21 day challenge - for the chocoholics

Hi, I used to eat 6 bars of chocolate a day (3 X galaxy camel, 3 X wispas) every day. For years. I love chocolate. I used to look forward to eating chocolate. I tried to stop eating so much and couldn't do it. For some reason, on December 15th, I just stopped. It's the least likely thing you'd expect from someone like me. I gorged on chocolate and considered making myself sick each day so I could eat more. I haven't eaten it since. Here's what helped me.

1. I made a chart on my wall and every day without chocolate I coloured it in bright pink highlighter -- seeing all those circles build up made/makes me very happy.
2. I let myself smell it when someone else is eating it. Ppl at work have accepted the crazy but it works!
3. When you want it, imagine buying it (in real time), imagine eating it then think o-k well I wouldn't have it any more anyway.
4. You have to let yourself have something sweet, especially when you really really want it...so my saviour was and is blackcurrant flavour yo yos. You need to help with the craving otherwise you find yourself giving up, or at least that's what kept happening to me over the last 8 years.

Finally (and sorry about this), for me anyway, you won't stop craving it after 21 days. I haven't eaten it for over 70 days and every single day I want it. Most days I can think about it once or twice and that's it. Yesterday, though, I thought about it for hours the whole evening. I sent lots of pathetic texts to my husband which looked roughly like this.

"I want chocolate"
"I really really want it" etc. I sent over 20!

However it is possible and it feels so amazing to not be the slave of chocolate -- I would do anything for chocolate but I now I feel so much better, fitter and healthier. I know you can do it! Good luck!

I don't think I could do a week or a day.

but I think I will see and start morrow as I have already had two bars so far lol!

I'm joining starting today no chocolate ...may the force be with me!!!

Day 1 for me. My sugar had gotten out of control. It's so insidious - every day I wanted a teensy bit more until it got ridiculous. I deceived myself counting portions. That's when I knew I had to stop.

I put a sign where my stash was - listing some of the consequences of a chocolate choice - fat rolls, diabetes, etc. Losing the ability to walk. And some names of people I know who eat tasty things but their lives are a self-indulgent mess. This is from Beck I think: when you have a strong time, like early morning, then prep your arguments to your weak self that you know will be around later. Make sure that when you think chocolate, alongside the sweet taste, you have a vivid motivational image. Maybe put a picture of an addict on your fridge. And a picture of health. Go walk up and down the stairs, and feel gratitude that you can do it.

Another thing is the Buddhist detachment approach. Notice that you miss the sugar, which was expected. Accept the feeling as part of the transition, and note the time and what you were doing. Then fill your mind with something else.
When you miss it again, note the time again. The intervals between cravings should get longer, as you get used to its absence. Even if something triggers the feeling - such as sitting in work chair- now I know that, I expect it, and I know it will pass in a few minutes. It's like feeling the rain on your head for a minute- just a tiny insignificant part of what your senses feel that day.

Been here before, I know I can do this.