Jim Katsoulis breaks down a study on self-talk and food cravings. Saying "I can't have it" or "I'm on a diet" doesn't work. The phrase that actually reduces cravings is "I'll have it later" because it keeps the option open instead of triggering feelings of deprivation.
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The phrase that makes you thin. The phrase I'm about to tell you is one that was discovered from a study where they put tempting foods in front of people and then had them say different phrases to see which one would be most effective in helping them say no to these foods in a comfortable way. Now, they tested, I can't have it, I'm on a diet, I shouldn't eat that. None of those worked. The one phrase that was the most effective was, I'll have it later. And so when you say this anytime that you're tempted by something, the reason it's so effective is instead of shutting the door on it, right? With those, I can't have it, I shouldn't eat that. We feel like we're never gonna have that food again and we start to feel deprived. When we say, I'll have it later, we kind of keep that door open, but we just push it off into the future so we don't feel as much deprivation and we can still look forward to the pleasure of having it at some point in the future. So begin using this phrase anytime you're tempted by unhealthy foods and notice how much easier it is to move towards your goal weight.