subject: Simple Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Curb Your Chocolate Addiction [print this page] You know the situation, you are bored and have just come back from a very stressful day at work and there it is on the table. A delicious bar of rich dark chocolate is inviting you to rip it open and devour every last, delicious, comforting morsel. We know we shouldn't, it will make us fat and we will regret it if we do. But, same as the night before the temptation is unbearable and we give in to it. Everyday many women encounter this chocolate craving dilemma whether, its work related stress or coping with pregnancy. The thing is, dark chocolate is actually good for you as long as it is taken in moderation. However, when it is used as a comforting food to relieve stress it can become addictive and the cravings for it increase.
If the chocolate cravings are out of control then, you need to do something about it quickly. A simple and effective way is using distractions to refocus your mind from thinking about chocolate. This requires awareness and forward planning to identify the situations that trigger your chocolate cravings. For example, rather than reach for the chocolate after a stressful day in the office go to the gym instead. Sign up for a gym membership as this gives you a reason to do it. Alternatively, you can buy an exercise machine for the home or even a new pair of running shoes. Anything, that gives you a reason not to slump on the sofa and munch on that chocolate bar.
Another effective method is to remove temptation. This has proven quite successful with smokers who use it as part of their program to wean themselves off cigarettes. What you do is to stop buying chocolate and leaving it all over the house. If you have chocolate in the house give it away or else throw it out. Replace the chocolate with healthier alternatives like fruit and nuts. If you cannot bear to completely rid yourself of the chocolate you can limit it to one bar only and hide it in a place where it is difficult to get access to for example, a locked draw. Use this chocolate bar as a treat and promise yourself that you can only eat it when you have accomplished a goal, such as avoiding treats for a week.
Another cause of chocolate addiction is boredom, having too much time on your hands thinking about chocolate. You need to fill this vacant time with activities that are going to get you outside and active. This can involve walking with a friend or the dog, painting the bedroom anything, that will keep you moving. Another way is to reduce your cravings is to eat healthier food that will give you the same satisfaction for example, low fat chocolate or oat bars dipped in chocolate. The point is not to remove the chocolate completely as this will make you crave for it even more, but to eat it in moderation.
