How to beat a chocolate addiction?

forgettingourforgiveness

Hi guys! I know it sounds silly, but I have a serious chocolate problem. I believe it is a great problem in reaching my weight loss and healthy eating goal. Does anybody have any tips on beating this problem?

inside_lap

I find that it's hard to eat large amounts of very dark chocolate. Have you tried switching to dark chocolate? I went through a HUGE chocolate phase when I was breastfeeding. I ate dark chocolate and worked out to ensure I stayed in my calorie goals. Good luck!

QuietBloom

You're going to have to learn to deal with it at some point, because let's face it: Chocolate is everywhere. And it also happens to be good for you in reasonable amounts.

For now, just don't buy it if it troubles you that much. :flowerforyou:

elyelyse

There's two ways to go about it. If you can't stop once you start...you have to just not bring it in the house. Straight up cold turkey. For me...I love chocolate. If I tried to just cut it out, I'd lose my mind! I have chocolate everyday, usually 50-150 calories worth, and that satisfies my cravings. Don't look at yesterday in my diary though, lol I did not stick to an appropriate portion.
I go for dark, sometimes dark with nuts. Something rich. No way I could stop at say...one serving of m&ms!!

afat12

Usually a chocolate craving indicates your body is low on magnesium. I'd try taking a magnesium supplement along with calcium too.

inside_lap

Usually a chocolate craving indicates your body is low on magnesium. I'd try taking a magnesium supplement along with calcium too.

Huh.... good to know next time... lol!

forgettingourforgiveness

Interesting! Thank you so much everyone!

BigGuy47

If you can tame the dragon it gets easier.

Learn moderation. Cut back but don't deny yourself an occasional treat. If you can successfully reduce the amount of chocolate you regularly consume you will reduce the cravings.

As a bonus your palate will change - sweet stuff is even sweeter if your not wolfing it down every day.

TheGymGypsy

You need to avoid chocolate like the plague and cut it out of your diet cold turkey until you can relinquish your dependence on it. I had to do this with several foods at the beginning of my journey including microwave popcorn, cereal, and pasta.

grimm1974

I just allow myself some chocolate everyday. I usually keep some Skinny Cows or Dark Chocolate M&Ms. I like M&Ms because it is easy to adjust your daily intake with them. If you only want 75 calories, it is simple to figure out how many you can have.

tonedthighsbubblebutt

Have you tried chocolate almond milk? I like making oatmeal or smoothies with it. That usually gives me my chocolate fix for the day.

DeltaZero

Overdose.

spritzi

Try Xocai Healthy Chocolate. It is not processed candy. Only 33 calories/piece Xpower squares. You can eat 3 pieces/day and it is only 100 calories!!! Antioxidant value of a 15 ounce bag of baby spinach. They also make milk chocolate peanut butter cups. Even though they are healthy, they are more calories.

allaboutthecake

Have two family members who totally beat it. Mind over matter and yes Magnesium supplements helped. If it is severe, highly recommend getting your electrolytes checked for deficiencies.

And just so you know, my only "hot" drink I can stand is hot cocoa...yes, even in summer. So I make my own with protein-fortified milk, dutch processed cocoa, and splenda. I get my Vit D, Calcium, Protein & a nice chocolate fix in every time Way healthier than stuff I used to drink, too.






(eta: silly typos, pshaw)

Loosing63

Having s small amount will satisfy your cravings. You just have to learn to stick with small portions. Completely denying yourself any chocolate would probably cause you to go on a binge at some point.
Some people have a craving for a certain food (could be anything from a certain sweet to salty snacks or even french fries, the possibilities are endless). They try eating something healthier or low cal. instead. Let's say someone is craving some non-diet food that's over 300 calories. Off course they think this is not okay, so they eat a serving of carrot sticks instead. Well, they just added calories, but their craving is not satisfied. So 20 minutes later they eat a non-fat yogurt, adding on more calories. Still, the urge for sweet chocolate is still there. 30 minutes later they go through their fridge or pantry for more "low cal" snacks. In the end they eat more calories than they would have if they just had eaten the food they craved.
So..... just have that piece of chocolate every once in a while and try to work it into your daily plan, or even better, work it off by exercising.

climbing_trees

Cocoa powder! you can put it in a ton of foods.
Tastes great in plain yogurt with a bit of sweetener (I like to use stevia).

Find a good chocolate protein powder, mix with ice and almond milk.
Mix it with oatmeal and it is divine. (I really love oatmeal though haha)

Fun size/miniature candies are more expensive but the pre-portioned servings are nice.

Fat free/sugar free chocolate pudding mix?

I've had cocoa roasted almonds, they're really tasty! Not low cal so it is easy to go overboard, but they're great

kayms13

My new favorite snack is Cocoa Almonds. 24 almonds are 160 calories, contains good fats, a little chocolate, and satisfies my mid-afternoon hunger.

scrapsandbones

Cold turkey, or those 40 calorie hot chocolate sachets.

MysteriousMerlin

Moderation Moderation Moderation.

Oh, and Moderation

I eat chocolate just about everyday. I make room in my calories for it. I just don't eat an entire 1lbs bag of M&Ms. I measure them out.

ldrosophila

what are we all going to do if the predictions become true and chocolate becomes so difficult to cultivate it's the same price as caviar or truffles?

lpshizza

I cant have it in the house or I will eat it....same with cookies and other sweets. Just stop buying it

1exercisefreak

I use to have to eat m&m's everyday....I have not had any chocolate in 2 yrs......You can beat this....
Hersheys has a sugar free chocolate you can pour on anything...It's awesome!!

albayin

since we learned that eating chocolate might have lead/contributed to my depression, I just stopped buying and eating it completely, say cold turkey. I don't want to be in worse shape than I already am. :frown:

mccindy72

It depends on your ability to moderate. If you can't not eat it all, it's better to give it up for a while. You will enjoy it more if you go a few days without and then eat a little bit. Just like pizza or chips or any other treat, it should be an occasional thing. Dark chocolate is very healthy in small amounts. I personally like to buy Lindt Sea Salt Dark Chocolate and eat just four squares (190 calories). It's smooth, tastes good, and the hint of salt can hit another area that sugar cravings can mask, a salt craving.

albayin

I wonder if blueberries have similar antioxidant benefits to dark chocolate...

mccindy72

I wonder if blueberries have similar antioxidant benefits to dark chocolate...

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They do.

albayin

I wonder if blueberries have similar antioxidant benefits to dark chocolate...

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They do.

then i am in peace. :drinker: