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Have you thought about feeding your craving and satisfying those little food demons . I find that the more deprivation we force on ourselves, the more cravings we might experience.
Go out and get ONE piece of the richest, yummiest, darkest (if you like dark chocolate). chocolaty piece of chocolate you can find. Wait, don’t eat it yet. Go somewhere where there are no distractions, Now start to eat, very very slowly, just one tiny bite at a time. Really concentrate on each bite - feel the texture, and savor the taste. Close your eyes and feel it melt in your mouth. Eat that one piece of chocolate consciously, and really intensify the feeling. If you feel satisfied before you finish that piece, stop. Either put the rest away (freezer maybe) for another time when you need to satisfy a craving, or get rid of it.
Tell your food demons that you can eat chocolate any time you really want to, but this is the only way you will be doing it.
If you’re anything like me, you can’t stop at just one. There is some kind of little demon that kicks in that sets off a “chocomachine” in my head and I find myself bingeing on it - like, a whole bag at a time.
If it helps, for me, to know that chocolate just DOESN’T EXIST. You know, like an old boyfriend. And when the craving comes, think about something else, do something else, anything. The craving will go away in about 10 - 30 mins. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment when you actually don’t have any!
I have it on my homework to not eat any chocolate this week and I’ve made it through one day!
I have to have any junkfood in my house hidden from me or I will sneak pieces left and right until it’s gone. Actually we made the rule NO more junk food in the house. (it finds it’s way back in from time to time.) Last night I went to grab a spoonful of peanutbutter to satisfy a sweet-tooth craving. Luckily I was talked out of the fattening glob of peanutbutter. Here’s what I’ve had lately on different occasions instead of eating chocolate cake, candy bars. etc…
I brushed my teeth with Crest Citrus Breeze - You won’t want chocolate after that
I ate 3 York peppermint patties - Yes, I wanted more but was denied. Fine by me.
Had a mini bowl of chocolate icecream with a whole banana.
Had a cafe mocha - half milk, half coffee, Hershey’s chocolate syrup.
Low-fat banana muffins with whole wheat flour and bran
I’ll make a special trip just for the chocolate when I’m really craving some. I love the Dove bars, very rich and wonderful. If you don’t feel like leaving the house for 1 chocolate, then you don’t really want it. If there’s a store you can walk to to get it, that would be perfect. And listen to Paula on savoring every aspect of the experience. It helps, and no guilt allowed. That just makes what should be pleasant into a bad thing. We will have none of that.
When I have a sweet tooth we go to the Golden Spoon - 100% non fat frozen yogurt. And it come in chocolate, double chocolate, peanut butter, peanut butter cup, and on and on. My favorite though is raspberry cheesecake and boysenberry - yumm.
You could always go for choclate with a higher cocoa content, no milk choclate as that is the worst of the two. You can also try carob, it is very much like choclate. You can probably find it at a natural or a health food store. Dark choclate is sources of flavonoids an anitoxidants, also found in tea and in whine. Dark choclate also helps dilate blood vessels, the same effect that you get from Capasaicin (the chemical that makes chilis hot) without the discomfort of the heat. Choclate in moderation can be a good thing. As you can probably tell I am a food geek!
Sugar-free Torani chocolate syrup - I make it in heated non-fat milk - close to hot chocolate.
The weight-watcher candies made by Russel Stover - low cal and wonderful.
Look for Dove Sugar-Free candies - low cal and FANTASTIC! You can’t even tell you’re eating sugar-free.
Sugar-free, Fat-free Jello Puddings - rich and creamy chocolate.
If it’s chocolate and it’s yummy, it’s mine!
Raelene
I am brand new to MTM and am getting lots of good advice. As far as chocolate cravings go, I find what works exeptionally well is that I allow myself to have no more than 150 calories worth...of any chocolate. It’s all about not depriving myself of anything (from chocolate, to pizza, burgers, etc) however keeping the portions in check. I am now in my fifth month of my new life and have lost 35 lbs. And yes, that even includes the occasional indulgence as well
I’ve been called a “Chocolate Vixen” because I voraciously seek it out and savor every bit of it. I love good dark chocolate but I have trouble stopping at one piece. I like General Foods International Coffee- Suisse Mocha-decaf/sugar free. It seems to fill me up because it’s warm and it satisfies the chocolate craving for me without all the guilt.
For some, Tootsie Rolls help with chocolate cravings.
Also, as previously suggested, find some good dark chocolate (experiment to see how dark you like it; I don’t care for anything much over 65% cacao) and savor it square by square. Don’t chew! You may find yourself satiated with just a square or two.
For me almonds seem to work as a chocolate substitute some of the time. I’m also trying to get in the habit of buying chocolate in smaller quantities when i do get it. Sure its worse value for money but less sitting around to be eaten.
I buy a bag of Dove Sugar-free Dark or Milk Chocolate’s; Rasberry is my fav. Allow myself 2 pieces, and give the rest away. Little enough to curb the craving without doing damage to your body. 2 pieces 100 calories.
Loved reading this thread; very helpful. Thank you
My philosophy is that unless you plan on never eating chocolate again in your life then you have to learn now how to fit it into your life. I have been on many diets where I have cut out all the ‘bad’ stuff and end up feeling deprived so I go on a binge and the diet fails. I am no longer going to ‘diet’. I am changing my eating habits to ones that will contribute to my health and ones that I will live with for the rest of my life.
So, I definitely am not giving up chocolate. But I no longer eat it mindlessly. When I want it I take my time eating it and really enjoy it and I am satisfied with much less than I used to be. No more eating 1/2 a bag of kisses in a day or 2 or 3 candy bars.
On the other hand, I have found that there are some other things that I can live without for the rest of my life. I gave up diet soda at the beginning of the year and haven’t missed it at all (I love my water now!) I am also checking labels and avoiding anything with high fructose corn syrup and trans fats.
So have your chocolate and enjoy it, but in moderation. Fit it into your food plan. If you try to cut it out completely you will feel resentful and end up eating it in spite.
. I find that the more deprivation we force on ourselves, the more cravings we might experience.
