— Mary Gerstein

Yeah, it doesn't work. You're right. You're talking to someone who also struggles with the amount of sugar that I eat and it's been a constant struggle, um, throughout my whole life. And this is the deal. So research shows that if you totally get rid of something that you want more of it. So I'm not a believer in totally taking something out of your diet unless you have a true food addiction there. Um, like a sugar addiction or a chocolate addiction, something like that. And I have learned to not beat myself up and this is probably not what you're gonna wanna hear. So when it comes to not being able to stop, what is it you're hungry for? Are you stressed? Are you lonely? Are you emotional? I eat sugar for good reasons, bad reasons, all of that when I'm stressed and it's a sign for me that I need to pay attention to myself. Taking those three deep breaths before you decide to have that sugar. Really good tip before you automatically grab for the rest. Just take a quick walk outside or just try and break that cycle. And if you do choose to eat that chocolate, absolutely no shame, absolutely no blame, no shame, nothing like that. I developed this food coach academy with the concept of food stories. So when we choose foods that might not be the healthiest for us, there's a reason we're doing it. And it could have started in our childhood. Where did you learn to? I'm not saying you, I'm talking about everybody. Where did you learn to grab this sweet thing or this fatty food, um, when you weren't feeling well? There is a reason for that. And in order to get a hold of that takes number one, two, and three, compassion for yourself. Compassion, compassion, compassion. Then it takes awareness and then it takes one step at a time. So if right now you're eating four cookies at a time, try for three and give yourself a week or two of eating the three until it feels normal. And then maybe try for two until you're able to train yourself to enjoy what you are eating. Because a lot of us who crave sugar eat it so fast you don't even know you ate it. It's like, I've been there, I've had a piece of chocolate and I'm like, did I eat that? And I actually have to go check the bar to see if I actually ate the chocolate because I didn't remember eating the chocolate 'cause I was working at the same time. So savor, saver, saver. Just be kind to yourself and take itty-bitty steps towards your goal.