chocolate addiction

[Nottsangel2015]

So ive put about 3 stone on in the last couple of years, partly due to pregnancy but mostly due to rubbish eating habits and snacking. Have a holiday booked for July and want to get on it and lose some weight. Problem - I am completely out of control with chocolate. Even trying to not keep it in the house just makes me go out and fetch some I am that addicted! If we have a pack of bars I won't just have one a day I'll have 2 or 3, same with cake.
Does anyone have any tips on how to kick this habit, I don't even tell my partner how much of it I eat, I will eat it when he's not around so he doesn't know. I think that is a serious problem! I have done diets where I've tried to stick to it but the minute I allow myself a treat I binge on it and it's all over and I'm back to square one.
There must be something I can do i have no control or willpower at all!

[Nottsangel2015]

Hi guys, sorry I have not been on here for ages! I've not been well behaved and have had some big binges and been mega lazy having lots of takeaways!
I am back on it now tho and after putting on 4lb over the last month I've nearly lost it all again in the last 3 days.
I've started following the terri Ann 123 diet, it's a low carb high protein and so far is going good, I've decided not to go 100% sugar free as its too hard for me to try and do that and eat healthy. 1 thing at a time as they say. Anyway this diet is brilliant I'm eating so much food and love my meat anyway so it does fit me and am able to eat sugar free jelly everyday which surprisingly is helping my sweet tooth. The turning point for me was trying on my swimsuits for holiday omg felt quite disgusted with myself! I go away in exactly 12 weeks so 3 months and I want to lose 2 dress sizes! Really hoping that's achievable on this new diet as it claims to lose up to 10lb on the first 10 day boost which should really spur me on and then an average of 2lb a week thereafter, so far so good anyway.
It's so good to read you were all doing so well!!! How are you all getting on now? Enjoying the hot weather I hope! Good thing about summer finally coming is plenty of salads for dinner! X

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Only stevia, and even then I only have 2 in a cup of coffee a couple of times a day. The hardest bit for me was going cold turkey on fruit believe it or not, as I have always been a slimming world-er so was used to just grazing on fruit during the day. I quit fruit 2 weeks before beginning this properly, and now I just have a w frozen raspberries on yoghurt a couple of times a week. I reckon I'm saving 500 cals a day just by not eating fruit.

[BreakingBod]

Hmmm I think the sugar-free part will be hard enough for me without fretting about calories and feeling hungry too. I may try a couple of weeks not worrying about the calories, then once I've hopefully settled into it I could introduce that part. Good that your belly has reduced, I'd be pleased with that! Do you have any artificial sweeteners?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I haven't done 800 cals every day, I've aimed for 900-1000 each day and have had a few 'free days' where I haven't counted cals but have stayed sugar free. The biggest change I've noticed is round my tummy, I've lost the poochy belly!

[BreakingBod]

I'm unsure about the 800 cals a day element - thinking I might be better to just follow the low carb med diet but not be so strict on the cals to begin with..?? I haven't finished reading the book yet though so will decide once I've read it all.

[BreakingBod]

That sounds encouraging. I have a healthy BMI but when I measured around my stomach yesterday I was shocked to find that I'm in the 'at risk' category! I'm relatively slim but I do carry all my extra weight on my middle and I do live more or less entirely on (simple) carbs, so I know I'm going to have to bite the bullet and do it. Totally dreading the withdrawal though...

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Weirdly no, hungry yes, but not eat anything in sight starving. The cravings really do stop after a few days. I feel so good on it, and I have so much energy, sleeping g better and just generally feeling 'well' for a change.

[BreakingBod]

Oh well done, it sounds very tricky but I'm hoping DH will join me on it which should help. Have you been starving on it?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Breaking , I've found it surprisingly easy. I've lost quite a lot now in 19 days, still sugar free. Its definitely worth a try!

[BreakingBod]

Just part way through reading The Blood Sugar Diet and think I'm going to give it a go...!!

[Shockingundercrackers]

cherry for you going through all that. I suffer from anxiety and depression too and hilariously find myself too anxious to actually take the ADs I've been described (health anxiety is my main thing I think!) so it's even more impressive that you've changed your diet and become more active.

If you don't mind, I'm going to use you as my inspiration. I'm 44 and my health is never brilliant but you've made me realise that you've got to get through whatever life throws at you, so you might as well be fit and healthy to crack on with it.

I can walk so should do more of that. I have a toddler and he's one of my main excuses for not doing much but I could pop him in the buggy and I could definitely do a DVD now and again.

I gave carby breakfasts the swerve this morning and had eggs and avocado instead. Lunch was a hearty soup with lentils and spinach and whatnot and I didn't have the bread... also passed up the biscuits at a playdate so that's a good start.

I'm hoping if I reduce carbs for a week it will be hell but I might lose some of the cravings.

Nottsangel how are you doing?

[cherrytree63]

Thanks!
Shocking are you able to walk comfortably?
One of my motivations was my upcoming double mastectomy, I knew I'd recover quicker if I was fitter! (I had to wait a year because I was too ill to cope with the anaesthesia).
I tried to start running about a year ago, but within 20/30 strides I got horrific shin pain, wasn't splints, turned out my vit d levels were incredibly low, and shin and sternum pain can be symptoms.
So I power walked until I was dripping sweat and heaving (one of my many problems is adult onset asthma). I was obsessed with getting my 10,000 steps!
I also started the Davina 7 minute fit routines.
I always ate far too much at work (NHS ward based job), I was so anxious about being hungry between breaks that I'd eat at every opportunity, and always easy/quick to eat sugar loaded stuff that I could grab on the go.
Now I'm more active it's easier to wait, and make healthier choices, because I know I can eat any time I want.
I did try MFP, but it made me obsess over food, constantly thinking about what I'd eaten, and how much more I could eat to use up all my calories!
I've also taken up running again, found a local running group that trains you for c25k, and recently did my first Park Run.
I've got crappy depression and anxiety, and getting out and exercising really helps (I tried 4 different ADs but couldn't cope with the side effects) and running with the group keeps me motivated.
Although I'm proud of myself, I regret not doing it sooner, at 52 I'm never going to lose my festoons of skin! (Next goal, fill it all up with muscle Mr Universe style)!

[Shockingundercrackers]

I think "allowing" yourself to have something is a good idea. I don't "allow" myself anything - then I disobey myself totally and eat whatever's in the house (not chocolate normally, but high carb always). How do you think you're doing Budgie, are you cracking it?

Wow Cherrytree I'm totally in awe of you. I'm 12 stone at the moment and health issues have played a part with me too. I used to run to regulate my mood and was around the 9.5 / 10 stone mark until I got pregnant, developed severe SPD (which never actually totally went away) and now I have a prolapse so can't do weights or any high impact exercise at all. I'm a stuck at home mum, so near the kitchen all the time and just can't seem to budge myself out of eat-everything-in-the-world mode at all. Congratulations for kicking it and well done you!

[GreenBudgie]

Hi Shocking :-) It's ridiculous isn't it - the more sugar we eat the hungrier we feel and the worse we feel. As Bod said, we all now the facts about sugar, we need to look at why we crave it and find a way to plan healthy, balanced eating. I find if I'm hungry after dinner it's best to "allow"myself to have some wholemeal toast and a hot drink. Thanks for the positivity Cherry.

[cherrytree63]

Hello all, I'm just popping in to say that a year ago I was miserable because of my weight, 12 stone. My weight had been creeping up, but illness struck and I was almost housebound, and eating rubbish all day long.
I too was a chocoholic, a family bar every day, plus biscuits, cakes and crisps.
I don't know how, something just clicked in my head, and I went cold turkey. No chocolate, biscuits, cakes, crisps, no added sugar in anything. I stopped eating any processed food, I'm vegetarian, I eat loads of fruit, veg, dairy, nuts, eggs.
I learned to know when I was actually hungry, not just bored, or peckish, and to recognise the "full up" sensation, which I'd ignored for so long.
Today I weighed 8stone 12oz.
I do have occasional sweet stuff, but small amounts, I no longer feel I have to finish everything, I can eat two biscuits instead of the whole packet.
But I still have no willpower over chocolate, if there's any in the house I have to keep going until it's gone!
Really, if I can do it, anyone can!

[Shockingundercrackers]

Thanks Breaking. I'm actually sitting here wondering what I can eat, even as I type.

Being addicted to food is SO hard. I'm sure it would be easier to stop drinking or doing smack, at least you can just stay away from alcohol or drugs... food is EVERYWHERE (and I say this as the daughter of an alcoholic by the way, I mean no offence).

[BreakingBod]

Thanks budgie, I'm exactly the same, I miss meals, fill up on snacks and then I'm not hungry at the next meal time! I'm going shopping tomorrow so I'll get organised and get some meals planned (and actually stick to them!).

Shocking I'm sure you can, if you're motivated enough. It's tough though, sugar really is scarily addictive.

[Shockingundercrackers]

Can I join you all please? I'm a total chocoholic and I've gained 2.5 stone since having children... I feel horrible, like someone's pumped me up. None of my clothes fit and I have no energy at all . The worst of it is that even though I feel like crap I can't seem to stop eating and crave chocolate ALL the time. I need to go cold turkey too... I've gained and lost the same two stone so many times it's actually really embarrassing, but I'd love just to feel in control of my life again. Can I do this?

[GreenBudgie]

I inhale sugary foods when I get home if I'be skipped meals, then get stuck in the cycle of skipping breakfast due to overeating the night before. I'm starting the day with yoghurt, seeds and banana, having an egg with salad and wholemeal bread for lunch. I snack on seeds as if I go too low fat I get ravenous. I like crunchy foods which is why biscuits feel like "fun" try an apple instead so you still get the crunch maybe? Good work giving up alcohol, maybe get some sugar free drinks in to replace the habit of having wine/beer? Best wishes to everyone I was sugar free today.

[BreakingBod]

Hi Budgie I agree that small changes are probably the only way for me, gradually reducing my sugar intake until I can hopefully cut it out altogether. I've tried cold turkey many times and it always ends in tears, I think because I currently eat so much of the stuff, it's too much of a shock to my system to suddenly try to stop it. It actually makes me really depressed, which I believe is due to sugar's affect on dopamine levels (see, I know all the jargon, I like nothing more than reading all about other people giving up sugar!).

I guess I need to start by trying to have 3 meals a day, which will hopefully reduce my snacking. I currently usually skip meals, and then I'm suddenly ravenous and raiding the cupboards. I also use sweet treats to get me through the day at work - today I was completely aware of not being remotely hungry and yet I munched my way through biscuits just for fun at my desk!

I've recently given up alcohol, which I think should also help to reduce my sugar intake, both from the sugar in the wine, but also the post-drinking snacking that inevitably occurs.

I'll try to put a plan together for the next few day's meals.

[GreenBudgie]

Hi Bod! I find meal planning, always sitting down to eat so I can relax and eat slowly helps, plus drinking water. I am most vulnerable to biscuit / sugar scoffing when I get home from work, or if I'm too tired, so I chew celery at such times to keep my mouth busy and relieve stress. If I've eaten sugar free at breakfast and lunch I don't get so hungry I'll eat anything I can get my hands on. Maybe start by thinking about what you've eaten today, why you ate it and plan one small step a day towards reducing sugar in your diet?

[BreakingBod]

Help! I'm desperately addicted to sugar but just can't stop eating the stuff! Can I hang around and hopefully all your success will inspire me to join you?

[GreenBudgie]

Angel CONGRATULATIONS. The ring is lovely :-). Orr hope you are feeling better. Can you report back on the muffins and share the recipe if it passes the taste test?Risotto I like your approach, being flexible enough to not make sugar free take over all other things in your life. I had a marmalade sandwich and cake on Sunday, but happily sugar free last 2days. 20 mins circuit styles exceeded today. Eating well makes me want to keep active rather than falling into a carb-coma in the evenings. Best wishes to all.

[msrisotto]

Beautiful!!

[Nottsangel2015]

Here is the ring!! I love it so much! An giddy with excitement! Now to try and avoid reaching for the chocs to celebrate!