[insignificant]

Hi everyone

Over the past year I've gone from a very unhealthy lifestyle to a fantastic one. I literally felt like a tub of lard. At 11stone and being 5 ft 3, I had size 32J boobs, and I felt like a tub of lard. I would sit and eat crisps, chocolate, white bread toast, butter on everything, chocolate yoghurts the works, and do nothing infront of the TV. I was in a dark place, but as I got psychological help, through my own research, I realised I wasn't doing myself any favours.

I now have a gluten free lifestyle, as I discovered I'm gluten intolerant. I have muesli for breakfast, a variety of salads or healthy sandwiches for lunch, my mum cooks healthy dinners, I now walk a minimum of 4-5k after dinner. I've gone down to 9 and a half stone.

But one thing that I cannot shake off is my love for chocolate. I've tried everything to replace it. Ive tried raisins, home made fruit salads, dark chocolate (eurgh), snacking on nuts, basically, natural sugars. But nothing works! I am deeply attached to chocolate, and I cant just have one piece, its all or nothing.

Does anyone have any tips to help me out to stop me having chocolate? It doesnt feel healthy, it makes me feel guilty and horrible.

Thankyou!

[snailsareslimy]

Nutella tastes similar but I'd assume it's just as unhealthy... maybe have it on toast or something as a treat (I have no idea though haha )

[Chillywilly93]

dont cut chocolate out if you enjoy eating it, just buy less

[Helmi]

Hey and congrats on the weight loss, good job!

I had the exact same issue as you - CHOCOLATE <3 But due to surgery I was unable to eat pretty much anything for 2 weeks and that included chocolate. It was so hard at first but you get rid of the cravings really fast, all you need is time. The two weeks were tough, then I had a piece of chocolate again and I realised that it was more the idea of eating the chocolate than the chocolate itself that I had missed. So I didn't get the same satisfaction anymore.

So there's good news and bad news. Bad news is that only time helps, good news being that it does help! Just give it time and try to stay strong best of luck! xo

[Rock Paper Spock]

Don't chocolate hate just appreciate that you enjoy eat and cut down the quantity you consume rather than cut it out entirely. Remember kids "everything in moderation"

[lolipanda]

deliberately spend your change on other things until you have nothing left. then you won't even be able to buy chocolate. then replace it with, hm maybe those low fat chocolate mousse dessert things? you've got cadbury's and milky bar ones, and 1 a day isn't too bad.

[tufc]

(Original post by insignificant)
Hi everyone

Over the past year I've gone from a very unhealthy lifestyle to a fantastic one. I literally felt like a tub of lard. At 11stone and being 5 ft 3, I had size 32J boobs, and I felt like a tub of lard. I would sit and eat crisps, chocolate, white bread toast, butter on everything, chocolate yoghurts the works, and do nothing infront of the TV. I was in a dark place, but as I got psychological help, through my own research, I realised I wasn't doing myself any favours.

I now have a gluten free lifestyle, as I discovered I'm gluten intolerant. I have muesli for breakfast, a variety of salads or healthy sandwiches for lunch, my mum cooks healthy dinners, I now walk a minimum of 4-5k after dinner. I've gone down to 9 and a half stone.

But one thing that I cannot shake off is my love for chocolate. I've tried everything to replace it. Ive tried raisins, home made fruit salads, dark chocolate (eurgh), snacking on nuts, basically, natural sugars. But nothing works! I am deeply attached to chocolate, and I cant just have one piece, its all or nothing.

Does anyone have any tips to help me out to stop me having chocolate? It doesnt feel healthy, it makes me feel guilty and horrible.

Thankyou!

I'm dieting at the moment, and I've recently discovered the wonders of instant hot chocolate!
You can get it from Morrisons for £1.30 a tub, and if you get the low-calorie one, it's only 40 calories a cup. Put some of the powder in a cup, bang some hot water on it, and you have a 40-calorie answer to your craving for chocolate.

[DudeRugs]

Nothing can replace chocolate. Maybe just try to eat it as part of your breakfast, it might help.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012...n_1626701.html

http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/2...d-weight-loss/

[Cake Faced Kid.]

I like alpro soya chocolate yoghurts, also options hot chocolate sachets, 40 cals per cup. Could try tesco light choices chocolate mousse pots as well.

[katehlouise]

If you buy dark chocolate that's over 70% pure cacoa, it's not that bad for you! It actually has some health benefits.
Of course, I think it's an acquired taste - I really dislike dark chocolate myself!

Not completely scientific but...
http://www.fitbuff.com/5-benefits-of...fore-enjoying/


But yeah, I also agree with hot chocolate.

[Bubblyminty]

Decide 2 days each week where you award yourself to eat a bar of your favourite chocolate. Cutting it out completely will make you crave it and you will fail. I love chocolate, I tried to cut it out but it didn't work. I limit myself to one bar each week on a Friday. And just don't stock chocolate in the house; if it is not there then you can't possibly eat it.

If you want snacks then keep eating the ones that you are currently having such as nuts and fruit. Don't deny yourself of chocolate. If you really want something chocolate flavoured then I suggest a low-calorie chocolate milk drink or hot chocolate .

Oh and I agree- I hate dark chocolate. It's not for me, the first time I tired a 75% piece...I literally spat it out.

[charli135]

I always have a bowl of coco pops instead of chocolate - for me it works just as well good luck!

[insignificant]

(Original post by snailsareslimy)
Nutella tastes similar but I'd assume it's just as unhealthy... maybe have it on toast or something as a treat (I have no idea though haha )

I think its marginally healthier, but um have you never sat with a tub of Nutella and a spoon? Yeah.. thats what happens if I go near Nutella!

(Original post by Chillywilly93)
dont cut chocolate out if you enjoy eating it, just buy less

Thats the thing, I can't! I need to somehow build up my willpower so I can do that in moderation. its like alcoholics have to go cold turkey before they could even think about enjoying it in moderation.

(Original post by Helmi)
Hey and congrats on the weight loss, good job!

I had the exact same issue as you - CHOCOLATE <3 But due to surgery I was unable to eat pretty much anything for 2 weeks and that included chocolate. It was so hard at first but you get rid of the cravings really fast, all you need is time. The two weeks were tough, then I had a piece of chocolate again and I realised that it was more the idea of eating the chocolate than the chocolate itself that I had missed. So I didn't get the same satisfaction anymore.

So there's good news and bad news. Bad news is that only time helps, good news being that it does help! Just give it time and try to stay strong best of luck! xo

I think this is definitely what needs to happen. Its happened with so many other foods like crisps, cheese, toast, that I've not realised I've cut them out and therefore when I think of them, I don't want them, purely because I want to be healthy.

(Original post by Rock Paper Spock)
Don't chocolate hate just appreciate that you enjoy eat and cut down the quantity you consume rather than cut it out entirely. Remember kids "everything in moderation"

Please read above

(Original post by lolipanda)
deliberately spend your change on other things until you have nothing left. then you won't even be able to buy chocolate. then replace it with, hm maybe those low fat chocolate mousse dessert things? you've got cadbury's and milky bar ones, and 1 a day isn't too bad.

(Original post by tufc)
I'm dieting at the moment, and I've recently discovered the wonders of instant hot chocolate!
You can get it from Morrisons for £1.30 a tub, and if you get the low-calorie one, it's only 40 calories a cup. Put some of the powder in a cup, bang some hot water on it, and you have a 40-calorie answer to your craving for chocolate.

(Original post by DudeRugs)
Nothing can replace chocolate. Maybe just try to eat it as part of your breakfast, it might help.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012...n_1626701.html

http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/2...d-weight-loss/

(Original post by Cake Faced Kid.)
I like alpro soya chocolate yoghurts, also options hot chocolate sachets, 40 cals per cup. Could try tesco light choices chocolate mousse pots as well.

(Original post by katehlouise)
If you buy dark chocolate that's over 70% pure cacoa, it's not that bad for you! It actually has some health benefits.
Of course, I think it's an acquired taste - I really dislike dark chocolate myself!

Not completely scientific but...
http://www.fitbuff.com/5-benefits-of...fore-enjoying/

My newsagents takes card

I definitely think chocolate in low calorific form in some other way woule be good. I definitely like the sound of a good hot chocolate, and I definitely like the sound of the alpro soya ones, as that must have other good effects too.

Ultimately as someone up there ^ said, its about getting over the cravings, and going cold turkey is the way forward. I'm gonna have to go cold turkey for a month, see if I still want chocolate, and if I do, then have it in that hot chocolate form or the alpro soya way.

Thanks everyone!

Anymore suggestions, feel free!

Infact I have another question. I think the reason people get addicted to chocolate is because it boosts serotonin levels. Does anyone know of any natural healthy foods that boosts serotonin?

Thanks!

[Rock Paper Spock]

If cold turkey doesn't work try slowly reducing intake e.g of a dairy milk have the whole bar one day then 1 less piece the next time you want it... Until eventually your contempt with just one piece

[insignificant]

(Original post by Bubblyminty)
Decide 2 days each week where you award yourself to eat a bar of your favourite chocolate. Cutting it out completely will make you crave it and you will fail. I love chocolate, I tried to cut it out but it didn't work. I limit myself to one bar each week on a Friday. And just don't stock chocolate in the house; if it is not there then you can't possibly eat it.

If you want snacks then keep eating the ones that you are currently having such as nuts and fruit. Don't deny yourself of chocolate. If you really want something chocolate flavoured then I suggest a low-calorie chocolate milk drink or hot chocolate .

Oh and I agree- I hate dark chocolate. It's not for me, the first time I tired a 75% piece...I literally spat it out.

I think dark chocolate in very small quantities might be nice,like grated over something like you might do with lemon zest. But otherwise it just makes me feel horrible! I think I'm gonna have to try go cold turkey first, really go for it and see, but yes I might have to find a day where I feel like I've 'deserved it' but then I have emotionally rewarding myself with bad food. I don't do it in any other area of my life, I don't have any vices, and I don't think I'd like to start one, which is why I'm desperate to cut it out .

(Original post by charli135)
I always have a bowl of coco pops instead of chocolate - for me it works just as well good luck!

I wish I could find a gluten free form of coco pops but I'm glad it works for you!

[jmlkey]

(Original post by insignificant)
Hi everyone

Over the past year I've gone from a very unhealthy lifestyle to a fantastic one. I literally felt like a tub of lard. At 11stone and being 5 ft 3, I had size 32J boobs, and I felt like a tub of lard. I would sit and eat crisps, chocolate, white bread toast, butter on everything, chocolate yoghurts the works, and do nothing infront of the TV. I was in a dark place, but as I got psychological help, through my own research, I realised I wasn't doing myself any favours.

I now have a gluten free lifestyle, as I discovered I'm gluten intolerant. I have muesli for breakfast, a variety of salads or healthy sandwiches for lunch, my mum cooks healthy dinners, I now walk a minimum of 4-5k after dinner. I've gone down to 9 and a half stone.

But one thing that I cannot shake off is my love for chocolate. I've tried everything to replace it. Ive tried raisins, home made fruit salads, dark chocolate (eurgh), snacking on nuts, basically, natural sugars. But nothing works! I am deeply attached to chocolate, and I cant just have one piece, its all or nothing.

Does anyone have any tips to help me out to stop me having chocolate? It doesnt feel healthy, it makes me feel guilty and horrible.

Thankyou!

Personally, i think it's important not to be TOO fanatical about lifestyle. Dedication is extremely important, but if you enjoy eating chocolate, there's no reason why you shouldn't have it.
If you genuinely don't trust yourself to eat it in moderation, summon all your willpower and go cold turkey.

[insignificant]

(Original post by Rock Paper Spock)
If cold turkey doesn't work try slowly reducing intake e.g of a dairy milk have the whole bar one day then 1 less piece the next time you want it... Until eventually your contempt with just one piece

Thats another alternative I'd be willing to try if cold turkey doesn't work, thanks I'd just have to try remember to go put the extra bits straight in the bin ! haha.

[insignificant]

(Original post by jmlkey)
Personally, i think it's important not to be TOO fanatical about lifestyle. Dedication is extremely important, but if you enjoy eating chocolate, there's no reason why you shouldn't have it.
If you genuinely don't trust yourself to eat it in moderation, summon all your willpower and go cold turkey.

I think I'm 'fanatical' about it at the moment because I'm in a transitional place in my life where lots is happening and it is a bit obsessive because I'm trying to get myself into a routine and a place where I don't have to think about bad choices because they dont appear as an option to me, and healthy living is just the norm. I know for a fact I cant eat it in moderation so cold turkey is the only option.

[Shawshank]

Nutella is absolutely awful for you, just an fyi.

[journalismus]

You could try eating small amounts of dark chocolate, which is good for you (in moderation, compared to milk chocolate).