I'm a Chocoholic... Help Me!!!

bhavnoor · July 2013

Ok, so I love chocolate... and eating it everyday doesn't jive well with my weight loss goal :noway:

I've tried to cut back and attempted to limit how much I eat everyday, week, month.. but doesn't work. And the fact that people have chocolate in jars outside their desks doesn't help either...

So, I've decided... NO MORE CHOCOLATE till my b'day (which is in 14 weeks)... and my weight loss goal is to loose 15 lbs by then.... and then I can reward myself with... The Molten Lava Cake from Chilis..... yummmmmm.....

Here's my question for you: Are there other chocolate lovers out there? How do you control your chocolate cravings? Any thoughts? Suggestions????

AJ_G · July 2013

I love chocolate, it's delicious and amazing. Cutting chocolate completely out of your diet is a terrible idea. Just eat chocolate when you want it, but account for it in your daily calories and macros and it's not a problem, that's what I do.

bhavnoor · July 2013

But the thing is.... if I start, I can't stop... I have one bite and then I can't stop myself from going from seconds or thirds.... till the jar is empty...

JDHINAZ · July 2013

But the thing is.... if I start, I can't stop... I have one bite and then I can't stop myself from going from seconds or thirds.... till the jar is empty...

Completely understand this. I say, if cutting it out completely for a while helps, then do it. I have to do that with certain things. Once you feel stronger, then purchase small amounts.

I tend to buy really good quality chocolate chips (not Hershey's or store brand) of semisweet or dark chocolate, and then measure it out. That way, I only have a small amount in my hand, and I can eat one chip at a time, by letting it melt in my mouth. Not chewing it.

Lizzy622 · July 2013

I tend to be a chocolate snob. If I am going to use my calories, I want the very best. I love really rich dark chocolate. Adding a good unsweetened cacao powder to a banana smoothie is a great low calorie way to get your fix.

lollipop4401 · July 2013

You can buy fiber bars with chocolate in them

mgirard447 · July 2013

I used to be like this. I wouldn't be able to stop. Once i got serious about MFP and losing weight, I still wanted to eat it all the time but I counted my calories and was responsible for what I ate and eventually it wore off. I still love chocolate but I dont feel the need to eat it like I used to (unless its that time of the month) Hopefully it will get better

katejkelley · July 2013

I know EXACTLY what you're going through! I am the same way - can't stop once I start. The solution: don't start. I had to eliminate processed sugar from my diet completely (well, as completely as possible - it's in just about everything!) But I no longer eat sweets made with processed sugar. I can still enjoy chocolate - I've found many recipes for sweet treats using agave, stevia, and other natural sweeteners. I still try to limit those - make them a special treat, but not everyday. Avoid ANYTHING with malitol - unless you like to clear rooms with noxious gas!

pollard55 · July 2013

I've been getting my chocolate fix in the morning, and it's helped me get through the rest of the day without much of a sweet tooth. And I LOVE chocolate and pretty much any other dessert. 1 tbs pb + 1 scoop of chocolate whey protein or 1tbs of cocoa powder + 1 c almond milk + 1 packet of instant coffee (if you like coffee in the morning) + 1 c of spinach (I do not like spinach-- I'm telling you, you can 100% not taste it). Add 5 or 6 ice cubes and a little agave or packet of Truvia if you'd like, and blend. It's like dessert for breakfast!

Also, when I'm getting a chocolate craving after dinner I make sugar free instant chocolate jell-o pudding, let it set, then add fat free cool whip to make "mousse." No fat and low-cal! Soo yummy. Portion it out into 4 containers an put 3 in the fridge to keep yourself from eating it all!

I've been getting fat free sorbet so I eat that after dinner to satisfy my craving for sweets. Another thing that helps is if I get my work out in right before, or a couple of hours after eating dinner. I'm not as hungry and I don't have an urge to eat junk food after doing a cardio workout. Then you can just treat yourself with a glass of chocolate milk to aid in muscle repair.

scotvalkyrie · July 2013

I love chocolate too, but I've learned to portion it out by choosing certain chocolate. I personally like to eat Terry's Dark Chocolate Oranges. One serving is 5 pieces for 220 calories, and it really feels like I am eating a LOT of chocolate, and it tastes very good too! I also like Hershey's Simple Pleasures dark chocolate with chocolate creme filling. One serving of those is six pieces for 160 calories. Again, it feels like a LOT of chocolate for a smaller amount of calories. Hope this helps!

brandylynnnichols · July 2013

I looooove chocolate and if I buy a bag/bar and try to limit myself, I end up eating the whole thing. I'm more likely to eat more when I try limiting myself than if I had never set a goal in the first place. My advice is this. If you have a close friend, spouse or co-worker that you see on a regular basis, buy some chocolate, give it to them and let them give you a treat on a daily basis.

Danni3ll3 · July 2013

But the thing is.... if I start, I can't stop... I have one bite and then I can't stop myself from going from seconds or thirds.... till the jar is empty...

Me too so I cut out all chocolate except for a hot chocolate each day. I did that for a couple of years then as my weight came down, I was able to cut out the hot chocolate too. I have had a couple of boxes of chocolates sitting on my desk for the last several months and I haven't gotten into them so it can be done.

bhavnoor · July 2013

Thank you so much for your suggestions and support

I did NOT have any chocolate yesterday and it's almost lunch time today... and still no chocolate. :happy:

angieochoa1201 · July 2013

I can relate!!!

I have had to NOT buy it for almost a year now. I realized when I buy oreos or nutella I eat the whole damn thing. I riskily just bought my first jar of nutella this week it is half gone and I've put it in the freezer to prevent myself from eating it.

I LOVE sugar free fudgepops only 45 cals

its a good substitute. I can't say no to chocolate all together.

met42485 · July 2013

But the thing is.... if I start, I can't stop... I have one bite and then I can't stop myself from going from seconds or thirds.... till the jar is empty...

Completely understand this. I say, if cutting it out completely for a while helps, then do it. I have to do that with certain things. Once you feel stronger, then purchase small amounts.

I tend to buy really good quality chocolate chips (not Hershey's or store brand) of semisweet or dark chocolate, and then measure it out. That way, I only have a small amount in my hand, and I can eat one chip at a time, by letting it melt in my mouth. Not chewing it.

This is what I do with Ghirardelli 60% cocoa chocolate chips. When I buy the bag I go ahead and separate them into smaller portions so I'm not tempted to eat them all in one sitting

I too am a chocoholic and this has helped me cut back a lot.

gatorginger · July 2013

I work it in my calorie allotment when I want it, I love sweets

theepervette · July 2013

I love adding in dark chocolate chips to my trail mix.

Melissa22G · July 2013

Chocolate should never be given up. Ever.

UsedToBeHusky · July 2013

Honestly... I don't control my chocolate cravings at all... if I want chocolate, I eat chocolate. I actually just had some M&M's.

I don't know... I find it easy to moderate my consumption, not always, but most of the time. As long as I know a food is not forbidden, I can successfully manage not to gorge myself on it. Maybe you just need to change the way you look at food.

This probably didn't help much since you weren't looking for suggestions on moderation, but it was all I had to offer. Best of luck!

AnninStPaul · July 2013

Once the package is open, I'm done. So I buy small packages.

But I have a family, and they will buy bigger bags...so ...I use a clip on the bag, put the bag in a plastic box, put the box in a less convenient cupboard , out of sight.

autumn26 · July 2013

I don't have any advice but I totally sympathise with you.
That wicked sweet tooth.

aarar · July 2013

I'm a chocoholic and have eaten it every single day since I started MFP. When I started last September I stopped eating milk chocolate and regular chocolate bars and only had a couple squares of really high quality dark chocolate. I find it's not as addictive. Regular chocolate almost used to give me the shakes if I didn't eat huge quantities of it.

If it's something you love don't deprive yourself.

elvensnow · July 2013

I know EXACTLY what you're going through! I am the same way - can't stop once I start. The solution: don't start. I had to eliminate processed sugar from my diet completely (well, as completely as possible - it's in just about everything!) But I no longer eat sweets made with processed sugar. I can still enjoy chocolate - I've found many recipes for sweet treats using agave, stevia, and other natural sweeteners. I still try to limit those - make them a special treat, but not everyday. Avoid ANYTHING with malitol - unless you like to clear rooms with noxious gas!

Sugar ("normal" sugar) is not "processed".... What chocolate are you eating that has "processed" sugar in it? The only thing I can think of is maybe corn syrup? Agave, stevia, etc, are "processed" as much as regular cane or beet sugar (if by "processed" you mean the "process" of getting the sweetness out of the plant, I guess).

So confused.

As for chocolate, I guess I understand having to go cold turkey but that would suck for me. If I must have chocolate I indulge. But I track. And it does help to divvy out the portion first and put the rest away. At that point it only takes a little more willpower/rationale to resist going back for more. Been doing this with frozen yogurt lately since I have had crazy cravings... and 1 serving of frozen yogurt is really not a lot

JesterMFP · July 2013

Honestly... I don't control my chocolate cravings at all... if I want chocolate, I eat chocolate. I actually just had some M&M's.

I don't know... I find it easy to moderate my consumption, not always, but most of the time. As long as I know a food is not forbidden, I can successfully manage not to gorge myself on it. Maybe you just need to change the way you look at food.

This probably didn't help much since you weren't looking for suggestions on moderation, but it was all I had to offer. Best of luck!

^This is my experience too.

I know it's not exactly what you're looking for, OP, but there was a time when I couldn't control myself either. With practise, and logging everything into MFP, I can. I have chocolate most days, but a small enough portion to fit in with the rest of my diet. Restricting the foods I like never really worked for me, just made it all seem so much more of a big deal. When I allow myself to eat anything I want to (in appropriate sizes), the uncontrollable cravings seem to disappear. I might have some chocolate later, I might not. Dunno yet. Feel neutral about it.
Everyone's different. Some people truly cannot control themselves around certain foods and have to cut those foods out. That's nothing to be ashamed of. I think that for many though, it is possible to learn to eat things in moderation, and if you can do that, you're likely to develop a much better relationship with food, imo.

37434958 · July 2013

I don't think you should fully cut out chocolate!!

You should eat it every day and have a small piece or even two pieces but make sure they fit your macros and leave space for them!!

SoDamnHungry · July 2013

But the thing is.... if I start, I can't stop... I have one bite and then I can't stop myself from going from seconds or thirds.... till the jar is empty...

A method that worked for me was bringing one fun-sized candy bar to work on my purse every day to eat after lunch. I got chocolate, but while the craving was still there I couldn't just reach over and grab another.

cwojo · July 2013

I love chocalate as well. Have you ever tried Coco Almonds. You need to control your portion control but it is healthy and it gets rid of my chocalate need. Good Luck

Hearts_2015 · July 2013

But the thing is.... if I start, I can't stop... I have one bite and then I can't stop myself from going from seconds or thirds.... till the jar is empty...

Completely understand this. I say, if cutting it out completely for a while helps, then do it. I have to do that with certain things. Once you feel stronger, then purchase small amounts.

I tend to buy really good quality chocolate chips (not Hershey's or store brand) of semisweet or dark chocolate, and then measure it out. That way, I only have a small amount in my hand, and I can eat one chip at a time, by letting it melt in my mouth. Not chewing it.

this method seems to be working for me...I think it's the "real chocolate" that is the fix... allowing myself a piece of quality chocolate over a bag of Hershey's or something... seems to keep me in control a bit more.

Mgregory723 · July 2013

This how I feel about chocolate!!!

reverse-1329933609_jessica_simpson_with_chocolate_bar.gif

adorable_aly · July 2013

Its really strange for me I can go months without chocolate but as soon as I have some, I start getting cravings for it. Same with diet coke. It's not so much that I avoid them, its just that I would rather have ice-cream haha.

I think learning portion control is the way forward to make your journey successful.

What I did with my trigger foods was cut them out for a week/ 2 weeks (or until I thought I could trust myself) and see what happened. My tips are these:
-Buy individual portions of things (no family sized)
-If it is a packet of biscuits or something, get out the amount that fits your calories, and put the pack away, somewhere that you can't see it.
-make it work in your calorie goal. Save a few hundred calories for your treat everyday and then you won't end up bingeing.
-remember there is always more chocolate in the world, you can have more tomorrow, later, or whenever it fits into your goals.

stealthq · July 2013

I have a couple of bites of chocolate every day, but I don't really have a problem with stopping. I just don't feel satisfied at the end of the day if I don't have something sweet. And, no, fruit does not cut it for this unless it's baked in a pie/cobbler/etc.

If I were you, I'd look into recipes w/ cocoa powder - lots of chocolate taste and few calories. You should be able to resist the chocolate pieces if you're not feeling chocolate-deprived. For awhile, I was adding 10 melted dark chocolate chips to 1/4 c. ricotta cheese and mixing - made something like a chocolate pudding but more filling. Decent amt of protein in it, too. You might want to add a little sugar - I liked it as it was, but most people like things sweeter than I do.

For me, the one thing I used to have trouble with was Nutty Buddies. I never could understand it, if they were in the house I'd eat them until I was nauseated. I think it was because I only ever got them on rare occasions when I was little - made me feel special, maybe? Yet I never craved them or went looking for them. Then the last time I had one, suddenly they tasted disgusting to me, all waxy and stale. Doubt I'll ever eat one again and won't miss them. Bizarre.

I'm a Chocoholic... Help Me!!!

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