This document discusses techniques for dealing with irresistible urges to eat unhealthy foods. It explains that fat cells can signal hunger even when weight is lost. It recommends having healthy snacks on hand like celery with peanut butter, carrots, or crackers to satisfy urges. The key blocking technique involves making a mental picture of the temptation, then rapidly moving the eyes left and right to change the image. Praising yourself for your effort is also suggested.

1. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• Does this happen to you?
• An irresistible urge strikes!
• You have an urge for fast food.
• You have an whelming urge for ice cream.
• A bakery cake looks too delicious to pass up.
• Fat-laden prepared fast food looks mouth-watering.

2. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• You have an uncontrollable urge to reach for the candy dish.
• You finish all the nuts in the dish your hostess put out.
• You take the last cookie on the plate (after asking, if anybody minds).
• You buy a candy bar on the way out of the pharmacy because it's there.

3. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• Your urges are in full force.
• You give in to your urges.
• Familiar?
• Fat cells are part of the problem.
• They shrink as you lose weight,
• Then they scream, feed us!
• You undo your successes.
• You regain what you lost.

4. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• Irresistible urges can be habits tied to time-of-the-day, situations, or certain
foods.
• Emotions like anxiety or anger can trigger an urge to eat.
• An irresistible urge may signal a need for a break from what you are doing.
• Or, you may be hungry. (If you're hungry, you need to eat!)

5. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• You usually have to feed a hungry belly something.
• Maybe you need to nibble, even though you aren't hungry,
• Maybe you just have an irresistible urge for something-in-the-mouth.
• Stop! Ask your inner helper to suggest options.

6. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• Why not opt for the old standby option, a healthy snack?
• It's really important to buy healthy snacks and keep them on hand to satisfy
urges.
• You can nosh on celery with peanut butter.
• Nibble on carrots or peppers.

7. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• Drink a glass of water.
• You can eat low-calorie crackers.
• Choose from among low-calorie rice crackers, gluten-free crackers, or
flatbread crackers.
• You can satisfy your urges, boost your energy, and protect your waistline and
health.

8. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• Have a nibble of apple and let your tongue move all around your mouth.
• Pay a lot of attention to your chewing.
• Pay a lot of attention to what you are tasting.
• Let yourself relax and listen to what your stomach is telling you.

9. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• If your irresistible urge is not about hunger you may be able to block that urge.
• Make a mental picture of your temptation.
• With eyes closed, move your eyes, as if looking all the way to the left, then to
the right.
• Move your eyes rapidly left, and right, back and forth.

10. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• Moving your eyes left and right rapidly can work as a blocking technique.
• Repeat the eye movements until something changes.
• Everyone reacts differently.
• Your original image may change.
• You may find a helpful new one.

11. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge
• Go to the next slide for an audio guide.
• When you finish listening to the audio part, take a moment to praise yourself
for your effort.
• The next several units are about blocking irresistible urges for chocolate, pasta,
ice cream, and goodies.

12. A Blocking Technique for an Irresistible Urge