Making peace with chocolate?

[paintnolish]

We have a love/hate relationship. I love to eat it, eat way too much, and then hate myself. I lost 50 lbs. a few years ago, but I struggle all the time with my desire (compulsion!) to eat chocolate! When I do, I end up overeating it and just scrapping the whole day! I have recently put back on about 5 lbs. and need to stop! How do I enjoy a treat responsibly and with out guilt?

 

[Harvest02]

Sounds like I could have written this post! I am still nibbling on my kids Easter chocolates!!! Sweets, especially chocolate, are my downfall. I really crave it at night. I don't have any answers for you, but wanted to subscribe to this thread because I need an answer too!!!

 

[paintnolish]

Oh, I tossed my kids' Easter candy a while ago! People think it is kind of funny/cute that I have such a sweet tooth, since by outward appearances, I am in pretty good shape. I don't think it is funny because it is really like crack to me. Once I start, it is so hard to stop. Then I beat myself up about it!

 

[yoplit]

Sweets, especially chocolate, are my downfall. I really crave it at night. I don't have any answers for you, but wanted to subscribe to this thread because I need an answer too!!!

That is my downfall as well, its in the evenings that my sweet tooth really comes out. it actually has alot to do with what we have already eaten in the run of a day as to whether or not we get those severe-can't-resist-eat-the-whole-5-chocolate-bars cravings. If we keep our blood sugar levels constant thruought the run of the day (by eating several SMALL meals) our blood sugar levels remain consistent. just try it, it worked for me.....but like all thigns, its just a matter of keeping it up.

And we have to remember, to have a good relationship with food (ESPECIALLY chocolate, something we love) we can't view it as "bad" and "off limits". cause just like kids, we tell them they can't have it, then all a sudden they want it. If you crave a bit, have a small bit, just enough to taste it. i'm no expert here either, but just speaking from experience...

 

[ckay87]

Everyone has their own different *issues* with chocolate, but here is what works for me: dark chocolate. If you like it, it is kind of good for you. And it is soooo chocolatey, it packs more punch, KWIM? I keep a tiny stash of Special Dark miniatures in my purse and just eat one or two a day. Just one of those is enough chocolate to hold me for a while and the way I see it, if I'm eating well otherwise and working out, that little bit of choc. is not going to hurt.

Now, on the other hand.....

Sometimes you just want a big fat brownie. Or a Dairy Queen Brownie Earthquake. Or a Snickers bar. Or my personal fave, a Milkey Way. I can't help you there because those are the beasts that I fight as well. I have to keep myself physically far away from those items. If someone put one in front of me, I'd eat it no questions asked!

 

[saremca]

My therapist (whom I saw for an eating disorder years back) had me conquer my chocolate addiction by indulging to the max.

She had me buy a whole bunch of chocolate, bags and bags of the stuff, and then every time I was hungry I had to eat chocolate, nothing else. After about a day and a half of that I was so sick of chocolate, I didn't care if I ever saw it again. Then she had me tell myself, whenever I thought of it, "I can have chocolate whenever I want it." It sounds weird but it worked. I can now have gobs of chocolate in the house and not touch it, or I can eat one piece and end it.

I don't know if that method would work for everyone, but it worked for me!

 

[DizneeMommy]

My best strategy is to actually eat a little whenever I'm really wanting it. That keeps me from going overboard! If I ever tell myself "I'm not having ANY ______," then that's the ONLY thing I want from there on out!

 

[MelanieC]

I buy good dark chocolate and measure and track the calories. One of my favorites is endagered species 88% cocoa. Its so good. I even add peanutbutter or almond butter sometimes.

I look at it like - if not going to deprive myself of anything, but I do have to weight and measure it.