Is it best to go cold turkey or have cheats
honeyjasmine
Posts: 12
I have had a sweet tooth since I was a child. For a period of my life I would eat only chocolate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. To this day I crave chocolate daily and could live off it and nothing else if I could.
Currently I'm doing the insanity workout 5-6 days a week and eating very well for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. However when evening comes I am craving chocolate. Even if I have none in the house I will go out late at night to buy some because I am so desperate for it (embarrassing to admit). Not small bars either, the ones made for sharing...
What is the best way to go to beat your cravings? To completely cut it out? Have it once a week? Once a month? The thing is if I have one piece I cannot put the bar down so having a little square a day, I don't think I would be able to do. I'm sure I read something on having to completely cutting out junk if you want to erase your craving for it, but I would like to know if anyone had successfully completely cut out their guilty pleasure.
Does anyone else have this problem, or if you can share tips on how you control yourself with these sort of things, it would be appreciated.
Currently I'm doing the insanity workout 5-6 days a week and eating very well for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. However when evening comes I am craving chocolate. Even if I have none in the house I will go out late at night to buy some because I am so desperate for it (embarrassing to admit). Not small bars either, the ones made for sharing...
What is the best way to go to beat your cravings? To completely cut it out? Have it once a week? Once a month? The thing is if I have one piece I cannot put the bar down so having a little square a day, I don't think I would be able to do. I'm sure I read something on having to completely cutting out junk if you want to erase your craving for it, but I would like to know if anyone had successfully completely cut out their guilty pleasure.
Does anyone else have this problem, or if you can share tips on how you control yourself with these sort of things, it would be appreciated.
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Replies
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Cutting out stuff you love is only effective short term. What you want is a lifestyle change and if you fight yourself too much you won't ever reach that change. I'd say make yourself earn it. For example, if you want chocolate- in moderation of course- have it, but do something like a quick 10 minute cardio, a few situps, or something like that.0
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What if instead of eating a small piece everyday, you saved the calories you would have used on them and then enjoy a whole bar on the weekend?0
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why are you cutting it out ? moderation is the key to everything..0
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What if instead of eating a small piece everyday, you saved the calories you would have used on them and then enjoy a whole bar on the weekend?
That doesn't sound like a bad idea actually. Thanks for that. 0 -
I love everything.
I eat everything
(in moderation)
It works. If you don't believe me, see ticker below.
Rob0 -
It depends 100% on your psychology.
For me, if I have them in the house I *will* eat them. I deliberately go around without cash so that I can stay away from vending machines and candy bars (most places around here won't run a credit card for under 5 bucks, so I'd have to buy 5 bucks worth of candy instead of one bar). I have cut out many things that I like because I cannot control consumption, including candy, soda, baked goods, and popcorn.
Maybe sometime in the future I'll be able to control it. But that time is not now.0 -
I love everything.
I eat everything
(in moderation)
It works. If you don't believe me, see ticker below.
Rob
^^^THIS....I love food more than anything in the world and I eat very well about 80% of the time and bad about 20% of the time. I think that is more sustainable then denying yourself something you love...unless you love crack then it's best to go cold turkey.0 -
I think it's different for different people and situations. My friend, who lives with her husband who is also trying to lose weight, got all of the junk food out of her house and totally banned sweets from her diet. My friend and her husband are working on eating healthfully together. At their family gatherings, they bring healthy foods. Some of their relatives are also eating healthfully. They do not go out to many other social events.
That doesn't work for me. I am the "everything in moderation" type of person. I live with my husband and son who are not trying to lose weight. I go to several social occasions per week which involve eating. So it works for me to eat everything, but just watch the portion size and be sure to log it. Now instead of 10 truffles, I can eat just 1.0 -
I have chocolate several times a week. I buy good quality dark chocolate, keep it in the freezer, snap off a couple squares and enjoy. I don't plan cheats they just happen. I eat healthy and when comes a long that I want to participate in I do it.0
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yes moderation is key you dont have to cut it out completely .0
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i eat anything i want but make sure its in moderation daily even greasy things even tho they are so high in calories0
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I have chocolate several times a week. I buy good quality dark chocolate, keep it in the freezer, snap off a couple squares and enjoy. I don't plan cheats they just happen. I eat healthy and when comes a long that I want to participate in I do it.
Exactly. I keep enjoy life chocolate chips in my freezer (they're vegan and gf) and tend to have some with coconut milk ice cream now and again. I'm working on working on my portions though because if I eat mindlessly, I always overdo it0 -
I am also a chocolate lover and can't stop when it's available. Maybe I should say "don't" instead of "can't". I know I CAN, but I choose unwisely. My way is to buy ONE candy bar when I do my weekly grocery shopping and fit it into my calories. I can't have it in my house either, but once a week works for me and gives me something to look forward to. I don't share it with anyone!0
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It depends 100% on your psychology.
For me, if I have them in the house I *will* eat them. I deliberately go around without cash so that I can stay away from vending machines and candy bars (most places around here won't run a credit card for under 5 bucks, so I'd have to buy 5 bucks worth of candy instead of one bar). I have cut out many things that I like because I cannot control consumption, including candy, soda, baked goods, and popcorn.
Maybe sometime in the future I'll be able to control it. But that time is not now.
This is how I feel. I really want to be one of those who can be sensible and just have 1 truffle instead of 20 but if I have a whole box of truffles in the house I will eat the whole thing. Makes me feel greedy and disgusted with myself tbh.
Thanks for your comments everyone. I guess different people have different strengths when it comes to this kind of thing. I am going to see how I manage having chocolate only once a week (rather than every day like I do now...this is going to be hard!) and see how it goes. I gave up bread/rice/pasta over 8 months ago and haven't had a bite of them since. I hope I can do the same with the chocolate some day.
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Currently I'm doing the insanity workout 5-6 days a week and eating very well for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. However when evening comes I am craving chocolate. ... Not small bars either, the ones made for sharing...
LIES.
CHOCOLATE IS NOT MADE FOR SHARING.
In all seriousness though, I'm not one of those people who thinks it's a great idea to keep trigger foods out of the house. If the only reason I'm NOT eating a delicious calorie-rich food is because it's not around, I've already lost the war. The day must inevitably come when the trigger food and I are near one another again, and never having practiced moderation, I'd cave.
Learning moderation is hard, but kinda key to long-term success. I don't want to work crazy hard to lose a lot of weight, be at my goal weight for all of 6 weeks and then balloon back up again.0 -
I am also a chocolate lover and can't stop when it's available. Maybe I should say "don't" instead of "can't". I know I CAN, but I choose unwisely. My way is to buy ONE candy bar when I do my weekly grocery shopping and fit it into my calories. I can't have it in my house either, but once a week works for me and gives me something to look forward to. I don't share it with anyone!
Once a week seems to be working well for many people. I will not be sharing either haha. Thanks for advice.0 -
\
Currently I'm doing the insanity workout 5-6 days a week and eating very well for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. However when evening comes I am craving chocolate. ... Not small bars either, the ones made for sharing...
LIES.
CHOCOLATE IS NOT MADE FOR SHARING.
In all seriousness though, I'm not one of those people who thinks it's a great idea to keep trigger foods out of the house. If the only reason I'm NOT eating a delicious calorie-rich food is because it's not around, I've already lost the war. The day must inevitably come when the trigger food and I are near one another again, and never having practiced moderation, I'd cave.
Learning moderation is hard, but kinda key to long-term success. I don't want to work crazy hard to lose a lot of weight, be at my goal weight for all of 6 weeks and then balloon back up again.
Haha!
True what you have said. I need to work on controlling it, rather than just avoiding it I guess I could say. That's what's making me like a crack addict sneaking out the house at night to go get my fix of chocolate. I'm going to try this moderation, I'm feeling motivated just by logging on here. Great site. 0 -
I feel the same about chocolate. I have learned to not eat as much, but I do workout a lot just to be able to have my chocolate and eat it too. And not just one little square either.
Oh and I also eat lots of good nutritious food!
Edited for grammar0 -
Chocolate causes bingeing for me (disorders eating). Because of health problems (pcos, hypothyroidism, starving mode-hyperemesis during pregnancy, etc) , I follow a low carb diet and I make my own chocolate bars with unsweetened chocolate, liquid stevia, vanilla and nuts. Sometimes I make truffles (Google Fat bombs or avocado truffles). I'm not good at moderation, so I keep room in my calories and then I only make one serving depending on how many calories I can have. I'll put the serving in the freezer so it can set up or sometimes just eat it warm.0
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I have had a sweet tooth since I was a child. For a period of my life I would eat only chocolate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. To this day I crave chocolate daily and could live off it and nothing else if I could.
Currently I'm doing the insanity workout 5-6 days a week and eating very well for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. However when evening comes I am craving chocolate. Even if I have none in the house I will go out late at night to buy some because I am so desperate for it (embarrassing to admit). Not small bars either, the ones made for sharing...
What is the best way to go to beat your cravings? To completely cut it out? Have it once a week? Once a month? The thing is if I have one piece I cannot put the bar down so having a little square a day, I don't think I would be able to do. I'm sure I read something on having to completely cutting out junk if you want to erase your craving for it, but I would like to know if anyone had successfully completely cut out their guilty pleasure.
Does anyone else have this problem, or if you can share tips on how you control yourself with these sort of things, it would be appreciated.
You will get differing views and some may work and some may not, we're all different.
Personally I would cut the chocolate out for a month (it will be tough), once you feel comfortable with no or reduced craving then try re-introducing small amounts until you can eat it in moderation.
It may take a couple of goes to get to the moderation state.
I have found myself in the past failing each time when I try going from craving certain foods or dink to moderation straight away.
Good luck.0 -
I love everything.
I eat everything
(in moderation)
It works. If you don't believe me, see ticker below.
Rob
My ticker is not as great as Robs, but I've only been eating healthier for about a week and a half. Like he said, moderation is key.0 -
I love everything.
I eat everything
(in moderation)
It works. If you don't believe me, see ticker below.
Rob
awesome, me too. lol I like food0 -
Hahaha.....honeyjasmine, my problem is the opposite of yours...I live with someone who suffers...no, enjoys just the same serious chocolate addiction as you do. If I want to keep a piece of quality chocolate in the house for me to enjoy later..and I am actually able to eat in moderation...I have to hide it in the back of the freezer....lol
Seriously, though, some research links cravings to nutrient deficiencies... I'm not able to insert a picture here, but the chart says, chocolate cravings might be caused by lack of Magnesium, and they suggest to eat nuts, seeds, veggies, and fruits instead.... Not saying that you should go all 'nuts', but it might be worth checking out if there is in fact something that your body desperately needs..
Good luck!0 -
When I started I had an awful candy and soda addiction. I was eating the majority of my calories in sugar. I had to stop certain things right away because I couldn't help myself from eating 500 calories worth in one sitting. Some things, like soda, I weaned myself off. After a few weeks of logging all my food I didn't really want those empty calories so I stopped all together. I'm almost 80 days in and can now have a piece of candy or a soda without needing another. Moderation is a wonderful thing that can be self taught! I'm proof!0
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I have gone cold turkey for some things (e.g. soda, juice, pop tarts) and it worked. After a few months when I consumed these things I could do it moderately. Actually I could live without those things forever now, but at the very least I'll never binge on pop tarts again.
But for other things, I didn't actually want to cut them out or didn't think I could. I have tried two strategies:
1. Making my own, healthier versions where I controlled what went into my foods. So I could have brownies, but I had to make them and I used substitutes for a lot of things. You can find recipes for most treats online and in cookbooks. This worked very well as long as I could cook and bake regularly.
2. Building cheat periods into my regular diet. It sounds like you don't plan for chocolate in your day. You plan on being "good" and then give in to the craving later. Why not plan on chocolate? It's certainly good. If you know you like late night treats then plan them in your diary; don't plan days without them. Knowing you can have some every day if you want might ease some of the pressure.
But if, like me, you need so much of your treat that a little every day won't do, factor in cheat days. Calculate your calories for the week such that you plan in a day (or...days)where you can have as much as you want. Weight Watchers does this when you bank excess points for the week. This is the cheat day concept. I am currently enjoying alternate day fasting, where very low calorie days are followed by high calorie days, so I always know I can have as much as I want either today or tomorrow. Because I can't wait a week lol0 -
I could see a few ways of tackling this.
1. When shopping for healthy foods, look for items that satisfy that chocolate craving. I buy Kashi bars with chocolate chips in them as snacks/emergency rations (I carry in my purse and store in my desk). Make a chocolate protein shake in the evenings with some fresh fruit thrown in.
2. Get rid of super sweet foods (including artificial sweeteners) and reset your palate.
3. I have heard from a few people that when a craving kicks in something super spicy or tart will kill it.
4. If you are going to have it, make yourself work for it. Walk to the store. Only have it on days where you have met all your goals. Even better if you can go someplace that sells from a case and you can buy a single piece.0 -
I cut out all junk food 6 months ago and I no longer really want to eat chocolate, sweets or crisps. I don't intend to eat such food again, the only sweet stuff I'll be having will be deserts when I've gone out for a meal (which is pretty rare for me) and that won't be until I've hit my goal weight.0
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I have had a sweet tooth since I was a child. For a period of my life I would eat only chocolate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. To this day I crave chocolate daily and could live off it and nothing else if I could.
Currently I'm doing the insanity workout 5-6 days a week and eating very well for my breakfast, lunch and dinner. However when evening comes I am craving chocolate. Even if I have none in the house I will go out late at night to buy some because I am so desperate for it (embarrassing to admit). Not small bars either, the ones made for sharing...
What is the best way to go to beat your cravings? To completely cut it out? Have it once a week? Once a month? The thing is if I have one piece I cannot put the bar down so having a little square a day, I don't think I would be able to do. I'm sure I read something on having to completely cutting out junk if you want to erase your craving for it, but I would like to know if anyone had successfully completely cut out their guilty pleasure.
Does anyone else have this problem, or if you can share tips on how you control yourself with these sort of things, it would be appreciated.
Hi - the BEST thing to do is work on that urge to make food control you. I mean, dont let any food control you where you obey it in giving in to cravings. If you could get ahold of yourself and dont let it get to you, then you dont have to worry about "1 square of chocolate, 2 pieces, etc.. you wont have to worry about it at all - if you can get ahold of your craving and its power over you.
I have gotten over my sugar cravings by not thinking about it and emotionally reacting to it, i think about it as delicious as a piece of paper. sometimes i just dont go where the food is that is getting me. other times, someone offers me something and i say no, and then dont think about it. once in a while i do give in to something but it HAS to be the most exquisite delicious item and have it ONE TIME and then no more.
You CAN do it by conquering it in your mind. Really! Well that worked for me. And by not teasing my self with a little taste every day, the craving leaves me. I now do not have cravings for my usual sugary treats.
you have to make a little bit of an effort. what helped me was thinking, my knees are killing me due to being fat. is that piece of chocolate worth my knees continuing to hurt? so it is not worth it. you can think similar thoughts. I do not believe in eating stuff like that in moderation, the food that is addicting like what you describe.
Try going without it for a week or two - you will see results. dont even eat a taste and the craving WILL go away.0 -
It is different for everyone. I no longer eat chocolate and I am fine with it. There is plenty of it in the house right now and I have no interest. The first few months I did not keep it around though, now it is no biggie. I don't like the way sugar made me feel and I feel better not having the sugar and caffeine. I ate lots of apples in the beginning to curb my craving for sweets.0
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For me personally, I had to kick most of the things like cake, ice cream, and cookies completely out for like 2 months before I could reintroduce them at moderate portions because I was out of control on sweets. It is really about what you think you can handle. If you feel you can't get a grip then maybe the best option is to kick it completely out for awhile. No goodies in the house until you can get that mindset back. There's foods I still can't have in the house because I will go out of control on them. Now, if I really have to have that ice cream I go to the store and get a single serving size so I don't have the whole gallon sitting in the house. Some people may think that is an unhealthy relationship with food but it's worked for me.0
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