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This book is dedicated to

those wishing for a way


to let go of old emotional baggage,
finally lose weight, keep it off
and live a happier life.
TATLifeTM
PMB 7000-379
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 378-7381
www.TATLife.com

Copyright 2007 Tapas Fleming


All rights reserved
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
ISBN# 978-1-893412-12-5

Tapas Acupressure Technique and


TAT are registered trademarks and
TATLife is a trademark of
Tapas Fleming.
Acknowledgements DISCLAIMER
Many people worked to create this booklet and it is a
privilege to enjoy their company and contribution. TAT is a relatively new healing approach and the extent
of its effectiveness, as well as its risks and benefits, are
My thanks to Sara Arey for initiating and overseeing not yet fully known. Please be advised of the following:
the final push to get the weight loss materials done, • Emotional and physical sensations or additional
for her suggestions of phrases in the Using TAT unresolved memories may surface.
section, and for her fine editing; to Lori Barklage for
her behind-the-scenes website, production and • Previously vivid or traumatic memories may fade.
product delivery support: their enthusiastic good This could adversely impact the ability to provide
cheer has helped bring TAT to many people. Thanks detailed legal testimony regarding a traumatic
to Midge Murphy for her kind legal advice. Thanks to incident.
C. Saurma for the photo. Thank you to Dr. Phil Mollon, Before reading and using the information in this
PhD for his summary of the study report. My thanks document, I acknowledge and agree to the following:
to Bruce Campbell for his gorgeous graphics, editing
and personal support. Thank you to all my friends • My choice to utilize TAT is of my own free will.
who use TAT and tell me what happened so I can • I assume full responsibility for my self-care in all
keep learning. aspects of my life.
• My choice to use TAT is free from any outside
My thanks to Charles Elder, MD, MPH, Center for
pressure.
Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest for
conducting the weight loss research study and to • I will read this document in its entirety before using
Chérri Gallison, LPC, LAc who did the actual TAT TAT.
training during the study for everyone in the TAT • TAT does not provide medical diagnoses nor does it
group. offer cures; it does not replace therapy or health
care from medical professionals. I will consult with
Thank you to the All-Knowing, Compassionate Divine my health care provider for medical, psychological or
Love, who does all the healing and without whom we other health related problems.
wouldn’t have this lovely TAT path to a happier life.
My Personal Goals WELCOME TO THE HAPPY,
FULFILLING JOURNEY OF LOSING
My name: WEIGHT!
This guide will accompany you on your way and give
you exact instructions on how using TAT can help
you to lose weight and maintain weight loss.
My goal weight: ___________
This program is designed to be done daily over a
three to six month period. I recommend you get a
My fulfilling journey begins this date: journal or notebook to record your weight loss
journey. Some people also find it very helpful to
_____________________ have a buddy to check in with periodically to discuss
their progress, talk about feelings that surface, or
just to make sure they are staying on track and
How I will feel about myself at my goal doing TAT every day. A buddy does not need to
weight: know TAT – he or she only needs to listen and be
supportive. You could also join a TAT weight loss
support group at www.TATLife.com. Loving friends
make the journey easier and much more fun.

With this program, you can get almost immediate results


in curbing cravings, controlling overeating and sticking to
a good eating plan. TAT can do this by taking all the
emotional charge out of past incidents so you’re not
How I will feel about my life at my goal driven to over-eat or think negatively about yourself and
life. It’s very easy to do, it just takes a few minutes and
weight: you can do it yourself.

Let’s get started!


WHAT IS TAT®? HOW TO DO TAT®

The TAT® Pose


With one hand, lightly
touch the tip of the
thumb to the area 1/8-
inch above the inner
corner of your eye. With
the fourth finger (ring
finger) of the same hand,
lightly touch the tip of the finger to the area 1/8-inch
above the inner corner of the other eye. Place the tip
of the middle finger at the point midway between, and
TAT® is an easy process that has been shown to about 1/2 inch above, eyebrow level.
reduce the effects of traumatic stress, reduce
allergic reactions and help release negative beliefs.
TAT is a new, simple and effective technique that
has been shown to help create inner peace,
relaxation, empowerment and more vibrant
health in minutes. It combines lightly holding a
few acupressure points on your head (the TAT
Pose) as you put your attention on a problem
(the Steps of TAT). With this technique, you can
profoundly improve any aspect of your life -- it’s
been called a “portal of grace”.
Now place your other TAT Pose on someone else, please make sure you
hand on the back of have obtained their consent to touch them and to do
your head, with the TAT.
palm touching the head
so that the thumb is You can rest your arms at any time you want, during
resting at the base of a step or between steps. Eyes can be open or closed,
the skull just above the and either hand can be in front. If you are more
hairline. The palm comfortable holding the pose while lying down, that is
cradles the base of your skull. Both hands should be fine, too.
resting gently. No pressure is necessary. That is the
TAT Pose. Keep your TAT work to a maximum of 20 minutes per
day actually in the TAT Pose. Drink 6-8 glasses of
For children age 11 water on the days you do TAT.
and under, an open
hand can be used for
the front position. The
palm is placed over
the forehead covering
The Steps of TAT
the top half of the
This is the general format for all TAT work. Each Step
eyes. They may hold
should last for about a minute or until you feel done.
the pose themselves, or you may hold it on them.
Feeling done can be indicated by a sigh, a sense of
For babies, very sick people or anyone who feels not being engaged with the problem anymore, your
uncomfortable with touch, the pose can be done by attention wandering, an energy release, or simply a
holding the hands in the same position as for children, feeling of being done. For children, this may happen
only the hands are an inch or two away from the in a few seconds.
person's head. If you are holding your hands in the
TAT Pose on someone else, the same area at the base Steps 1 (The Problem) and 2 (The Opposite of the
of the skull is covered in the back position, but your Problem) will change depending on the specific issue
little finger will be just above the hairline instead of being addressed. In this way, TAT can be tailored to
your thumb. Before holding the fit any number of different issues.
At the beginning of a session, make the intention that
the healing you are about to do will also benefit all of
your ancestors, your family, everyone involved, all The Problem Use the statement below that
parts of yourself and all points of view you have ever (Step 1) works best for your situation:
held.
The negative thought.
If you have never done TAT before, do the TAT Pose
and put your attention on each of the following This happened.
preliminary statements for a few seconds up to about
a minute. Everything that led up to this
happened.
TAT is too easy to work or be of any value.
TAT is easy and could work and be of great The Opposite Use the statement below that
value. of the Problem works best for your situation:
I deserve to live and I accept love, help and (Step 2)
healing. It’s not true that ________
(use your Step 1 negative
For Step 1 of this exercise, choose a negative thought thought here), or whatever
you have about yourself or an incident from the past words you choose that mean
that is troubling you. For ease, we will refer to the the opposite of Step 1 for
past incident as “this”. (I’ll explain later in this booklet you.
several other approaches for Steps 1 and 2 that you
can take to reach your goals, but we’ll start here for This happened, it’s over, I’m
now.) On a scale of 0-10, with ‘0’ indicating ‘no okay and I am relaxed now.
stress’ and ‘10’ indicating ‘the worst possible’, rate
how you feel at this moment when you think of the All that happened, it is over,
negative thought or past incident. and it is no longer resulting in
this.
Do the TAT Pose and put your attention on each of
the Steps of TAT (below) for about a minute or until
you feel done.
The Places All the places in my mind, body Forgiveness I forgive everyone who hurt
(Step 3) and life where this has been (Step 5) me related to this and wish
stored are healing now. You do continued them love, happiness and
not need to know what all the peace.
places are; just make the intention
that they’re healing now. I forgive everyone I blamed
for this, including God and
myself.
And/or God (whatever name you use),
thank you for healing all the It is not necessary to think of each
places in my mind, body and life person involved; just make the
where this has been stored. intention of forgiveness with your
heart.
The Origins All the origins of this are
(Step 4) healing now. You do not need to Parts All the parts of me that got
know what all the origins are; just (Step 6) something from this are
make the intention that they’re healing now.
healing now.

And/or God, thank you for healing all Whatever’s Whatever’s left about this is
the origins of this. Left healing now.
(Step 7)

Forgiveness I apologize to everyone I hurt


(Step 5) related to this and wish them Choosing I choose (whatever positive
love, happiness and peace. (Step 8) outcome you want related to
this).
Lastly, I recommend that you give thanks to
Integration This healing is completely whomever or whatever you feel did the healing for
(Step 9) integrated now. you – God, Mother Nature, Holy Spirit, Divine Love,
And/or God (or whatever name you etc.
use for God), thank You for
completely integrating this That’s it. The Pose and Steps are the foundation of
healing now. TAT. People often describe it as being elegantly
simple yet amazingly effective.
Move whichever hand was in the
front position to the back and vice Now that you have finished doing TAT, rate the
versa and put your attention on: negative thought or incident on a scale of 0-10, with
This healing is completely ‘0’ indicating ‘no stress’ and ‘10’ indicating ‘the worst
integrated now. possible’. Compare your before and after ratings.

Please note that when you are working on something


from your past, you can put your attention on an
event or series of events without reliving them. With
TAT, it is not necessary nor is it recommended to
relive or re-experience past incidents in order for
them to be healed.
Encircle your right ear with your
Very rarely, your feelings may get stronger and
right fingertips and your left ear
temporarily become the central focus of your
with your left fingertips, placing
attention as you do TAT. If this happens, stay in the
your thumbs behind your earlobes
TAT Pose and put your attention back on following
and your little fingers just in front
the intent of the step. Don't put your attention on
of where your ear attaches on top.
getting more and more into those feelings. Following
Touch the skin around your ears.
these instructions, your feelings will usually become
In this position, put your attention
peaceful in about a minute. If you don't feel peace
on: This healing is completely
beginning to come after about a minute, pause the
integrated now.
healing process on this particular problem and ask for
help from a Certified TAT Professional (listed at
www.TATLife.com) or a licensed mental health USING TAT® TO ACHIEVE
practitioner. AND MAINTAIN
WEIGHT LOSS

Now that you know how to do TAT, let’s look at some


of the many factors that can play a part in someone’s
gaining and maintaining extra weight and exactly how
to use TAT so that these factors have no more
influence. The influences, which can result in creating
a life that isn’t really what you want, fall into three
categories:

limiting beliefs
past incidents
triggers

As these influences are cleared, stress levels decrease


and the drive to eat in order to fend off the stress
dissolves. Just imagine: your beliefs about your
power to lose weight are in place, you love yourself,
and you feel at peace with your past; what used to be
a trigger for overeating is now just a faded memory
and you are full of positive feelings and thoughts
about your life. That is what TAT can easily help you
attain.

In the following four sections, you’ll find many phrases


which address influential factors in gaining and
maintaining extra weight. These phrases are set
up in pairs for you to use as The Problem (Step 1) and Releasing Limiting Beliefs
The Opposite of the Problem (Step 2). Read through
the phrases. When something resonates with you or
stirs an emotional response in you, it is letting you
General Beliefs
know that this is an area that needs healing. Write
down or mark all the phrases below that you feel need
I can’t do this.
healing for you. For each pair of phrases, hold the
Pose and put your attention on The Problem (Step 1) I can do this.
and The Opposite of the Problem (Step 2), then
proceed through the rest of the Steps.
This problem can never change.
As you do the Steps, say them aloud or just mentally This problem can easily change.
put your attention on them. You may find that for
some of the phrases given, different wording for The
Problem (Step 1) or The Opposite of the Problem I feel hopeless about this ever changing.
(Step 2) occurs to you that holds more meaning for
you. That’s fine; use your words instead. Please keep I see and feel myself the way I want to be.
in mind that when you put your attention on The
Opposite of the Problem (Step 2), you are not being
asked to believe the statement, just simply to be with TAT can’t really make a difference or help
that thought. me with my problems -- it’s too easy
and I can’t be helped.
In your journal, write down the date, the statements TAT is really making a difference and is
you used for The Problem (Step 1) and The Opposite helping me with my problems – it’s
of the Problem (Step 2), and your experience – any easy and I can be helped.
thoughts, observations, new feelings, and new or, It is possible for TAT to make a difference.
insights. Do this daily for three to six months. Keep I can be helped.
going through this list until there is nothing that brings
a ripple of disturbance to your peaceful heart. This is
the way TAT can help you attain your weight loss
goals.
This will take forever. I am starved for something in my life (love,
This is changing now. happiness, beauty, creativity, physical
touch) and I eat to fill that need.
I find healthy, appropriate, loving ways to
I need drama and struggle in order to feel fulfill my needs.
alive.
I can feel peaceful, vibrant, calm and alive,
all at the same time. When I am stressed, I need to eat to feel
relief.
When I am stressed, it’s not true that I need
I need friends (and/or God) to come save to eat to feel relief. I have healthy
me when I am having difficulty in ways to reduce my stress.
order for me to feel that they are
connected with me and love me.
I feel connected with and loved by friends I have so far to go that it’s not even worth
(and/or God) even when I am starting. I’ll never get there.
peaceful and taking care of myself. It’s possible for me to achieve my goal and
I’m starting now. It will be quicker
and easier than I ever imagined.
I need to feel that I have overcome struggle
and arisen victorious in order to feel
that I have value. When I feel judgment from someone, I feel
I have value for who I am, just as I am right stressed and I eat.
now, without having to have When I feel judgment from someone, I feel
overcome struggle. relaxed and I address it in a healthy
way.
It is difficult for me to keep weight off. I need this weight in order to protect myself.
It is easy for me to keep weight off. I protect myself in healthy ways and it is
safe for me to release this weight.
Eating what I want when I want is the only
thing I have control over in my life.
I am in charge of my life. I make my own If I lose weight, people will expect things of
decisions. me that I’m not happy about.
It’s not true that if I lose weight, people will
expect things of me that I’m not
Beliefs about Weight happy about.

I’m stuck with being overweight forever.


I’m not stuck with being overweight forever. Life Style Beliefs
or, I am free to change how much I weigh.
It takes a lot of effort to eat healthily.
It is easy and enjoyable to eat healthily.
If I am not overweight and don’t have a
problem with weight, I won’t know
who I am or how to be. I can’t leave food on my plate.
I know who I am and how to be. When I am full, I easily stop eating, even if
there is still food on my plate.

I hate myself for not being the way I want


to be (my goal weight/skinny, etc.). I have no control over my eating
I love and accept myself just as I am. I do have control over my eating.
If someone else is eating dessert or second Food has been the one thing that I have
helpings, I will feel left out and been able to rely on in my life. I can’t
deprived if I don’t have some, too. imagine limiting it.
It is okay if someone eats something that I More and more I rely on myself. I lovingly
don’t. I don’t feel left out or deprived care for my needs.
if I don’t have some, too.

If I give up eating for comfort, I am afraid


If I take responsibility for my weight and do that I won’t be comforted.
something about that, I may have to I comfort myself in healthy ways.
deal with other things that I’m not
ready to handle.
My healing is progressing at the pace that is It feels so good to have my belly full. I can’t
right for me. I can take one step at a imagine being satisfied without that
time. I can do this. feeling of fullness.
I value how light and healthy I feel when I
eat smaller portions.
I need to keep sweets around in case I crave
them.
It is okay for me not to keep sweets around. I approach food with fear of what it will do
I have or can get whatever I need. to my body.
I approach food with love and joy.

I can’t just eat a small portion. I either eat


none of it or all of it.
Beliefs about Exercise
It is possible for me to eat small portions
and feel satisfied. Each of these is The Problem (Step 1). Use whatever
is the opposite for you for The Opposite of the
Problem (Step 2) or add “It’s not true that
____”.
I don’t feel well enough and I won’t like It happened, it’s over, and it is no longer
it. resulting in a trouble with food/over-
I’m too busy. eating/being overweight. I am OK
I don’t want to exercise. and I can relax.
I’m too old.
I’m too tired. You do not need to know what the incident was. Just
No pain, no gain. make the intention that the healing is about that
Even if I exercise, I’ll never reach my incident. Once you clear the most influential incident,
goal of being physically strong. the next most influential one will move into first place
I always exercise for a while and then as you peel away the layers. It is recommended that
lose interest. you do this at least once a week.
I keep unfit in order to connect with
people through being sick and
weak. Everything that led up to my __________
I keep unfit in order to have something happened.
to complain about. Craving for fats
Craving for sugar
Craving for carbohydrates
Craving for (your favorite food)
Healing the Past Inability to digest fats
Inability to digest sugars
Sometimes weight related issues are linked to past Inability to digest proteins
incidents and triggers, and we need to address them Allergic reaction to (whatever it is)
as they come up. TAT is an excellent way to work Feeling that life is not safe
with these issues as well. All that happened, it’s over, and it is no
longer resulting in my (craving for
fats, etc.).
The most influential incident that resulted in
my trouble with food/over-
eating/being overweight happened.
Conversation it thinks and feels. You can have a similar
While in the TAT Pose, you can have a conversation with a fat cell and/or the extra
conversation, either silently or aloud, with weight and see what happens. These
anyone with whom you feel there are thoughts conversations can bring you new insight about
or feelings that you want to express, including yourself and give you ideas on what you might
someone who has died. This type of heal with TAT.
conversation can bring immediate peace to a
relationship.

If you feel that you are not able to forgive Desensitizing Triggers
someone or several people who hurt you, then
do the TAT Pose and have a silent In the two sets of statements below, fill in the blank
conversation with them. Tell them whatever with a trigger you choose of your own or something
you want and also be open to hearing and from the following list:
feeling anything from them. If you find that it’s
still not possible for you to forgive them, then I Being criticized
recommend that you do the TAT Pose and tell Criticizing myself
them that you intend to forgive them some day. Feeling powerless
Forgiving does not make their actions okay – it Feeling lonely
lets you stop holding a negative relationship Feeling sad
with that person or people. Forgiving lets you Feeling anxious
feel at peace. Feeling scared
Feeling angry
Sometimes, you might not feel forgiveness at Feeling fearful
first when you do the pose with this step. Feeling tired
That’s OK. Just do the pose with the intent of Feeling overwhelmed
forgiveness and watch what happens as a Feeling that it’s not OK to express my
result of doing that. feelings
Feeling worried
You can also have a conversation with the part Not being in a happy, intimate relationship
of you that has trouble with food. It is often Being in an abusive intimate relationship
helpful to ask that part to tell you what
Every time I am __________, I over-eat. Everything that led up to my feeling this way
happened.
Everything that led up to this happened.
Everything that led up to my feeling this way
Everything that led up to this happened, it’s happened, it’s over and I’m OK. I feel
over and I’m OK. Every time I am relaxed and peaceful about food and
__________, I feel relaxed and my body. I am ready to make some
peaceful within. changes.

__________ triggers me to over-eat. Sometimes, food is used as an attempted solution to


__________ does not trigger me to over-eat. deal with a problem. Select a way you use food to try
I handle it in a healthy way. to solve a problem or choose from the following list to
fill in the blank below:
Hide my feelings
Emotions Related to Food and Weight Problems Suppress my feelings
Fill in the blank below with an emotion that gives you Make myself numb
trouble related to food and weight or choose one from Make myself sick
the following list: Obtain power
Avoid sexual abuse
Sadness
Demonstrate my powerlessness
Grief
Stuff my anger
Worry and anxiety
Stuff my frustration
Fear
Try and fulfill a different need
Anger
Try and feel emotional nourishment
Try and feel spiritual fulfillment
Be happy
I feel __________ about food and being overweight.
I use food to__________.
Everything that led up to this happened. I love myself exactly as I am right now.
Everything that led up to this happened, it’s
over and I’m OK. I find healthy,
loving ways to meet my needs. I see and feel myself at my goal weight and
physically fit – full of vitality and
beaming with happiness.

Creating the Life You Want People love, accept and support me as I am.

TAT can help you create what you want in your life.
For the following statements, hold the TAT Pose with I accept and love my body and I take
your attention on the statement until you feel done. pleasure in nourishing it healthily.
As your attention is on each statement, see yourself in
the condition you are imagining, feel how you feel in
that condition and say the statement aloud. As usual, If you feel uncomfortable with any of these positive
change the statement to visualizations, do TAT with:
accurately reflect your thoughts whenever you wish.
You do not need to do all the Steps for these. Everything that led up to this
uncomfortable feeling
happened.
I see myself at my ideal weight and feel at
Everything that led up to this
ease. (It is recommended that you do this
uncomfortable feeling
at least twice a week although daily is best.)
happened, it’s over, I’m OK and
I’m relaxed now.
My relationship with food/weight is just as I
Then do the rest of the TAT Steps.
want it to be.
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT LEARN MORE ABOUT TAT®

The TAT weight loss program can be effective in To learn how to use TAT to lessen the effects of allergic
resolving many emotionally-based aspects of weight reactions, the emotional roots of physical illness, and
loss and weight loss maintenance. Some people are limiting beliefs, and for creating a happy life, visit
happier having a trained support person on their www.TATLife.com for inspiring stories and information
journey. Bringing a happy life into being may happen on audio recordings, DVDs and books. You can learn
more easily with the assistance of your professional how to use this tool with children, groups of people and
health care provider. Certified TAT Professionals have even for your pets. To fully learn TAT, we offer
been trained to assist you in using TAT to support you workshops as well as programs leading to certification as
in your journey to a happier, more fulfilling life. A a TAT Professional and to become a Certified TAT
listing of the Certified TAT Professionals can be found Trainer. To learn more, come to our website.
at our website, www.TATLife.com
New products are constantly being developed to help
further your understanding and practical expertise.
Many of our workshops and online courses are approved
for professional continuing education credits. Sign up at
www.TATLife.com to receive the free TATLife
eNewsletter – it’s full of inspirational stories, news about
how TAT is being used around the world, and fresh ideas
on how to use TAT to enhance your happy, healthy life.
At our website you can also sign up for the CelebrateTAT
email discussion group where you can discuss specific
situations and share support with others who use TAT.
We also have an email discussion group just for people
who are using TAT for Weight Loss and who want to
share their experiences, goals, and successes. You can
sign up for this group on our website.
SURPRISE APPENDIX

People find that doing TAT often gives them many NIH STUDY ON TAT®
happy surprise benefits. It’s not only weight loss and
weight loss maintenance that can easily happen for Short summary: In 2005, the National Institutes of
you: you may find that chronic aches, pains and Health (NIH) funded a pilot study with scientists from
illness clear up, that people are smiling at you more the Kaiser Center for Health Research and the
often and that a whole world of possibility is opening University of Arizona comparing TAT for weight loss
up at your feet. As old incidents are healed, you are maintenance with two other approaches (Qi Gong and
full of more energy, you glow with vitality, and behavioral advice). Each group was given 10 hours of
engaging in the fullness of life becomes lots more fun. instruction in the method they used. The TAT group
This is my heart-felt wish for you: that you do TAT gained little weight whereas the other two groups
and enjoy life to the fullest! gained at least six times as much. The authors were
impressed with TAT and recommended further study.
Below is a summary of the preliminary report by the
research team. A full write-up including interviews
with participants is planned for publication in the
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine,
2007.

Mist, S., Elder, M., Aickin, M., & Ritenbaugh. 2005. A


randomized trial of Tapas Acupressure
®
Technique for weight loss maintenance.

Published in: Focus on Alternative and


Complementary Therapies.10.38-39 [a quarterly
review journal presenting evidence-based approaches
to health care]. Abstracts of 12th Annual Symposium
on Complementary Health Care. 19-21st September.
2005. Exeter, UK.
Location of research: Center for Health
Research, Kaiser Permanente, 2800 N.
Interstate Ave., Portland, U.S.A. & University of
Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, OR 97227, U.S.A.
Description: This scientifically rigorous, randomized
and controlled study provides support for TAT as a
helpful approach for people with weight problems. The
aim of the study was to compare TAT with two other
interventions for helping people maintain weight loss
after they had successfully lost excess weight (at least
3.5 kg) on a behavioral program. TAT was compared
with Qigong and Self-directed support (a simple
cognitive-behavioral approach with advice and
encouragement). All three approaches involved 10
hours of instruction over a 12 week period. The
outcome measure was weight gain. 92 adults were
involved in the study.

After three months, the group using TAT had not


gained any weight, but the Self-Directed Support Tapas Fleming is a
group gained an average of 0.35 kg. At 6 months the
Licensed Acupuncturist in
Self-Directed Support group had gained 1.5 kg., but
California. She developed
the TAT group had gained only 0.25 kg. Qigong was
found too difficult for the participants to practice, and Tapas Acupressure
this group gained the most weight of all. There were Technique® (TAT®) in 1993.
no adverse effects of TAT. She lives with her family in
Redondo Beach and travels
The authors conclude: "TAT was a feasible worldwide teaching TAT.
intervention, warranting further study as a potential
weight maintenance intervention."

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