Getting through cravings?

amummystale

The cravings for chocolate has hit hard today. I've allowed myself some because I don't want to deprive myself but I'm still craving it. I know from past experience that they will past, but what's a good way to get through it?

freda666

I find "some" does not work with me when it comes to both bread and chocolate. Only "enough" does the job or it just ends up with a three day binge.

So the way I deal with it is to just have a day when I eat my fill to the exclusion of all other food, that way it limits the calories at least a bit and get it out of my system. And then the next day I just get back on with the programme.

It is just a case of being pragmatic.

Thankfully, this is not something I am having to deal with very often as I am finding IF, 4:3 at the moment, is working well for me.

cmriverside

Yeah, I'm like freda78 in that I can't have just one piece of chocolate if there are more available. But, same goes for any sugary snack or even other snacks that are wheat or corn based like chips, pretzels, cheetos, peeps, red vines, donuts, french bread and so on.

So I don't buy them. I live alone so I can control my environment. At work I use the, "Not my food, not eating that," rule. That is going to be much easier now that Covid has made me more paranoid about germs on food.

MaltedTea

I have minis of my craving foods (like dark chocolate, which I eat daily and make room for in my macros). So instead of a chocolate bar, or large chocolate squares, I have 7 dark chocolate chips per day...usually with my coffee so that's a double dose of satisfaction.

My other "rule" is to be happy when I eat less than the serving size of a craving food. For me, it's a self-control and self-efficacy issue.

Another option which may work for you is making the food from scratch. I used to love a specific brownie from a local bakery. But once I decided to learn the recipe instead of buy it, the craving had to be super serious before I invested the time to bake a small batch. Suffice it to say, I'm not really into brownies that much anymore 🤣

amummystale

I try not to have much in the house but I live about 5 minutes away from my local shop and I'm having to go in every day or 2 at the moment and it's so tempting to pick things up, and I'm having to go down basically every aisle because there's a one way system now

Baking wouldn't put me off, it's one of my main hobbies, I actually have baking cookies with my son on my to do list today

MaltedTea

Then consider baking a healthier version of chocolate treats instead of buying. Or if this stuff is already in your pantry then do something you like less to "earn" the food (although this may be contentious for some): it could be cleaning the baseboards, calling your accountant, hemming a garment by hand...

At this point I'm naming all the things I dislike lol You need to figure out what could work for you and your situation.

Again, it comes down to a self control and self-efficacy issue. More mind over chocolate 😉

mlrtri

When I got the urge to raid my pantry yesterday I drank water and looked at before/after pics on MFP. Totally curbed my urge to break open the bag of chocolate chips. I decided my desire to lose weight trumped my desire for chocolate chips.