Okay if I have a weakness at all it is chocolate. Chocolate is good if you can enjoy it, but indulging too much, you really can't taste the enjoyment.
Does this make any sense?
Lets put it like this, two years ago I was doing great on my diet, and I could have chocolate every now and then with out feeling to guilty about it because I knew the exact calorie it had and I could enjoy that one thing, that one piece rather that would be a silk pie, ice cream bar, just a chocolate bar, or pudding.
Back three months ago when I had one of my upsetting, depressing, couldn't handle my situation, down in the dumps, problem, had no way of getting out of it, and I had this sudden BIG HUGE URGE FOR ANYTHING CHOCOLATE!!!
Grab anything chocolate!!!!! I could taste it and couldn't stand it, unless I gotten it. The bad side of this story is, I knew every time I stuck it in my mouth and over indulge on it, I couldn't taste it, I wasn't enjoying it, but for a very short time it made me some what feel good. Or I just thought it did because by the time you really do think about it, it made me feel worse cause I over indulge.
So I recognize this problem and I don't know how I wing myself off of it, The last time I had something chocolate was I dipped some strawberries in it and thought about how great the strawberries tasted. After that I hadn't touch it.
I was glad after I start getting strict with myself about not over eating, get back to calorie counting, walking , drinking more water, that a couple days ago , I had walked by the candy aisle and it didn't faze me, I walked by the chocolate ice creams, didn't care for it, of course I felt pretty good about myself cause I knew I was back to improving my health, and my body
I am wondering, how am I going to control myself again, if I ever get that low down in the dumps again? Has anyone ever had a chocolate problem?
Now I do keep chocolate pudding around. For some reason, I can actually open one of those cups and be satisfied with it; I refuse to bring in receses in the house because receses is a huge weakness. I love the taste of receses and just one isn't enough. I have no idea but that particular candy turns on some taste bugs that I much rather like to keep turn off.
I guess feeling way down in the dumps; I could qualify as a Chocolate-aholic
Sounds like you are using chocolate as an emotional crunch instead of really enjoying it. Instead of denying yourself, isn’t it better to find the root problem? Maybe you could yoga or something to help relive stress for help you through a particular low moment. Find something else you can do, any type of exercise is great through those more depressing moments. Personally, I either run or sleep or do a movie marathon when I am feeling blue.
When I am really having a chocolate craving, I get in my car, go to the convenient store and grab one of those cordial cherries with the 100 % liquid center. They are divine and I only buy one. I know they are 75 calories a piece but the flavor is wonderful and satisfying. I REFUSE to keep chocolate in my home b/c I have no control if I know I have instant access to it.
I never buy ice cream or chocolate that I don't plan on consuming in one sitting because I know I'll eat it all. Also, like the first poster said, when you eat too much you don't enjoy it as much as eating a little. I find if I eat just 1/2 of a portion and leave the rest for the next day it is a huge mental victory for me. But I always log all my overeating episodes into Fitday, and doing that keeps me accountable.
Regular Chocolate I have no control over. Fudgecicles I can handle. I also buy only 1 bag a week of the sugar free Stovers Chocolate Toffee Squares or something similar. I can stop at 3 (1 serving) because I know the next day I want one, I can have more. Last week I didn't buy any, but the week before I was on my period and you know how that goes. Another secret: I buy chocolate flavor meal bars. It's not quite the same, but it'll do in a pinch and has more nutrients in it (well, you have to check the labels). If I bought a bag of kisses, I would not be able to stop at one serving. What makes a difference between that and the sugar free ones. I have no idea. It works for me. I figure my trigger zones and work around them. I like the cherry cordial suggestion though!
1 more suggestion, have something to eat first, a meal, an orange, whatever. Make sure you aren't eating chocolate on an empty stomach.
I found that when I had meal bars (esp. chocolate ones) I'd start binging on them in the evenings. My chocolate craving would start with 1, then 2 or 3 until my head hunger was satisfied. If I have chocolate bars, meal bars, or granola bars in the house I'll start eating them 2 or 3 at a time and the calories in those things (especially the meal replacement bars) aren't low and are not worth it for a few extra vitamins. Lately I use chocolate pudding along with fat free whip cream to spread it out. It's not precisely my favorite kind of chocolate (bars are my weakpoint, though reeses and those too are just as bad) so I don't go as overboard on it and find it fills me up faster. If I have anything small, packaged, and in large quantities in my house I'll eat it, sometimes all in one night!
I too am a chocohoic. Try sugar free dark chocolate. They are saying that dark choc has antioxidants, but to eat it in moderation. HOpe this helps. ITs not milk choc but its better than nothing or the whole deal. Good luck. I also used to smoke and understand the emotional craving, but I changed my habits and behavior and dont crave cigs anymore. I used to crave them in the car and after dinner.
I too love chocolate. I've noticed that when I'm in a store just walking around I can look at a bag of one of my favorite kinds of chocolate and I get this pleasant sensation in my brain, just from SEEING it. It is like my mouth is already anticipating tasting it. It has pleasant associations in my mind.
So this bothered me last time I was in a store and that happened. It made me want it. So I looked down at my fat tummy and said to myself "Do you see this? THIS is what chocolate is all about. Forget that pleasant sensation, THIS is what chocolate means.... This is where it gets you. This is its true association."
It worked. I didn't want the chocolate any more. I think for something like chocolate we associate it with pleasure. Its a mental thing more than physical. When we take that association and change it. Recognize its true nature (and for me, I KNOW chocolate is almost wholely responsible for how fat I've become), then we can want something else more.
thank you all. Y'all have gave me some great suggestions! the chocolate pudding has been working for a chocolate enjoyment part. I would like to keep from falling from using chocolate as crutch though. I should have went for some very long walks and jogs. I had just made a bad u turn in life. Then again the important thing is I'm pretty much back on track, so maybe this time, I won't mess up so bad.
I allow myself one Weight Watchers chocolate bar a day as a snack, and one after supper snack - that is often a fat-free sugar free pudding.
I count these in my food plan for the day (points in WW). That way I do not feel deprived. I originally thought I just had to excise all chocolate but that won't work for me. If I deprive myself, then I end up eating more or the wrong things. Also, exercise reduces craving for chocolate. I am just walking - that is enough.
you know what's really good and good for you, too? Ovaltine. people just dont take advantage of the fact that it's healthy CHOCOLATE...LOL.. I love ovaltine. when i have a chocolate attack, a nice hot cup of it usually takes care of it
I had the hugest craving for a Reese's egg last night.. I was ready to go out and get more than one! I ended up staying with my friend and it went away when I was over there. Now that I am back at home I want the chocolate again.. I'm thinking when I go out tonight to get a mat to do Pilates on that I will pick up WW chocolate.. so I know that I won't be kicking myself if I eat a little of it.
how about cocoa powder, blended with a banana or sprinkled over a sliced banana with ff cool whip over top!
i have been eating a banana and about 3 servings ff cool whip (45 cal) and (100 cal) for the banana, but making it a lil choclatey sounds nice!,
I know what you mean about the chocolate! esp around that time of month, thats when i have my hardest urge for it and I was never a big sweets fan, I always like cheese, crackers, salty stuff, but after i started my diet and stopped drinking my sugar soda, cravings for sweets increased.
I have satiated them with my favorite fruits instead and I vary the fruit I buy so I do not get bored, mango one day, pears another, pomegranates the next!!
chocolate issue
