By Christy Lee

Don't sacrifice what you want most for what you want right now.

A few years ago, I was speaking to a group of teenagers about being in the driver’s seat of their own health. I wanted them to consider the subconscious programs they were running when it came to certain foods.

So I pulled out a party-sized bag of Doritos, opened the corner to let the air out, and smashed the chips into powder with a rubber mallet. You could hear the gasps—some of them looked like they might cry. Then I grabbed a bag of Hostess powdered doughnuts and did the same thing. That really pushed them over the edge. They were angry. It was clear these foods held serious emotional value, and I had just “ruined” something they felt was important. I even heard someone in the back say, “I would still eat those!”

Many of us grew up hearing things like, “Don’t be sad, have a cookie!” or “Let’s celebrate—let’s go out for ice cream!” Messages like these, repeated over and over, get hardwired into our subconscious.

Have you ever watched a baby taste ice cream or chocolate for the first time? They’ve only ever had rice cereal or strained veggies, which give their brain a normal dose of dopamine. But then—bam—refined sugar hits, and their brain lights up. Their eyes get big. Their brain says, “WOW, this must be really important.” And they immediately want more of that magic food.

The more sugar we eat over time, the more it takes to feel that dopamine hit. Our brains can’t keep up, so they downregulate. We need more and more just to try to feel that same rush.

We think we’re craving the food—ice cream, soda, chips—but what we’re really craving is the dopamine hit. Those foods may have been your go-to when you were sad, angry, overwhelmed, or lonely. They were definitely mine for many years. But is it really the food that makes us feel better—or just that short burst of chemicals? Because the “relief” we feel lasts about four seconds. After that, we’re numbing out and just eating because it’s in front of us. The negative emotion is still there—and now we’ve added guilt or a stomachache on top of it.

To break those old programs and replace them with ones that actually serve you, it's crucial to set some clear, measurable goals—and write them down.

Then, you’ve got to make room for those goals in your life. Right now, you might feel pretty comfortable with your Reeses, milkshakes, or fries—whatever your favorites are. That’s okay. But if you're serious about change, you've got to take an honest look.

I recommend keeping a food log for three weeks. Yes, your brain will throw a fit. It won’t want to feel restricted or tied down. But remind yourself—this is research. You’re simply discovering what foods you truly love and which ones you’re eating on autopilot because your brain has told you they’re important.

Write down everything you eat—and just as importantly, write down how each food made you feel.

This process will help you uncover which foods are actually serving your body, and which ones are just running old scripts.

When you do this, you begin working with the Universal Law of the Vacuum to reach your health goals.

“Nature abhors a vacuum. Make room for the thing you desire by letting go of that which you do not appreciate or use. Give it away with a charitable heart, and let the Universe (God) compensate you.”
(Mindset Mastery, Trevan and Leslie Householder, p. 11)

God wants us to care for the bodies He gave us—and He’s willing to help. Ask Him what needs to be eliminated first. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight. Just take one step at a time.

You’ll start to learn which foods actually make your body feel good. And you’ll start craving those. They’ll taste better. Your body will respond with more energy, more clarity—and yes, better health.

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•   To discover how to start choosing more effectively now, read The Jackrabbit Factor (FREE!)  
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