Confessions of a Sugar/Chocolate Addict

simplyblessed89

I think it's time that I stop living in denial. I am a sugar addict. I am a chocolate addict. I am a baking addict.
This has been damaging my every effort to get results and more importantly, I'm losing the mental battle that it has become a habit.

I'm studying to become a personal trainer and I'm thrilled. Fitness and nutrition is what I love to live, talk about, and study, but I myself cannot help others if I don't know how to destroy my own demons. It may be used to help others in the future, but I am struggling mentally with this addiction and I don't want it to prohibit me from living the wonderful, healthy life I can have.

Here's how it goes:

I love to bake. I stay at home most of the time with my son and get bored. You can only do so much cleaning, so many walks, etc. before you're stuck in the kitchen, finding yourself making something. I love chocolate. I DO use better ingredients (whole wheat flour, healthier sources for butter, oil, and the like, etc.) but I still see the scale creep up after only a few days of baking for an event, just for my family, whatever, and then it becomes a habit. I think about chocolate... I think I do it out of boredom. It's a huge mental struggle for me. That constant demon. I am wondering if I can get any sort of advice or success stories from what you've done to destroy this annoying, sugar-intoxicating demon.

EVERYTHING IN MODERATION - however, boredom eating can't and shouldn't count.

I love healthy food and I love working out - I'm very consistent, especially with working out. But there's always that bigger-than-I-should-have-grabbed piece of chocolate, or too many homemade cookies, or ice cream. And my hips and stomach pay the price. And so does my mood and health. And it happens too many times than it should.

Alright, I'm done ranting. I seriously did not edit this after writing. I figured laying it all out would be easier than proofing before posting. This is what I struggle with... and I HATE it.

chubswonky

The easiest thing to do is to make every effort not to buy the stuff that tempts you.
Rather than baking, take up a different hobby. Scrapbooking, knitting, arts and crafts-
If you can't stop baking, make stuff for other people and give it away.

cat3nv

Hi, my name is Vanessa and I used to hide chocolate all over the house. I would eat chocolate if I was happy, sad, mad, or well any reason. I had Hershey kisses stashed in my purse. Girl scout cookies behind canned veggies in the pantry. And I would by mini Reeses for the candy bowl at my office, but when I got to the office I would hide them behind the coffee.

It has been a hard transition. My hubby went through the house and tossed out every piece of chocolate he found, and I cried.

Good luck on this journey.:flowerforyou:

McKayMachina

I agree that a hobby sounds good but I vote you do something that matters to the world. Volunteer! Host fundraisers (where you're not in charge of baked goods). Sign other families up for a games day at the park. Make calls to local businesses asking them to sponsor the event or donate prizes.

Or if you don't want to organize, check out animal rescue agencies. They often need help with cleaning, walking, grooming and adoption fairs.

Hope this helps. You sound like a resilient, intelligent woman. Good luck!

BabyDuchess

I am a former chocoholic.......people used to laugh at me when I told them I was addicted to chocolate but I was and it took me a long time to get past it, but I did! Now I allow myself any chocolate treat I want on Fridays only and I try to make sure it fits into my caloric intake so I don't gain weight. I've been doing this since December and I have consistently lost weight. I call it Chocolate Friday! I believe that we shouldn't deprive ourselves of the things we enjoy but we should limit them so they can be included in our healthy lifestyles. I wish you well with your choco-addiction but I'm here to tell you that it can be squashed! :flowerforyou:

CakeFit21

Girl, I totally get it. Baking is part of my soul, it is actually part of my identity. I think in food. You are right, boredom eating and baking do NOT count toward, "everything in moderation". You have to stop baking unless the goods are leaving the house. That is what I had/have to do. I know what it feels like to feel the pull of the kitchen, the challenge of a new recipe or the comfort of an old one. It took a really LOOOONG time before I could bake and have sweets sitting on the counter without picking at it every time I walked by. I mean a long time. My advice is give yourself six months of, "no absent minded baking". Bake only things that will absolutely leave the house and give yourself very strict rules on what to do with batter, dough, leftovers and whatever else will tempt you. When the 6 months are up reevaluate your addiction. Do you need to continue? Can you have cookies in the house? Will it be too much? You really have to get used to not giving into the craving of baking and eating because they have become the same thing at this point. Ya know? It will not help you if you start baking these "diet" recipes with splenda and fat free whatever. There is a control thing going on and you have to get it back. I only say that because you used the word, "addict" and that's how I used to feel too. I hope this helps. I know it's hard :ohwell:

oceanrose78

I so have this problem!!!! This is what I'm trying to do:

1 - before baking, I enter it into the recipe program here, and figure out how to reduce the calories to a good amount.

2 - I only bake on Sundays, whatever I bake goes to work, or to neighbors on Monday. NO EXCEPTIONS. It is not in my house any longer than that.

3 - I am reading up on healthy baking and cooking, and trying to change my recipes accordingly.

4 - I keep good chocolate in the house, and eat one piece a day. It's counted into my calories. This helps me stay out of things all day long when I know I can eat that chocolate at the end of the day.

Good luck!

CakeFit21

I so have this problem!!!! This is what I'm trying to do:

1 - before baking, I enter it into the recipe program here, and figure out how to reduce the calories to a good amount.

2 - I only bake on Sundays, whatever I bake goes to work, or to neighbors on Monday. NO EXCEPTIONS. It is not in my house any longer than that.

3 - I am reading up on healthy baking and cooking, and trying to change my recipes accordingly.

4 - I keep good chocolate in the house, and eat one piece a day. It's counted into my calories. This helps me stay out of things all day long when I know I can eat that chocolate at the end of the day.

Good luck!

Such good ideas!

simplyblessed89

WOW.

I am so thankful for such wonderful, enlightening responses! Thank you all so much. It helps to know that others struggle as well - just seeing it here - and knowing solid solutions. Thank you for taking the time to post. )

Having some tips typed here is very motivational. It redirects me again, back in the race!

Thank you, friends.

TeacherMamaJen

even months later these posts are doing good. I too struggle with baking/ sweets. I can't have them in my house. These suggestions are just what I needed to read!