Some food habits are really hard to break. We know better, we try to change them, but we still falter. It happens to the best of us, and it has nothing to do with willpower, character or intelligence. Rather, it’s usually about food memory, and that’s why it’s been so hard to change.

When I’m working with patients around changing their unwanted food habits or behaviors, I often find myself saying:

“You can’t fight brain chemistry, brain chemistry always wins.”

That’s because our brain or nervous system remembers and repeats behavior that has worked in the past, and it’s based on emotional memory.

When we have a habit, it’s serving a purpose. It may not be the outcome we want, but it’s what our brain knows as the best way to meet our current moment’s needs. It’s really in the moment, not based on consequences. The more outmoded the behavior is, the more distress it brings us.

For example, if we’re having a low moment and we’ve had good success with elevating our mood with simple carbohydrates, for example a cookie, that is often what we’ll want. There may be a better way to raise our mood, but if there’s one thing we know, it’s that certain cookie will do it, so why look any further. That’s our brain talking, and it’s likely a cookie like one we had as a child.

But, what if you know you don’t really want to eat that cookie in your present day life. You’re not really hungry and you know that while the cookie tastes and feels good initially, it will send you for a drop in blood sugar and mood later on. You’ve done this before; it doesn’t feel good, yet the habit pattern is so hard to break. There’s a reason it’s a hard habit to break, but there is a solution.

The Key to Changing Habits

The key to changing these habits is to find a better way to meet the needs of your brain chemistry. When I work with patients, and they contemplate their habits or cravings while holding their own Acupressure points, they can see this pattern and how it plays out. They can see how this need has been met with the cookie; it makes perfect sense. A side effect of this process, is a fading of guilt and shame, as it makes sense why we’ve been doing what we’ve been doing.

The great part is that we also see other ways this need can be met, and these ways usually don’t involve food. They’re usually some inner feeling that was previously unavailable without the cookie that becomes more available with or without the cookie. Sometimes it’s an activity that will feel better, like taking time for oneself, getting more exercise or discontinuing something that isn’t working in their lives. Whatever it is, it’s totally unique to that person, because our habits are truly unique to each of us, even if we crave the same food.

Where Do These Habits Come From?

These habits most often come from our childhood. Someone we loved gave us a treat, it felt good and we had a nice boost in happy brain chemicals. Emotional memories are made when we feel strong emotion and it’s imprinted in our nervous system. That food (the cookie) then gets attached to that yummy feeling and when we crave that feeling, that food (the cookie) is the first thing our brain wants.

We may be totally unaware of this or completely aware of it, and it happens in a split second. When we look at these habits with Acupressure, the memory gets updated. We can still remember that feeling, but we don’t need to have that particular food in order to experience it. There’s a little more breathing room available. We’re then free to make choices; we’re not driven by our habits any longer. We may even want that cookie, but we’ll be more aware and know that it’s a choice. If we see that cookie, we may remember that we like it, but we’re not driven to eat it, we have a calmer and more peaceful feeling. And best of all, we have choice.

If you’re having a hard time breaking a food habit, it may be related to an old memory driving your craving. It’s not your fault, it’s not about weakness, lack of willpower or anything else. Just know that if this is the case, I can help you. Sign up for email updates below and I’ll send you tips for making peace with food, straight to your inbox twice a month, and it’s free!

Yours in Health,