Why is it we save our best behavior for strangers and unleash it on our families? That's been true in my life, and I suspect it is in yours as well. During upcoming holiday season we have numerous occasions for parties and family dinners which means more trips to crowded grocery stores, or worst of all: mall. These can wreak havoc with your weight loss during this or any busy time of year.

Trying to "plan ahead" so you can avoid some of rush is nearly impossible, unless you're smarter than I. Thinking I'd make about three major dishes for Christmas Eve dinner it finally dawned on me that I'm need to start baking a few days early.

Waiting and being patient is not my favorite thing at all. I've always had a difficult time in making a cake a day ahead. (Whenever you catch yourself saying word "always" that's a hint something to use EFT on is coming to mind). I want to eat cake as soon as it's finished, so if it must wait for a day, it's torture. I also like to make those huge three and four layer cakes so it takes up entire refrigerator causing me to see it and nothing else every time I open door.

Practicing Patience with Yourself and Others

Patience can be practiced all day every day. It is necessary when dealing with strangers, family, and most of all yourself. Just because you usually give in to your immediate desires for food doesn't mean you must do so. Maybe you are trying to avoid feeling deprived but practicing and learning to exercise some patience may be of good use.

If I bake a lovely cake and see it in refrigerator, it beckons to me. Knowing I cannot take a slice without ruining presentation doesn't seem to help me avoid siren call. I could be sitting, minding my own business, when I suddenly snap my head upright, as if I've heard a ghost, "Come and get a piece of cake," it calls to me. "I'm waiting," it cries. "Stupid cake, I think."

Rather than trying to analyze why I have this strange desire to eat cake, I'm just going to tackle it head-on with some EFT. I may also use Swish Technique (taught in Ending Emotional Eating workshop, Session 4).

If you see a little of yourself in this message, you're not alone. Tens of thousands of people describe themselves as sugar addicts. They believe if it were only for that one thing, then they could reach their weight loss goals. If you believe only one thing stands in your way of losing weight, consider this: What if that one thing (an addiction to sugar for instance) were gone? Do you really believe, "If I could get past this, there is no doubt that I will reach my goal," or is it an easy excuse to stay stuck?

If I told you I could show you a way to stop craving sugar, would you want me to show you how? Think about that for a few minutes. Close your eyes and really think about it. You've said that is answer and only obstacle standing in your way. What if that one obstacle were removed? Would it solve problem? How would your life change if that one obstacle were no longer an issue for you?

Would you eat differently, and if so how?

Would you act differently, and if so how?

What else would change, and what would stay same?

Until you know what you want, know that you can achieve what you want, and know how your life will be different when you obtain what you want, you won't discover if there are any obstacles that first must be considered. For instance, you may want to stop eating dinner after 7 PM, yet your husband comes home at 8 PM and expects you to join him for dinner. That's an obstacle. If you don't overcome that obstacle through discussion and compromise with your husband, there's bound to be a problem. Determining in advance what might stand in way, helps you achieve your goals more quickly.