Ok, I was doing great, staying on plan, losing weight, etc... then last week hit. I fell off the wagon and hit every bump along the way. So, today I'm trying to get back into my routine. I ate a healthy breakfast, snack and lunch. Now, I'm at work, an in the next room is a box of World's Finest calling my name! Seriously, I heard it calling. It is the devil.
I don't want it, because I'm trying to get back on plan... but I do want it, because it tastes so good.
I need someone to talk me off the ledge. Hold me back... stop me from making that mistake of chowing on chocolate!
OK let's see... Are you about to give up what you want most, namely to weigh less, for what you want now?
Step away from the chocolate!
Is there someone there who would be willing to take the chocolate out of your reach? Lock it up in a drawer? Take it with them?
You're down ten pounds. Then last week you went AWOP (Absent WithOut Plan). So naturally the little kid's voice in your head says "I WANT I WANT I WANT!!!!" So, could I please speak to the adult in charge? Look, you can't just let this kid run nuts, because look what happens when you do.
Take a break and go for a walk. Drink a big glass of water. Do anything except give in to that chocolate... one piece is 75 calories. Think you can stop at one? I didn't think so... You have to stay strong! Don't allow yourself to think it's OK to keep on sliding! Hang in there!
For another perspective, google child slave labor in cocoa production. Learning about it really turned me off of chocolate and I rarely touch it anymore.
Okay, so it tastes so good. That's a given. The thing is, it only tastes as good as long as it lasts - and that's not too long. But the calories, well they last lots longer. And what if eating that chocolate sets you back another day? And what about the affects of all that sugar?
Yup, chocolate tastes good. There's always going to be chocolate around, and cake and ice cream or whatever. If we're ever going to get anywhere, we have got to learn to IGNORE the chocolate, ice cream, etc.
Yup, chocolate tastes good. But it simply can not compare to the "feeling" of being fit and healthy. Ya know, the old "nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". It's the absolute truth by the way. Say it over and over again. Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.
So step away from the chocolate. When it calls you, be rude - ignore it. You know you will be happy when the day is over and you've done without it. I mean how many people really say, "Wow, I'm so glad I stuffed myself with all those calories. It was really worth it?"
The only thing that helps me in that situation is positive self-talk. I literally have to talk myself out of wanting it - not easy! But the conversation usually goes something like this:
ME: I reallllly reallllly want some chocolate!
MYSELF: But if I have it, I will feel guilty for breaking my diet and since it's not planned, I will not just FEEL guilty but I will BE guilty.
ME: But it's just ONE LITTLE PIECE! Come on! I can have one little piece, can't I??
MYSELF: Sure, one little piece will not make or break your diet. But can you REALLY stick to ONE LITTLE PIECE???
ME: Probably not.
MYSELF: Well, there ya go! Are you REALLY HUNGRY?
ME: Yeah, kinda.
MYSELF: How about a nice juicy piece of fruit instead? Good for you! In the boundary of your diet, and oh~ - how sweet it is!!!!
DON'T DO IT ! If you can't eat just one piece then forget it. Now if you can eat just one then it's fine - but be honest with yourself. Have some water and walk away - have any mints or gum ??????????
For another perspective, google child slave labor in cocoa production. Learning about it really turned me off of chocolate and I rarely touch it anymore.
I am going to take a different position and say this: Don't deny yourself. If you want chocolate, have a small bite to satisfy your craving, then give the rest away. Have a salad with grilled chicken as your next meal, and consider the chocolate your snack for the day. If you deprive yourself, it will be easier to cave in and binge.
Just out of curiosity, what is the world's finest to you? I'm pro-chocolate (though that doesn't mean you should be) and I was wondering what maker it was... Recchiuti? Scharffengergers? (please don't tell me Godiva...)
Suzanne brought up a good topic about the child labor but because I don't buy M&M Mars/ Nestle/ any cheap chocolate that buys from West Africa, I don't feel like restricting myself, especially when all of my chocolate comes from fair trade companies. I used to restrict myself off chocolate but found it hard because I'm somewhat compulsive, and anything I tell myself "no" to will only make me want it more. One of the 3FC users here along time ago taught me this trick- when buying chocolate, buy really, really expensive gourmet dark chocolate because it is richer and darker, and you will eat less because there's more flavor if its darker, and you'll also eat a lot less knowing you paid so much for so little. If it doesn't work for you to modify your control over chocolate and its much easier for you to just let it go completely, then do what is easier for you.
I'm going with Mama2chunky with this one, it will make your cravings worse overall if you deny yourself. Get an ounce (about 2 squares of a Hershey's bar) to satisfy the craving.
I am going to take a different position and say this: Don't deny yourself. If you want chocolate, have a small bite to satisfy your craving, then give the rest away. Have a salad with grilled chicken as your next meal, and consider the chocolate your snack for the day. If you deprive yourself, it will be easier to cave in and binge.
No, you're not alone....I agree with you 100%. I love food. I used to watch Everyday Italian and wonder how Giada de laurentiis stayed so skinny and ate such yummy foods all the time (chocolate, cheese and everything!) But then I realized that if I was portion wise and enjoyed a very satisifying BIT, I could be just as thin. I'm very compulsive when I deprive myself, and I would feel even worst if i wasted the food by pouring dish detergent over it to stop myself from eating it (apparently its a common practice used here by some members), so the only wise decision I would have to make is when I actually BUY the item, instead of it being in my mouth.
Last edited by veggielover; 10-02-2007 at 04:47 PM.
Now wait, though--do you really think that someone who has been off plan for a week will be able to stop with ONE piece of chocolate?
It's nice in theory, but I had to stay away from certain foods for awhile before I could control my intake enough to have "an ounce" of this or "a serving" of that.
So depending on where you are in your weight loss, it may be better to pass some things up completely.
I have found that every time you pass up on _________, it gets easier and easier. The more you do without it, the less you want it, even if it's staring you in the face.
As far as depriving yourself. Ummm, what about depriving yourself of what you really, REALLY want? To be thin and healthy and fit. To get back on plan. To feel in control. Every time you turn down __________, you're one step closer to getting to and then remaining at your goal. I think by giving IN to those cravings, then your're first depriving yourself. Of that fit and healthy body.
But like they say, "That's what makes horseracing."
My approach to this would be to make a healthy, on-plan chocolate SOMETHING for myself.
My protein shakes are chocolate. They make chocolate soy milk. I have dessert every night, planned for and within my calories, and it often involves some chocolate.
Knowing that there is chocolate, planned for and in my day, makes it easier to pass up the not-planned-for chocolates at other parts of the day.
I used this approach on Halloween last year. Made myself a low-cal chocolate souffle, all planned for and set aside and within my nutritional goals. And whenever I wanted to touch a piece of Halloween candy, I said to myself "you'll get your chocolate for dessert tonight". Very effective.
Everyone decides what they can and cannot live without. For me, its dessert nightly, for you, it could be anything...those things that are that important to me, I plan for. Those things that are "incidental", or non-planned versions of the same thing (ie, sweets during the day vs. my nightly dessert), I pass up because I know I've got something on-plan and just as satisfying coming up.
Funny you should write this. My son brought home a box of World's Finest Chocolates late last week. Stupid fundraisers! They have been sitting in my refrigerator talking to me also. And I did give in today. I am not going to beat myself up over it. I counted it in my daily calorie allotment and am moving on.
Help! I'm tempted by World's Finest Chocolate!
Step away from the chocolate! 
You have to stay strong! Don't allow yourself to think it's OK to keep on sliding! Hang in there! 
But the conversation usually goes something like this:
I'm all about the Fair Trade and Organic, Baby!
