Do you consider yourself to have “an issue” with Chocolate? Talk to me.

[ValleyClouds]

I’m on a Weight Loss Journey and doing really well (20kg)

I’m an ex smoker and I replaced smoking with chocolate.

In not gorging myself on it by any means but I genuinely feel hard done by and anxious if I can’t get a fix when I want one. I’m talking a small amount like a small bar or Crème Egg

Is anyone else like this? And how did you kick it ?

Haven't kicked it.

Have bought dark chocolate buttons to try and only have a small bit at a time.

Probably have chocolate twice a day. It's my biggest vice!

I was getting too used to eating (quite a lot) of chocolate. Last week I decided I needed to stop. I moved onto eating sweets like fruit pastilles and starburst (just mindlessly cramming them all in). I think I ate so many I got sick of them. I caved in last night and had 2 kit kats in succession then felt annoyed with myself straight away. Im just going to have to not drop into shops for random treats so often. I never used to do this. Ive been buying grapes and mini carrots to crunch on instead this week and its been fine so far.

Not kicked it. I try to go for dark or good quality chocolate though and eat mindfully.

I did practically a year off chocolate and sugary foods but I’m maintaining weight loss now and trying to be less restrictive as I think it was a bad decision to cut it out completely. When I start to have some sugary treats again, I found myself overeating which I think is a result of the restriction so trying something different now.

Relieved I’m not alone. The problem with going to the shops and NOT buying chocolate is that I know I’ll be in a mood all evening but jf I do buy chocolate then I’m just perpetuating the cycle

I found that I only really crave chocolate when there isn't any in the house. If I have a small bar in the cupboard, then that chocolate can last me for months, because I am reassured it's there if I want it, tell myself I can have it any time I like - and that seems to stop me from wanting it?

That could be the ADHD talking though.

I am reassured it’s there if I want it

This is what I’m like!

Dark chocolate with tiny pieces works for me.
I hate dark chocolate but it hits the spot so I am happy without having too much.

I can't have chocolate in the house, I'll eat it all. I eat dates instead now for something sweet, often with walnuts or peanutt butter to make them more filling. I try to focus on not feeling deprived, and reframe it to feeling virtuous that I'm getting fiber, protein and one of my 5 a day for my sweet fix

If not eating chocolate at all isn't what you want to do, maybe try eating half as much with something else high in protein or fibre to make it more filling and satisfying

I’m like an alcoholic but with chocolate. I just don’t buy it, but sometimes DH will buy me a massive bar as a treat and I can’t just have a bit. I just eat it until it’s gone. I keep telling him to stop buying it. I have no self-control. Generally I can do without it. If I get a craving I just have some fruit or something and it passes. But if it’s in the house, there’s no stopping me.

I have a massive problem with it. Whether it's at home or not, I want it.

I need to lose weight and feel miserable.

I hear you @DreamyJade I manage to portion a small bar but a big bar I will just keep going back

Totally get it @Specialneedsnightmare

I enjoy chocolate, would not consider myself to have a problem with it.

Crisps, on the other hand…..

I have put on a lot of weight over the past few years and I dread to think how much of it is purely down to crisps.

I swear I’m going to cut down but once I start I can’t stop and I go through all the usual tropes of rationalising it to myself.

I guess a lot of people have their vices. Those who don’t are just built differently, I think. Even if they are just built as having more self-control.

I used to drink wine and eat crisps. I gave up the wine quite a while ago but can’t seem to give up the crisps.

Death row meal would be cheese and onion Discos, with a side of Nice n Spicy Nik Naks, followed by Roast Beef Monster Munch, then bags and bags of Pickled Onion Space Raiders till my lips turn white and fall off

Dark chocolate as methodone, I like it.

See I’m a Junk Food Junkie and I LIKE a Crisp but I can abstain even if it’s a Wotsit or a Roast Chicken Walkers @ohyesiseethatnow

@ValleyClouds Buy really dark chocolate - the 85% stuff. You get your chocolate fix really quickly and it is so strong it isn't as moreish as regular chocolate. Plus - it is expensive so you want to eke it out.😁

I’m not sure it would work @FettchYeSandbagges because I’m not a fan of dark chocolate I have heard it works though for a lot of people

I mainly eat dark chocolate now but I used to combine chocolate with fruit to make it more filling and less mindless. So for example I would have some chocolate buttons with a clementine - peeling the clementine and putting it on a little tub with some chocolate buttons always made the buttons slightly fruity which is lovely.

Also, and I know this is an old one, but apples and peanut butter are a great sub for chocolate. Even just do sliced apples and some Nutella.

My main problem with chocolate is that I find Cadbury absolutely inedible most of the time now. It just tastes like oil. I usually eat dark chocolate now or stick to biscuits.

There is no better chocolate than Easter eggs (even Cadburys!), and unfortunately there were quite a few in the sale! It's a worse addiction than wine. I do keep a close eye on my weight though, and can hold off for a few days if it sneaks up.

Crisps - wouldn't thank you for them!

I was a chocoholic and would actually have a panic attack if there wasn't any in the house. Then I caught covid for the first time (in that first year) and was severely ill and now I can go months without any and can leave it half eaten too, ie half a packet of buttons.

Not a pathway I recommend though, sorry OP.

I can't eat any or i get addicted again. You have to stop for a week and then the addiction goes. Dark chocolate in small amounts seems harmless but is like a gateway drug to the strong stuff. If some makes its way into the hpuse i give it away or throw it away

The only way I can limit myself is by only having dark chocolate in the house. Anything else gets inhaled.

I love chocolate and cake and eat at least some every day. I have a low/healthy bmi. I find big bars I can’t stop eating. When I have been bingeing on chocolate (ED never fully recovered from) and need to reign it in, I find individually wrapped/portioned items great. Roses, celebrations etc. I’ve just had a little malteser bunny from the pack that was individually wrapped with a sandwich and cup of tea. It’s not 100%. In the wrong frame of mind I can find myself surrounded by wrappers 😂, but I know more often than not that it works for me. I also like the 2 pack of Kipling cakes for a snack. Basically, items that I choose the portion on (whole cake), I always eat more. I always keep treats in the house or I crave them more and I always have something every day so don’t feel deprived and restricted.

edit- I mention bmi purely to kind of illustrate that despite my love of rubbish food, I feel my method means I have a reasonable handle on it overall.

Binge it hard until you vomit and then you won’t want any again for a while.

I did this with wine. 🤣

I've lost 3 stone on weight loss injections and kept the weight off but twice a week I do enjoy a bar of fruit and nut. Just not something I can give up at all.

I thought this thread was going to be about how awful chocolate has become

Do you think you are craving it because its a disappointment now?

Im not massively keen on chocolate but do like it sometimes, so we buy the very small 15g bars of Green and Blacks, it comes with all different flavours if you get one of those taster sets, so you can have the pick of the flavours in a small amount.