aquafreash Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Hello there! It sounds so silly, but when faced with the question "what one thing is holding you back from completing your main quest?" I realized that I eat pretty well for my height, build, and fitness regime. The only thing that I'm finding difficult is cutting down on the chocolate! I think that these cravings are psychological but I'm finding it impossible to slay them. Its like a game boss that's really, unbelievably difficult to take down, and if I could take down only one of my demons right now - if I was only able to cross off one quest at all - it would be this one! If I go a day without it I feel moody, sleepy, irritable, and experience mild headaches. Every single day I; do really well with my diet and fitness, binge out on chocolate, feel guilty, swear off of it, then fail again the next day - rinse, lather, repeat. So does anybody have any tips? How can I eradicate chocolate cravings? Thank you, fellow rebels! 1 Quote Level 0 ElfSTR 0 | DEX 0 | STA 0 | CON 0 | WIS 0 | CHA 0"It's not safe out here.It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross;but it's not for the timid" Link to comment
kirstenanke Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Wow, that sounds baaaad!! I've had to cut chocolate out completely, after three days of longing for it the craving wasn't strong anymore. But I still won't even try a little bit as I'm worried that it'll just start and won't be able to stop! Saying that I don't think my addiction was a strong as yours, I've never had any physical side effect, how much of the stuff do you eat?? A very good piece of advice I've read on here has been to go darker and darker until you end up with say 80% chocolate with the idea that you'll hopefully be okay with just a small bite due to the strength of the taste. Other than that it's like a lot of things, get your mind into the zone, brace yourself and GO FOR IT, you can do it!!! Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment
aquafreash Posted August 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 I know, right! I eat it at least once a day, at most snacking all day long. All the symptoms are mild at most, but when combined it can take its toll, ha ha. That's a pretty good idea, actually. I think that I'll give it a go. I guess that I'll throw out the chocolate that I have about, stock up on different percentage dark chocolate, and work through them as slowly as possible until the craving goes away. Or maybe I'll just try not to eat it at all for three days, like you did. It'll probably pass by. Thank you. Quote Level 0 ElfSTR 0 | DEX 0 | STA 0 | CON 0 | WIS 0 | CHA 0"It's not safe out here.It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross;but it's not for the timid" Link to comment
Disil Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 I can confirm that those cravings disappear the longer you abstain. It's much harder for me to resist a chocolate bar if I had one just a few hours ago than if I had had one a week ago. So maybe just try to power through a couple of days, maybe add some extra exercise or things that make you happy and are rewarding that aren't food-related (a massage, doing something with friends, shopping) for some or all of those days and see if it's getting better. Also, just to make sure, are you getting enough carbs otherwise? It seems unlikely, but maybe maybe maybe your diet is very light on carbs and without the chocolate you're below that certain threshhold where you get those symptoms? 1 Quote How about a glass of purgatory with a splash of heaven? Link to comment
aquafreash Posted August 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Hm... I tend to not eat very much, really. I'll wake up and have some veggies. Then I snack on chocolate throughout the day. And before I go to bed, I'll have a jacket potato or something. But besides that, and if you cut the chocolate out of the equation, I don't eat very much, so maybe I need to up my carbs intake (and dairy, and other food groups too!) I'm wondering if the amount of chocolate I eat is putting me off my food, leading me to not eat very much else. You're right. I think I'll try to power through three days without any chocolate and more exercise to distract myself. That way, those pesky little withdrawal symptoms (how silly are they?) should ease up and make the cutting down process easier. Man. This is going to take a lot of willpower. Damn. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it. Quote Level 0 ElfSTR 0 | DEX 0 | STA 0 | CON 0 | WIS 0 | CHA 0"It's not safe out here.It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross;but it's not for the timid" Link to comment
Disil Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 From what you're describing, you're not only eating not enough carbs, but not enough in general so it's very possible that on a day without chocolate, you're not only low on carbs, but pretty low on calories as well. Quote How about a glass of purgatory with a splash of heaven? Link to comment
Gobnait Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Try having something without chocolate... or have coco powder without the sugar. It's probably needing sugar, and possibly a bit of fat. Quote I have conditions that affect my social awareness. If I am rude, tell me what I could do better. 5'8" & 220 260 pounds | Miles Walked: X 2019: | 1 | 2 | 3 | Pre 2017: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | * | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Link to comment
lishvicious Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Sounds like you need a complete diet overhaul - you need to eat more! It sounds like at the moment you are having vegetables, potato and chocolate? You need a healthy balance of carb, protein and healthy fats. I think if you had a nutritious and filling meal plan you wouldn't need the chocolate at all. 1 Quote Level 1 :: Lycan (STR-2 :: DEX-2 :: STA-2 :: CON-2 :: WIS-1 :: CHA-1) Challenges: One Daily logs: Battle log / MFP Link to comment
Endor Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Ah the great thing about being an adult is you get to eat whatever you want. Yay! Doesn't mean you should though! If I were you I'd track everything precisely for a few days in MyFitnessPal and see what you come out with. Not to be rude but you really need to educate yourself on nutrition, Steve's done some good articles on Paleo and figuring out how many calories to eat. Quote Endor, LVL 45 Half-Elf Ranger PR and Motivation Log | Current Battle Log Feb-March 2022 Challenge Link to comment
Disil Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Ah the great thing about being an adult is you get to eat whatever you want. Yay! Doesn't mean you should though!Hahaha, that reminds me of something. 4 Quote How about a glass of purgatory with a splash of heaven? Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Hahaha, that reminds me of something. A few weeks ago, before I decided to get healthy again, I had ice cream for breakfast one morning. Because I'm an adult. Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
Nephthie Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 I LOVE chocolate too, although it has never been a problem for me (not as much as cheese, glorious cheese). I make a smoothie in the morning with raw cacao powder, a banana, powdered peanut butter (think peanut butter cup), and maybe some honey or maple syrup if I am craving something a little sweet. Having the powder around is nice, you can't really gorge on it because it isn't sweet or too delicious by itself but if I want chocolate I can whip up a smoothie. As you go along you will learn for yourself is chocolate is something you have to give up completely or can enjoy as a treat. Like the others have said, it sounds like balancing your diet will help with cravings and get your body back on track. Quote Human Adventurer: Level 2 || STR 4 || DEX 1 || STA 3 || CON 1 || WIS 3 || CHA 2 || Current Challenge: #2 || Battle Log || Past Challenges: #1 Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 I agree with the rest -- you need to eat more. I recommend the My Fitness Pal app to track how many calories you're eating and pay special attention to your macros -- but really, any app will do. If you're interested in paleo, Steve has a great primer on his blog; personally, I follow Michael Pollan's Food Rules for my dietary guidelines (there's 64 (very simple) rules in total, but it all boils down to simply this: eat real food). As for chocolate cravings, I have two instances with specific criteria in which I'll allow myself to give in to said cravings because yes, I'm a chocoholic too! Scenario 1: If I have the calories to spare, and I made healthy choices throughout the day.Scenario 2: It's a special occasion. I'm proud to say I don't binge on chocolate anymore like I used to. It's a treat, and that's all it is. Though I will admit to having dark chocolate almond butter on my toasts. It's a sneaky way for me to get in my fix. XD 1 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
TurtIe Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Willpower, like your muscles, gets stronger with training. I had awful chocolate habits (I would go through a 200g block daily) until I stopped buying it and started treating trips out to the shops as a "willpower workout". Now, the only time I'll eat it is if it's a part of desserts prepared for me, but I'll never buy it for myself, even on cheat days. Quote "No-one tells a T-Rex when to go to sleep".- Jim Wendler Link to comment
kirstenanke Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Also I strongly believe that when your body's nutritional needs are met it will stop mindlessly craving food as it doesn't need to anymore. When I eat crap I constantly crave something, half the time I don't even know what but I eat and I eat without ever being satisfied... 1 Quote Link to comment
aquafreash Posted August 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Thanks for the advice, every one! So I just cut out chocolate, and then made sure to fill up on plenty of veggies, carbs, healthy fats, dairies, etc... Two days in and the cravings aren't as bad as I thought. I'm feeling healthier and have been eating much more - and of the right stuff. I feel like I have more energy too. I think that this was a decision for the best. 4 Quote Level 0 ElfSTR 0 | DEX 0 | STA 0 | CON 0 | WIS 0 | CHA 0"It's not safe out here.It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross;but it's not for the timid" Link to comment
Barfly Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 How about a smoothie with chocolate protein powder? Quote The past is only smoke in a dream. Lvl 6 Ranger Berzerker STR 9 DEX 4 STA 9 CON 8 WIS 2 CHA 8 Barfly ain't even tryin'... Link to comment
Barfly Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Also I strongly believe that when your body's nutritional needs are met it will stop mindlessly craving food as it doesn't need to anymore. When I eat crap I constantly crave something, half the time I don't even know what but I eat and I eat without ever being satisfied... When I eat donuts... I don't think my brain registers it as food. Quote The past is only smoke in a dream. Lvl 6 Ranger Berzerker STR 9 DEX 4 STA 9 CON 8 WIS 2 CHA 8 Barfly ain't even tryin'... Link to comment
aquafreash Posted August 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 When I eat donuts... I don't think my brain registers it as food. My brain tends to do that with sweeties in general, ha ha Quote Level 0 ElfSTR 0 | DEX 0 | STA 0 | CON 0 | WIS 0 | CHA 0"It's not safe out here.It's wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross;but it's not for the timid" Link to comment
Endor Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Hahaha, that reminds me of something.Sorta off topic but your ice cream cartoon reminded me of this which always makes me laugh when I'm having a bad day! 3 Quote Endor, LVL 45 Half-Elf Ranger PR and Motivation Log | Current Battle Log Feb-March 2022 Challenge Link to comment
Endor Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 When I eat donuts... I don't think my brain registers it as food.The trick with donuts is to only eat the holes 1 Quote Endor, LVL 45 Half-Elf Ranger PR and Motivation Log | Current Battle Log Feb-March 2022 Challenge Link to comment
ayeshaschroeder Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 I LOVE chocolate and think that part of being successful involves managing how you fit your favorite foods into your lifestyle. I personally am very satisfied when I eat a Quest Double Chocolate Chunk bar. These bars have 160 cal, 20 grams of protein, 17 grams of fiber and I can almost guarantee you will love them. Try finding alternate ways of enjoying chocolate. I add a little unsweetened cacao powder to my oatmeal along with some stevia. It's delicious, gives you chocolate, but doesn't have a ton of added sugar or fat. I also make chocolate pudding from my protein shake mix. Take a couple scoops (or whatever a serving size is) add water and mix until it's a pudding like consistency. If you enjoy chocolate ice cream (who doesn't?) mix chocolate protein shake mix with some Greek yogurt, blend in a food processor, and freeze OR just have a Klondike no sugar added bar. Hope that helps! Good luck. Quote Link to comment
Windranger Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 I can confirm that those cravings disappear the longer you abstain. It's much harder for me to resist a chocolate bar if I had one just a few hours ago than if I had had one a week ago. So maybe just try to power through a couple of days, maybe add some extra exercise or things that make you happy and are rewarding that aren't food-related (a massage, doing something with friends, shopping) for some or all of those days and see if it's getting better. Also, just to make sure, are you getting enough carbs otherwise? It seems unlikely, but maybe maybe maybe your diet is very light on carbs and without the chocolate you're below that certain threshhold where you get those symptoms? The first two sentences could be written by me. It's absolutely the same for me. In general, staying consquent at something that I have been consequent on for some time already is way less difficult than stying consequent after you just gave up on it. The advice to get along without any for some days is what I built in in my current challenge (no chocolate for six weeks) and the advice to replace it through something that makes you happy is genius. Also I strongly believe that when your body's nutritional needs are met it will stop mindlessly craving food as it doesn't need to anymore. When I eat crap I constantly crave something, half the time I don't even know what but I eat and I eat without ever being satisfied...Same here. Especially when I eat grain or chocolate I get sooo damn hungry and cannot stop eating anymore. Had the same problem today. Awful Quote "The purpose of life is to be happy." - Tendzin Gyatsho, the 14th Dalai Lama Character Link to comment
kirstenanke Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Last night I opened the Nutella jar and took a loooong sniff, like a glue addict haha! Help though, oddly enough What also helps is that nowadays when I DO have chocolate I feel like shite afterwards, it's worth remembering... 1 Quote Link to comment
Barfly Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Last night I opened the Nutella jar and took a loooong sniff, like a glue addict haha! Help though, oddly enough What also helps is that nowadays when I DO have chocolate I feel like shite afterwards, it's worth remembering...Did just smelling chocolate help? You could get a chocolate air freshener or a chocolate scented marker to carry around with you. 2 Quote The past is only smoke in a dream. Lvl 6 Ranger Berzerker STR 9 DEX 4 STA 9 CON 8 WIS 2 CHA 8 Barfly ain't even tryin'... Link to comment
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