.

This is what Daniela found, in her private sessions and when she did the Acupressure at home on herself.

 Here's what she sent me recently:

"I came to Kara for help with my PMS after finding the TAT sessions I did with her in the past very successful for alleviating intense sugar/processed carb cravings.

 My PMS symptoms consisted of very intense irritability and mood swings, fatigue, body aches, and chocolate cravings. These symptoms usually stared 7-10 days before my period started. This has been going on for many years, and none of the many things I tried helped much.


I went to see Kara for a TAT session 5 days before my period, and continued to do TAT at home on my own for the next few days after the treatment. The irritability disappeared immediately after the treatment, and never returned. The mood swings never happened, and the fatigue, body aches, and chocolate cravings were very mild compared to their usual extreme intensity. 

I believed TAT would work for my PMS, because after using it to alleviate a back ache during a TAT session when Kara I realized I could experiment with using it for all types of physical pain--including menstrual cramps. I am usually unable to leave the house the first day of my period due to the severity of my menstrual cramps. Now I just do TAT when the cramps starts, and I can get the cramps to disappear within approximately 20 minutes. 



When I used to take NSAID's for the cramps (i.e. advil or aleve), the cramps would always come back a few hours later and often even stronger, requiring me to take more pills that I know have numerous side effects. With TAT the cramps don't come back. Learning TAT has been very empowering and has put me in direct contact with the innate healing power of my body, mind, and spirit."



Daniela



So, what issues are bothering you besides food cravings? Could you benefit from healing in other areas of your life or your body? Most of us can, I use Acupressure almost daily for stress or other issues that come up in daily life.

All the Best,

Kara

The Food and Mood Connection

The photo here is for dramatic effect. I'm guessing she's smiling as she hasn't eaten a pint of ice cream yet. If she had, she'd probably be on her way to a sugar coma, but she doesn't have the look of that does she?

If she were really that happy and peaceful, she would not be surrounded by ice cream, right? She'd probably be doing something else.

But enough of that, this post is to open the discussion of the food and mood connection. Why is this even important? Well, because, like it or not, we're all using food to adjust our mood and energy, whether we know about it or not. It's automatic, that is, until we become aware of the process.

Energy and Mood Follow Blood Sugar

Energy and Mood follow blood sugar, and our bodies are constantly sending us signals to help us stimulate our mood and maintain or adjust our blood sugar. How functional or dysfunctional this process is depends in part on what program your body is running. Is it running the quick fix program of:

'Sugar, Caffeine or Carbs are the ONLY way I can get ENERGY and feel SATISFIED?'

Or is it running the program of:

'There are so many ways to positively and sustainably adjust my mood and energy with or without food, and slower burning foods simply supply the building blocks to keep me more balanced, but they are not the focus'

Until your programming is changed (there are many ways to do this) you may not even know you've been adjusting your mood and energy with food. It's automatic, it's usually not conscious, it's a survival mechanism that's served humans for the ages.

Sugar, Carbs and Caffeine are some of the substances that can quickly change mood and energy. The problem enters, as there's a quick crash that follows, setting us up for cravings for more, as we need our next hit of happy chemicals.

But, what if there were a better way to adjust and regulate your mood, and food was just the long burning fuel to supply all the cofactors and building blocks your body and brain needs to produce all the happy chemicals you need? What if food was eaten for nourishment and pleasure instead of for a mood fix?

A Tool for Profound and Lasting Change

Acupressure is the quickest way I know to make this change in a sustainable way. There are many ways to make this change, but this is just the quickest, least expensive and longest lasting. It's not for everyone either, it's for those who really want to get to the bottom of things and be free of them. Not everyone is ready for that.

So, what happens when you've come to realize that your cravings or habits with carbs, caffeine, or sugar are not getting you the happy chemicals it once promised and you want to make a change? Well, when you hold Acupressure points, your body has the opportunity to shift paradigms. It's not that you won't be able to eat Sugar, Caffeine or Carbs, but if you do, you'll have choice about it, you won't 'have to have it!'

Space between you and your choices opens up and it becomes a peaceful decision when you eat instead of a panicky, driven one. If you have some, you're less likely to overeat or lose control, and this feels natural, though odd at first. It's sort of like having broken a leg, and once the cast is off, feeling a strange absence as you've become so used to it, yet happy to be back to normal without it.

 The end result of this shift, once it's happened, is that you'll have many ways to feel good as your neuropathways have opened up. You won't have to go to food to feel good. In fact, if you do have food for pleasure and/or nourishment, you'll feel:

    •    satisfied sooner

    •    an absence of guilt or shame

    •    fewer peaks and valleys of mood and energy 

    •    able to stop at a very reasonable amount

Why? Because your old outdated programming has been u[dated, and you make this food decision as an adult in the present moment, instead of being sent so many signals that don't serve you any more. It's not magic, it's just bringing you back to your natural baseline. This natural baseline is your birthright, it's yours for the re-taking.

So, you may already be aware of the connection between food and your mood. You may wonder if I can help you find this new (to you) way of being. Or, you may be skeptical and wonder if any of this makes sense to you. So, if you're the former, please contact me, I'd love to talk with you to see if we're a good fit for working together.

Homework Anyone?

If you're the latter, I invite you to do an exercise at home:

Keep a food journal for a day, three days or five. The more the better, but hey, do it for one day if that's your willingness. Write down what you eat and drink, when you eat it, how you're feeling after you ate. Monitor your mood throughout the day and see what's going on between food and your mood. What happens when you go too long without food or skip breakfast, etc.? Just notice. Maybe you won't be surprised, but maybe you will. Many patients tell me it's illuminating to keep a food journal, and I hope it is for you. If you want a copy of one, go here and download a food journal.

 And until next time, may your mood and energy feel good to you!

Yours in Health,

Kara

How To Enjoy Chocolate Without Guilt

Chocolate is something wonderful, and eaten in moderation, it can be a delicious treat. But many people have a negative 'thing' about Chocolate. Many feel they shouldn't have or fear if they do have some that it will lead to overeating. The fear of overeating Chocolate is real a concern, and if this is your concern, you can read more about how to fundamentally change that here before proceeding with this exercise.

Back to the post...Chocolate has gotten a bad rap and it's not deserved. Real Chocolate, not highly processed candy, is rich in antioxidants and phyto-nutrients and has been used as medicine as well as money in many cultures and civilizations.

So, how do you enjoy chocolate without guilt? There are so many ways. I like it in my morning smoothie (raw powdered cacao). I like it in a flourless chocolate cake, ice cream, or chocolate ganache, and in many other forms. But my favorite is simple plain dark chocolate in bar form, preferably with almonds or hazelnuts. All I need is a small piece and I'm satisfied. So, if you're not accustomed to enjoying Chocolate, here are a few suggestions you may enjoy:

Step 1- Find the Chocolate:

Just for this experiment, find a Chocolate bar that intrigues you. Find Chocolate that is real, not full of artificial additives and/or preservatives. You'll know as it won't be from a well known candy company (go artisan!). Go for the cacao in the percentage that you enjoy. Seventy-four percent and above is pretty bitter, but you may enjoy it like I do. Cocoa butter makes for an excellent fat in your Chocolate bar. Also, go for the real sugar, not the artificial sweeteners. Organic cane sugar is a good choice. You can also find some sweetened with Stevia or fruit.

Step 2- Find a Friend or Find a Quiet Space:

Feel free to do this with a friend, but make sure your friend is supportive of this process. You can trade and sit with her in support after she does this for you. Once you've gotten your bar, take a small piece and break it off from the bar. Look at it, smell it, and be grateful for this soon to be delicious treat. Take deep breaths and let out your breaths completely. When you're ready, slowly take a small bite and let it melt in your mouth and don't let yourself get distracted by tv, conversation, or anything else. Give your Chocolate your FULL attention, and enjoy the flavors, textures and aroma. Notice how it changes in your mouth and how quickly it dissolves. How quickly do you feel satisfied? Is it one piece or two? If it's more than that, be aware of what's driving your desire for more. Is it rebellion? Is it habit? Is it a feeling of need or deprivation?

Step 3- Show or Feel Gratitude:

When we're grateful for the food we eat, our body resopnds more positively. If we are in fear or obsession about what we've eaten and what it will do to our body, we're setting ourselves up for feeling distress in our bodies. Yes, what you think about the food you eat affects how it impacts our bodies. The call the gut the second brain, and your mental frame of mind affects your digestion. So, showing gratitude for the enjoyment and the nourishment the Chocolate provides you, sets you up for a better experience than would focusing on fear, guilt or shame. Make sense?

More Satisfaction with Less Quantity

One thing I've noticed over the years is when you can fully enjoy REAL food like this, you'll need much less to feel satisfied. Real food satisfies like processed foods just can't. If you can give yourself permission to do this and feel a sense of peace, you're ready to enjoy Chocolate. If the thought of doing this makes you nervous, you may need to clear out some of the static that's built up for you around Chocolate. If so, this just means there's some extra clutter to clear out and it's best not to try the above experiment. If so, I invite you to please contact me, I'd be happy to help you make peace with Chocolate. When you're at peace with Chocolate, you can take it, leave it, have a small amount and stop and like yourself with any choice you make. It's your choice.

So, I'd love to hear from you. What is your favorite Chocolate? Are you able to enjoy it in peace? If you try it, let me know how it goes. Enjoy!

Yours in Health,

Kara

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Food Cravings and Satisfaction From Within

I was drinking my Yogi Tea this morning, Tahitian Vanilla and looked at the tag and liked what it said and had to share with you:

"You can run after satsifaction, but satisfaction must come from within."

This is so true! I remember the times when I felt full and still had cravings and just didn't feel satisfied; what an uncomfortable feeling. Or, wanting something, but not knowing what would satisfy me.

The great thing is, the work I do now helps people like you and me have more satisfying relationships with food. We don't need to look outside of ourselves for satisfaction, it's an inner feeling. With that inner satisfied feeling, we can enjoy food more fully, or or have none at all. When we're satisfied, we're not thinking about the next meal, we're in the moment. This is something we can all experience, but sometimes a little acupressure makes it easier to find.

So, I hope you can enjoy satisfaction within and without and everywhere in between.

Happy Holidays to you!

Yours in Health,

Kara

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406

Help, I'm on a Low Carb Diet but I Still Crave Carbs

I hear this a lot, and if you experience this, you are not alone. Many people have become aware that they feel better when they eat a diet that is lower in carbs  and simple sugars. This goes against what has been recommended on the food guide pyramid for years (don't get me started on that one!).

Briefly, we've been told for years to have low fat, high carb diets to maintain our general health or prevent heart disease. Thankfully, many people and Physicians have found this approach to be not only unhelpful, but harmful, and have started making changes. This is good, as unless you're a competetive athlete, you don't need to the carbs that have been recommended.

The Switch to Low Carb

So what happens when you switch either dramatically or slowly to a low carb diet. You may initially feel better as inflammation reduces in your body. You may have more energy, better mental clarity and moods, improved sleep and libido, less digestive concerns, etc. The list goes on. Many people have experienced this for themselves and that makes me happy. Horray!

But, what happens as the days, weeks and months continue? For some people, cravings can kick in, and they can be very strong. This doesn't happen for everyone, but if it has happened to you, you know what I'm talking about. Why is this happening?

Our bodies get used to things, they adapt to behavior, even if it's not good behavior. If our brains are used to getting the hit of seritonin, etc. or other neurochemicals that are released when we eat simple carbs, they're not happy when this steady supply suddenly stops. If it slows gradually, we're more likely to adapt, but even this doesn't always happen.

The cravings are our bodies way of telling us it needs something. It needs more neurochemicals that help support mood and well being, and it wants the building blocks for releasing thos neurochemicals. We're wired this way for survival purposes, and this is a good thing to have a craving, it points us in the right direction; something is needed. But, what's needed isn't really the simple carbs or sugar, that's just a quick fix. What we need are all the nutritional compoments that support healthy neurochemicals, and this includes qualitiy protein for one thing, vitamin B6 for another and the list goes on. We also need happy and healthy thoughts and feelings of love and wellbeing to support our brain chemistry, but that's another poset.

So, what if you're eating enough protein and the other nutrients to support your brain chemistry and you're still craving? Why does this happen?

Let's face it, we're wired for laziness and quick fixes, it's part of our survival mechanims, finding the path of least resistance to protect our reserves. I'm not saying we're lazy as human beings, but we our lizard brains WILL take the path of least resistance, it's just been my experience.

Our Brains are Creatures of Habit or Sure Things

So, we cut down on carbs, and initially feel better, then our brains realize they're not getting the steady hit of good neurochemicals anymore. What happens next? So if our diets or our lives don't supply the precursors to healthy neurochemistry, our brains go back to old memories of how we met those needs from the past. Our brains love a sure thing. Where do we find those memories?

Every person who has been exposed to sugar, sweets, simple carbs, etc. has a store house of memories of eating these foods and feeling good, even if it was temporary. So, our brains, in serving our best interest, connects to those memories (without us even knowing it) and suddenly we're craving specific foods to get satisfaction. There may be many foods we crave, but each person has their default go to craving food based on their past experiences.

So, the attorney that can't get anything done until he has a chocolate bar, can't understand why he "HAS TO HAVE CHOCOLATE" when he's got a stressful task ahead of him. It's not rational, it's based on early memories of childhood, eating chocolate and feeling good with his family in front of the television.

Or, it's the beauty consultant that craves candy EVERY DAY that remembers her mom giving her candy when she got home from school or her grandmother that would give her candy secretly, and how it made her feel so loved.

These were all good memories attached with powerful chemicals (sugar, and simple carbs). That's all it takes to develop an unconsious pattern of craving. Powerful chemicals (sugar, simple carbs) affecting neurochemistry get all bundled up with love and good feelings. So, when we have a short supply of feelings of love or neurochemicals, our brains go back to that old memory and our behavior is wired to find that satisfaction in food.

How to Find These Memories and Change Your Current Behavior

The best way to find these old patterns that are driving your behavior and change them is to use Acupresure. It helps to make the connection and open up other pathways or means of meeting our brain chemistry needs. It's like the old memory of food and love get untangled so that we don't need food to feel those feelings of love. We can have it in so many other ways, food is not required. That my friend, will set you free from your carb cravings and so much more...

Enough said.

Yours in Health,
 

Kara

Kara Sorensen, MS, LAc
The Food Craving Solution
15066 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd
Suite 200
Los Gatos, CA
e: kara(at)karasorensen.com
p: 408.805.5272 (KARA)
p: 800.514.1406