I'm addicted to chocolate - help

Would going to a hypnotherapist be useful OP?

I was just the same, not overweight but I was eating several sharing bars a day for years and years and even feeling sick wouldn't stop me. Like you I was advised to switch to dark chocolate as you're supposed to feel satisfied after a few squares - no! I could just as easily put away several bars of high quality dark chocolate in one go. There were days where I ate literally nothing but chocolate because it made me happy.

The only thing that worked was going cold turkey and telling myself for the time being you can have whatever you want as long as it's not sweet, so I didn't feel deprived. So I bought loads of crisps, takeaways etc. and ate however much I liked of that for two weeks, just nothing sweet. Then I told myself no more crisps but as much healthy-ish stuff as you want for two weeks, as many sandwiches etc. Then I placed restrictions on that until I was back to a healthy diet.

I put on weight initially doing this and perhaps it wasn't the healthiest method, but it did work and several years on I don't find myself craving chocolate at all. It is like an addiction but if you can beat it you'll find you can look at chocolate in the supermarket and feel no temptation, find it weird it ever appealed to you.

Hey OP I just want to post solidarity. I binged so much on chocolate none of what have written shocks me.

I actually had weight loss surgery a few years ago but could still eat chocolate no problem at all.

Im not sure I will ever be ‘cured’.

I have the moser Roth dark chocolate bars from Aldi and will have at least one a night. I don’t seem to have the cravings that I did with milk chocolate or Lindor balls.

I no longer drink alcohol and I exercise every day (marathon runner) so I’ve just made my peace that I’m a greedy fuck when it comes to chocolate. Oh and obvs have had all blood tests, clean my teeth a lot etc.

I’m terrible for chocolate too. Also AuDHD interestingly. A few months ago I had 2 wisdom teeth out under general anaesthetic. I didn’t really feel like eating after so I didn’t have any chocolate. After a week, my appetite started to come back - but not the chocolate cravings. So I just didn’t have any for about 2 months. Then someone offered me a piece and I thought, one little bit won’t hurt… straight back to daily after that.

So I think you have to give it up completely and give it time to fight the cravings. It does get easier. I wish I hadn’t started eating it again.

Try and overeaters anonymous group?

Could you add up the cost you spend on chocolate per week, and at the end of the week tell yourself you can spend that cost on something you really want instead? When you feel like chocolate, eat something else instead of you need to, and bank the money for your reward at the end of the week?

Yes, I was thinking the same. Like OP I need chocolate every day but for me it's an evening thing. I buy 70 and 85% chocolate and it does happen that I eat the whole bar (Lindt) but usually "just" half and on some days only a third.

@Sk3l3t0n You need to be full after your meals or you will crave chocolate even more because your body needs the calories. My craving is psychological in the evening whereas your craving the whole day seem physological. Try to have more for lunch and finish with greek yoghourt and nuts and fruits.

Im using the slim pod app. I paid 20 quid for the chocolate pod. Its cured my chocolate cravings overnight

I have this ‘problem’. (I don’t think it’s a problem, chocolate is just food!) but actually abundance works well. I buy 2.5kg bags of dark chocolate chips, no way you can eat them all and find therefore with this abundance I can eat a handful at a time, they last ages and I never buy other chocolate because it seems a waste of money.

You should try following ETPHD on instagram

Get a life. I dealt with my own chocolate consumption doing just this - there’s little pleasure in it. It worked and I now barely eat the stuff.

Me too! It has changed my life. I did/still do have a lot of weight to lose. Similar to you I would have ate in secret and hid the evidence 🙈 id buy like the packs of 4 bars or packs of rolos and eat them all on one go. I couldn't have had it in the cupboard, it would feel like it was calling out to me to eat it. It's all I could think about. I would have to buy some when I went into the shop and would have made excuses to go to the shop so I could buy some.

Been on MJ since July and I don't even really like chocolate any more.

I am the same - but only with milk chocolate. Switch to dark, I like Lindt salted caramel. 6 squares of that and I feel sick, so I generally only have 2!

This is probably the worst advice I’ve ever seen.

This is what addicts do, can’t you see that? Getting a fix is addiction behaviour.

Dip the tip of a wet teaspoon into cocoa - the proper stuff, not drinking chocolate. That will deliver your hit minus the sugar or fat.

The amount you’re eating doesn’t sound terrible, try to remove the guilt.

Have you tried drinking a pint of water before eating it? It might put you off.

Would you consider drinking a hot chocolate over an hour or so and this may extend the chocolate taste but via a hot drink. Would this reduce the amount consumed via eating? I know it’s just maybe swapping one for another but you can get different types of powders such as sugar-free and use full cream or skim milk or whatever you prefer depending on diet/taste.

Lots of good strategies posted but, if there's a part of your mind that truly believes that chocolate makes you happy (and it's proved right, if only during the time that you're eating it) then it's going to be an uphill struggle.

It’s a miracle you’ve lost 6 stone! How did you a achieve this when eating so much chocolate?

I’ve found my people

I’ve lost 6 stone and I’m maintaining but my goodness I’m an actual addict when it comes to chocolate.

It’s all I think about. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol but I eat 100-200g chocolate a day.

Similar to what a PP said, if there’s chocolate in the house I spring up out of bed as I’m excited by the thought of getting my fix!

It’s what I go to when I’m bored, stressed, upset but also when I’m happy and feeling like I deserve a reward.

My whole life revolves around sneaking into shops when I’m alone to get my goods. And I’ll hide the evidence.

The cost also is ridiculous

I remember when I was 18 (now 38), I started rapidly gaining weight as Cadbury had just brought out the big bags of chocolates and I was buying two of the bags of giant buttons per day. I remember eating both bags at once one day rather than spacing them out and when I went to bed shortly after the room started spinning & I had to run to the bathroom to be sick!

Im so sad to think I’ve had 20+ years of this!

I try every single day to have some chocolate and count it in my calorie allowance but I always end up eating at least 5 times more than when I’ve tracked.

Im starting to think cold turkey is the only way, but the thought of Christmas without chocolate makes me sad.

AGHHH what is wrong with me?!!!! Why am I like this 😩

I’ve been where you are. For me:

1. Eat much more at mealtimes, and always eat three sensible meals (and probably way more than feels like you should: include protein, carbs, healthy fats and veggies at every meal)
2. Run or walk every morning (the days I don’t my eating goes a bit mad)
3. Make no snacking a rule (eating is not a hobby)
4. Melt dark chocolate over nuts. Have 2 or 3 when you feel like it at the end of a meal.

For me I think I just wasn’t eating enough proper food and it was part of the problem. I don’t really calorie count but I eat 700 cals plus at every meal now. I am not slim but am (high) normal bmi (and I wasn’t before).

Good luck x

Are you on ADHD medication?

My chocolate gorging stopped when I started Elvanse. My psychiatrist said I was looking for a dopamine hit.