No More Diets

How can I control my chocolate consumption (I don’t eat any other ’sweet’ items!)?

I’m very fond of chocolate myself so I’m with you on that - there’s nothing quite like the mixture of sugar, fat and cocoa beans in the world and I would not want to give it up. I do control the urge to eat too much of it though by

a) not banning it - putting something on a forbidden food list just makes it more attractive

b) establishing a habit where I eat 4 squares of chocolate for dessert most nights with coffee - something I look forward to - you may want to eat less if you are trying to lose weight - I am just maintaining mine

c) buying the best chocolate ( i.e. the brand I like the most) so that it is a real treat

d) eating the chocolate slowly and truly enjoying it - when I eat chocolate I know I’m eating it (so much food we feel guilty about is stuffed down almost without tasting it)

If this is enough for you to control your consumption then that’s fine but if you truly can’t stop eating chocolate and tend to binge on it then you may want to take this further.

I read an interesting experiment in an Anthony Robbins book a few years ago (can’t remember which one - “Awaken the Giants Within” I think) where he cured someone of their self-professed chocolate addiction by challenging them to eat nothing but chocolate for two days - apparently after eating nothing but chocolate for that time the guy couldn’t face another chocolate without feeling sick.

You’ll also find an effective (though less dramatic) approach in Jason Vale’s book “Chocolate Busters” which is a whole program to help you stop eating chocolate. You might be able to get it in your local library and it’s also available on Amazon.com (see below)

For the UK:-