Chocolate Obsessed

Katrina342

I have a bit of a problem with chocolate, and I need your help!

I can be having a really good day or even week, eating well and getting lots of exercise. Then usually something happens and I decide I want some chocolate. The problem is that I don't just eat a bit of chocolate and then continue my healthy week, I eat the whole block until i feel sick.

Does anyone have any advice for me? People have encouraged me to just set a limit and only eat that, which is good advice, but I'm still working on that self control and that doesn't work very often at the moment.

Any help is very much appreciated!

Serah87

Buy only small piece at a time until you control yourself.

auddii

Katrina342 wrote: »

I have a bit of a problem with chocolate, and I need your help!

I can be having a really good day or even week, eating well and getting lots of exercise. Then usually something happens and I decide I want some chocolate. The problem is that I don't just eat a bit of chocolate and then continue my healthy week, I eat the whole block until i feel sick.

Does anyone have any advice for me? People have encouraged me to just set a limit and only eat that, which is good advice, but I'm still working on that self control and that doesn't work very often at the moment.

Any help is very much appreciated!

When I have problems moderating a food, I don't keep it in the house. If I want some, I go purchase a single serving. It prevents me from eating too much, plus it's more expensive (which is an added deterrent). Over time, I'm able to moderate better and keep foods around the house and only eat a single serving.

For chocolate, I've seen the individually wrapped Ghirardelli squares on sale at convenience stores or near the register of grocer stores:

Ws2016

Find a substitute so you can walk away from the binge.

TheDevastator

You might be craving magnesium or iron or one of the other nutrients in chocolate.

carmkizzle

Sounds like you need to steer completely clear of chocolate since it's pretty much 'all or nothing' for you. Aside from that, you just have to practice self-control. Do something that takes your mind off of whatever it is that causes you to decide to eat some chocolate. Clearly it isn't healthiest mindset to have when you have to eat an entire thing of chocolate until you feel sick, so replacing it with something more conducive to your health goals would be most helpful.

Worst case scenario, if this isn't an every week thing, I wouldn't worry about it. Sometimes I'll buy a box of 6 ice cream drumsticks and devour the entire box in two days, then I don't want ice cream for another month. I log it, and then move on.

DanyellMcGinnis

I like chocolate (a lot) and have found the double chocolate chunk Quest bars to be pretty good. My husband finds them too sweet/candy like (they are super low in sugar) but he doesn't have as much of a sweet tooth as I do. Plus they are individually wrapped and only about 180 calories. And they have lots of protein and fiber.

lemurcat12

I second the idea of buying smaller quantities.

aprilgroom9

I have a similar issue with chocolate. My problem is I don't eat until I'm sick, I eat for days and days and days...that sometimes turns into weeks of having a candy bar every day. That can be up to 250 calories a day of unnecessary calories. I just bought some miniature dark chocolate that I am only allowing myself 3 a day so if I eat them in the morning then I am done for the day. I am starting with three and eventually I am hoping to break down to 2 and then 1 a day. I know I won't ever be able to break the habit because the sweet tooth is too strong but I'm hoping this will help control it. I'm on day 3 and doing good and hopefully I can keep up with it. I will let you know how I do.

JenHuedy

I'm that way with milk chocolate. Dark chocolate I can control. I like to keep around some Sanders dark chocolate sea salt caramels (70 cal) or dark chocolate covered espresso beans (about 50 cal for a dozen). That 85% stuff is just too harsh (makes good cocoa through!)

I'm now to the point where I can handle milk chocolate, but I MUST put away the bag/bar after I have taken my measured portion then go sit down to eat it, otherwise my hand is back in the bag before I even realize what I'm doing. I have found the urge to go face first into the remaining chocolate goes away quickly if I make myself wait a few minutes to enjoy the flavor of the portion I just ate then have a drink of water or tea.

torizia

I absolutely love chocolate and have found the best thing for me is to incorporate it throughout my day. For breakfast I have a chocolate chia seed pudding (chia seeds, soy milk, cocoa, cinnamon, sweetener - whisked together and left in the fridge overnight), I have a chocolate and banana protein shake as part of my lunch and I have a chocolate protein cake for dessert in the evening. This way I'm getting copious amounts of chocolate and feel like I have lots of treats, but it's not putting me over my calories and it helps towards my protein too

MsBuzzkillington

If you have trouble with portion control and the "have a little bit every day to not deprive yourself" way doesn't work for you, try protein bars and/or shakes.

You're still getting your chocolate bar or chocolate "milkshake" but it's packed with lots of nutrients to keep you full. It also helps me portion control because it doesn't have that "omg I must eat more of this" effect quite the same.

ScreeField

distraction -- drink a glass of water followed by a walk outside (and no, walking to the candy store doesn't count).

and, I like the chocolate chia seed pudding ^^^ idea -- stealing that one.

freyjabibby

I find that dark chocolate (85% cocoa) gives me the lovely chocolate hit I want but because it's quite bitter it's difficult to binge on, so I can just have one or two small squares. For me, 85% is the sweet spot, below 85% is binge-able, above 85% is not enjoyable.

nikkxjohnson

I buy really dark chocolate (think 80-90%) and have a square when I crave it . It's too bitter to eat the whole bar. Or I use Chocolate pb2 which usually hits the spot

nvmomketo

I like cacao nibs with nuts or coconut. It is chocolate (sort of) but it is easier to control myself.

williammuney

I don't like chocolate.......

jgnatca

As long as you don't develop a craving for frozen chocolate, you can store it in the freezer. I limit the amount of readily edible chocolate in the house but keep cocoa on hand to make my own if I need it. The cooking time is a handy brake mechanism from automatic, mindless eating.

My daughter and I went on a chocolate cooking blitz this weekend. We made two types of energy bars using agave syrup with cocoa and coconut oil, coating quinoa and millet puffed cereal. (My daughter is restricting dairy, refined sugar, and gluten in an attempt to get on top of her digestive issues). I also made black bean brownies and a chocolate torte made from ground up walnuts, sunflower seeds, and banana and topped with medjool dates. They all taste good.

So much for limiting how much is around....I'm hoping the freezer will slow me down. That and I'm giving a good portion of it away.

jennifer_417

There are a few foods I had to pretty much give up, because I simply could not eat them in reasonable quantities. For instance, if I bought chips and dip, the bag/jar would be gone in one or 2 settings. I don't really miss it, tbh, though I have occasionally I have indulged when I was having an especially tough time.

dropitlikeasquat87

If I have a milk chocolate candy bar in the house, I'm probably going to eat it. But if I have some super dark chocolate, I'll have a square so the chocolate craving will go away. I'd say get the darkest chocolate you will eat, I usually buy 70%, and that way it'll be harder to overeat it bc it's less sweet. I'm just assuming you don't eat super dark chocolate already. Or you could get some chocolate protein powder and make a shake.

myaminals

fudge pops buy the smallest box 8 per pack. and 40 calories per pop. takes me a minute to eat and still get chocolate. it helps me.

FaatSara

I am also big on chocolate. I find that getting small chocolates, like Kisses, really helps me. I'll get them at the dollar store so the bag is smaller and just keep a bit on hand. I like the smaller chocolates like that because I can suck on them and make them last longer.

Better chocolates, like frufru organic and whatnot tend to be better as well. Less sugar but still sweet, and a better quality cocoa. If I buy those, I get one bar at a time. If I bought more i'd just eat them all.

I had a chocolate protein shake by Bolthouse Farms yesterday that satisfied that craving and had 30 grams of protein! It was delicious.

As myaminals said, fudge pops are great too. Low calories and super yummy.

lseed87

Fudge pops, chocolate pudding, smaller sized dark chocolate for the antioxidants, chocolate protein powders. Peanut Butter is also a good substitute. Nut butters or chocolate ones that have more protein in them. Frozen yogurt since it typically has less calories than normal ice cream.

lseed87

Also Fiber One brownies are good

aprilgroom9

I have to get back to the Fiber one brownies because I can't eat more than one otherwise I will pay for it later and they usually do help with the chocolate craving.

brb_2013

Purchase single servings and have chocolate more often. If you let cravings build up your self control can go out the window. Treat more often and avoid the binge. I have a magnum ice cream bar waiting for me at home for after dinner. I just had ice cream last week, but if I wait too long I end up impulse buying a Ben and Jerry tub and eating it before I even make it home.

Francl27

I second the dark chocolate suggestion... just one square is very satisfying.

Or you can try chocolate protein powder, or chocolate covered almonds.

Brithicks

I will melt a dozen chocolate chips with peanut or almond butter and dip apples, celery, strawberries, and or pretzels in it. It feels super indulgent but doesn't leave a big dent in my calories.

williammuney

Ate this for breakfast today

distinctlybeautiful

I get hung up on this..

Katrina342 wrote: »

I can be having a really good day or even week, eating well and getting lots of exercise. Then usually something happens and I decide I want some chocolate.

For me, the only way I'm having a really good day is if there's always chocolate! What I mean is that I fit it in every day, usually three times a day! My protein bars are chocolate. I add a bit of chocolate milk powder to my protein shakes. I eat some kind of dessert every night, usually a chocolatey one! So what I wonder is how you define "eating well." If it's eating unprocessed whole foods, my method probably wouldn't work for you, but if the idea is to hit certain macros while staying within your calorie goal, it's entirely possible to include chocolate on the regular. I've lost a lot of fat eating this way. Don't get me wrong.. I understand about not being able to moderate certain foods because I've been there. I just think deprivation is often what leads to that difficulty.

extra_medium

Katrina342 wrote: »

I have a bit of a problem with chocolate, and I need your help!

I can be having a really good day or even week, eating well and getting lots of exercise. Then usually something happens and I decide I want some chocolate. The problem is that I don't just eat a bit of chocolate and then continue my healthy week, I eat the whole block until i feel sick.

Does anyone have any advice for me? People have encouraged me to just set a limit and only eat that, which is good advice, but I'm still working on that self control and that doesn't work very often at the moment.

Any help is very much appreciated!

Don't keep it around