Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Emotional Eating summary

Let’s consider Nick’s story. He tried to resist temptation. He managed to abstain from cakes, chocolate, and candy for a whole year by avoiding situations and resisting urges through sheer determination. But Nick’s cravings never went away.

On New Year’s Eve, after a year of deprivation, Nick finally caved. By doing so, he felt like he’d undone all of his hard work.

Nobody starts out in life dreaming of becoming a smoker. And very few people actually enjoy their first cigarette. So how is it that countless people become smokers?

It starts innocently enough. Perhaps you bum a cigarette from a friend at a party or take a few drags out of curiosity. Although many find that first experience unpleasant, the addictive nature of nicotine soon changes this. After a few more tries, you begin to enjoy the sensations – the taste, the head rush, the feeling of calmness that washes over you as you inhale the smoke. This experience becomes locked in your memory as something pleasurable.

When it comes to breaking their addiction, many people are intimidated. They’re held captive by the fear that they'll fail in their efforts to change. Others fear success – they’re afraid of life without their vice, convinced that abandoning their addiction means sacrificing pleasure and comfort.

But in truth, neither fear reflects reality. When it comes to emotional eating, there’s no comfort to sacrifice. Rather than struggle against yourself, recognize the deeper truth: you lose nothing of value by breaking this addiction.

In seeking to upgrade our eating habits, two key areas demand our attention: what we eat, and when we eat.

To start, build your diet around diverse fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods brimming with nutrients. Take time to mindfully appreciate their textures and flavors. Notice how eating wholesome foods enlivens your senses and energizes your body in a lasting way. Junk foods can never compare to the variety of tastes and the sense of nourishment that comes from healthy food.