I've got an addiction, I need help!

Miffi_2

Please do not laugh, but I'm seriously addicted to chocolate. I've got to have a 'hit' everyday, I really have.

This isn't good for my health I'm sure or my purse, so what do I do? My husband thinks I should just go cold turkey, but not sure that would work (thinking about my willpower). I tried to replace it with smoothies etc, but I like the taste of chocolate and they aren't the same.

This is so ridiculous, but does anyone understand?

nrsql

Not ridiculous
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/chocolate/

What sort of quantity are you talking about.
Does it affect your health (weight, skin, ...)

Have you got into the habit of having chocolate at the same time every day or when you are doing something in particular?
I guess the answer would be to replace the cravings with something else i.e. keep occupied / change your habits. Try changing the order you do things during the day.

Starry-eyed_surprise

Miffi!!! You and me both!!! How hard is it to resist!!! Sometimes, when I really, really can't afford it I can walk the other way so I don't pass the Thorntons den of iniquity when I'm in town but I have to be very brave.......
When I'm at home I try and drink a glass of water so my taste buds feel refreshed and will hopefully quiten down. I agree - I'm an addict too :eek:
I even tried cheapest own brand supermarket chocolate thinking that would put me off - but it's delicious!! :eek:

Biddyrolo

Have you tried substituting carob bars for chocolate? There's less fat and no caffeine so could be a way of weaning yourself off.

tyllwyd

Did you watch the Paul McKenna series on losing weight on Sky One earlier this year? He recommends 'tapping' to beat cravings

http://www.skyone.co.uk/mckenna/tapping/

I have no idea whether it works, but it is free so worth a try!

briona

Miffi wrote:

Please do not laugh, but I'm seriously addicted to chocolate. I've got to have a 'hit' everyday, I really have.

This isn't good for my health I'm sure or my purse, so what do I do? My husband thinks I should just go cold turkey, but not sure that would work (thinking about my willpower). I tried to replace it with smoothies etc, but I like the taste of chocolate and they aren't the same.

This is so ridiculous, but does anyone understand?

Hi Miffi

I whole-heartedly understand. And no, nothing can replace chocolate or provide the same satisfaction...

When I started my quest to become debt free, I took chocolate as just one example of where my so-called spare money was going each month... I was shocked [and a little disgusted] to realise that I was spending around £500 per year on my addiction... That, if nothing else, was enough to kick my habit into touch.

Of course, I didn't give up completely – I am a chocoholic after all – but now instead of spending 40p+ per hit [usually around 6 times a day], I add the chocolate to my weekly shopping for a cheaper [and longer lasting] hit – try a large bar of Tesco's dark [or milk or white] chocolate for 48p! Bargain! I'm hooked on Penguins at the moment, specifically because they're currently BOGOF in Tescos...

When you realise the amount of money you can save/put towards clearing some horrible credit card, you should be inspired to at least alter your chocolate habit! It worked for me, and now I'm debt free with some savings in the bank, and a [slightly] more acceptable consumption of chocolate!

Briona

WestonDave

Probably a daft idea but this is what I'd do (and yes I recognise it may be easier said than done)

Work out the cost of your usual "fix" and convert your debt balance into a number of bars - i.e. if you owe £100 and buy £1 bars then 100 bars.

Then make a wall chart for say a month and for each day mark it as you go along either with a chocolate symbol if you succumb or a house brick (since your target is a house move) if you manage without. Seeing that graphically on your fridge or wherever maybe enough when you are standing in the shop about to buy. At the end of the month add up the number of non chocolate days and credit yourself with this amount of any debt reduction - again you see the reward for giving up as being directly related to what you want long term as opposed to the short term fix. Maybe you could plan to allow yourself one treat day a week to make it less draconian.

netally

You can get special patches to kick the craving, but that would be expensive. I would try going cold turkey, but replace the choccies with bananas and strawberries to give you a sweetie fix without the calories. Sometimes if i'm dying for some unhealthy food I brush my teeth. Sounds odd, but it makes me nice and refreshed and healthy feeling.

loopyloulou_3

me too!

it gets to about 3pm and i cant resist getting a choc hit, and then after dinner i always crave something sweet. Im not sure what the answer is (if i did i would be a lot skinnier!)

when i went to ww they said to eat instead - and after my dinner (when i was a good well behaved WW attendee!) i used to have a small bowl full of grapes out of the freezer

I would agree with going cold turkey and eating fruit instead. I had a bet with someone once for a fiver - betting that i couldnt go for a month without chocolate - and i did it! after a month i didnt even feel like i craved it anymore. they say you can break a habit in a month.

in fact - if you fancy a challenge - how about we see how long we can go without - i def fancy doing this for the sake of my waistline and my pocket too!!! what do you reckon?

mintymoneysaver

I could do with giving up chocolate...I'm up for a challenge if anyone else is?

smilermonkey

I kicked the whole sugar habit once. It took two weeks before the cravings stopped and those two weeks were felt as hard as giving up smoking (which I did 18 months ago but those cravings lasted about 6 months). Now am back on the sugar:EasterBun It is easier to stay off fags 'cos people back you up, but with sugar people really push it on you! Try the 80 % choc as I find I cannot eat as much. i also drink low cal hot choc to keep the cravings at bay.