Chocolate Craving Conundrum
Diet Blog takes a look at research examining cravings, specifically those of the chocolate variety. Here’s a taste:
The participants were asked to "either suppress all thoughts about chocolate, or talk about how much they liked it." After this they were told to choose between two brands of chocolates.I get this. Even I have the occasional chocolate desire. What do I do? I just keep in mind this section of Dr. Fuhrman’s book Eat to Live. Check it out:
Women who had tried to suppress their cravings ate on average eight chocolates, while those who had talked freely about it ate five.So women who were trying desperately hard not to think about chocolate ended up consuming almost twice as much!
Men did not show the same effect, with the group told to talk about the snack eating more.
Can’t I eat chocolate, ice cream, or other junk food ever again?If this isn’t encouraging enough, you can lose your mind and take a Chocolate-Packed Vacation—eek!
You can eat anything you desire, on occasion, but just don’t make a habit of it. Try to be very strict the first three months in order to document how much weight you can expect to lose when you eat sensibly. We are all tempted by these treats. It is easier to resist if you get them out of your house completely. All cheats should be done outside of your home. If possible, associate with friends who will support you in recovering your health — or may join you in trying to be healthy.
Once you regain your health and feel great, you are less likely to crave these foods or be so tempted. Then, when you do deviate from a healthful diet, it is likely you will feel poorly, have a persistent dry mouth, and not sleep well. If you go off your diet and eat junk food on occasion, mark it on your calendar and consider it a special occasion that you won’t repeat too often.
Nobody is perfect; however, do not let your weight yo-yo. You must adhere to the plan strictly enough so that you never put back on whatever weight you do take off.
