Being addicted to chocolate is something many women are accused of, especially during that one week of the month. Fortunately, this is not a problem that many women face. Still, there are those who are truly addicted to chocolate. You prefer to eat chocolate all day long. You even have chocolate on your bread and fruit is also very compatible with chocolate.
Unfortunately, despite having healthy properties, chocolate is not always healthy. Therefore, chocolate addiction is really something you want to get rid of.
You know that? You finally have a day when you get to work from home and are looking forward to doing it in fine clothes instead of a suit. Before you start work you have a piece of chocolate - it feels so good!
You've completed the first chores and can move on to your next task on the to-do list. Just another piece of chocolate anyway - or just half a bar. Yummy!
You've got your to-do list all finished, but still have to wait until you can pick up your kids from school or meet up with a friend. Have a nice shower and get dressed anyway. Still 10 minutes to spare. The clock is ticking. Birds are chirping and before you know it, chocolate is melting in your mouth.
Oops, that was another whole bar, and it's only 4 p.m.. You know you're going to eat some delicious chocolate chips during the movie tonight too...sigh, guilt.
Why is chocolate addictive?
Every time we eat foods rich in fat or sugar we produce the substance serotonin(1). This hormone makes us feel happy. Chocolate, especially bars that do not have a lot of cocoa, such as milk chocolate, is rich in fat as well as sugars.
There are times when you could use a little extra serotonin. For example, in people who suffer from winter blues or PMS , chocolate is eaten during the dip and times when you suffer from less happy emotions(2).
This also explains why women in particular can be addicted to chocolate.
Eating at emotions
Thereby, chocolate addiction is an addiction of a certain habit. Some emotions just make you feel like snacking, and chocolate is just a tasty snack.
We often eat more to get rid of emotions in Holland than because we are hungry.
Emotions we often eat away at are:
Research also shows that people who suffer from dips or depression are more likely to eat chocolate(3).
Is chocolate really addictive?
You're not going to expect this answer, but yes you can really get addicted to chocolate. You can become addicted to chocolate just as you can become addicted to certain drugs. Although not quite the same.
For example, it is not as addictive as alcohol and some forms of hard drugs that you become physically addicted to. Basically, you can become as addicted to broccoli as you are to chocolate.
Research in rats shows that from food containing sugar you can exhibit very addictive behavior. For example, the rats became very anxious the moment the food was removed.
Finnish research shows that people who identify themselves as chocolate addicts produce more saliva when they are around chocolate. In doing so, they also suffer more from their emotions when the chocolate is gone. Anxiety, irritation and a worse mood are among them.
A chocolate addiction has similarities to a normal addiction in that you get very cravings for chocolate. You then also get illogical eating behaviors and illogical emotional moods.
Test if you are addicted to chocolate
To check if you are suffering from chocolate addiction, I have some statements for you. Check for yourself whether you identify with these statements or not.
- If I see someone eating chocolate I should at least drink some water or grab chocolate right away too.
- I feel guilty when I eat a lot of chocolate in 1 day.
- I have low energy all day.
- I'm gaining weight every day.
- When I start work I feel like I have to eat chocolate/eat chocolate first.
- I get more pleasure from chocolate than from other business/activities.
Do you recognize yourself in most of the statements in this test? Then chances are you suffer from a chocolate addiction. Especially if you gain weight and derive more pleasure from chocolate than from other things, it's time to do something about the addiction.
In the case of those two statements, it does not benefit your mental and physical health. By finding another way to deal with pleasure and health, you actually achieve more life happiness.
What to do about chocolate addiction
If you and those around you are really suffering from chocolate addiction, if only because it can cause obesity and associated health issues such as type II diabetes, it is important to do something about the addiction.
There are a number of ways to suffer less from chocolate addiction.
Find out with mindfulness if you are eating because of emotions
Are you eating because of emotions or boredom? That's the question if you suffer from chocolate addiction. Therefore, keep a journal about the thoughts and activities you have when you feel like eating chocolate and keep track of your thoughts and activities when you actually start eating chocolate.
This can include mindfulness.
If you know why you start eating, such as low self-esteem or depressive thoughts, you can see if you can solve those problems in ways other than food.
Eat a little chocolate instead of quitting completely
Some addictions you don't have to stop. Quitting sex or masturbating, for example, is a bit weird, and chocolate is also not heroin you should never touch again. Therefore, eat less chocolate instead of much more.
Choose a healthier version of chocolate, such as the one with 72% cocoa, and eat a few small pieces of it throughout the day. Then you'll still have your chocolate moment, eat less chocolate and also eat the healthier version that is full of antioxidants.
Antioxidants, in turn, are important for protecting your DNA. They slow down the aging process.
Go do something other than eat chocolate
Especially if you start eating out of boredom, it's wise to actually do something else. Go for a walk, call a friend to catch up, or read a book. Go watch movies on YouTube. At least something other than eating chocolate.
Substitute the chocolate for some healthy
For example, an apple is also great for snacking. Make sure you have substitute healthy foods in your home that you can snack on instead of chocolate, such as:
- Apple
- Banana
- Peer
- Notes
- Roots
- Cucumber
Banish chocolate from your home
Out of sight out of mind. If you don't have chocolate in the house, you have to put way too much effort into this not-quite-body-dependent addiction and it's much easier not to give in to it.
Engage in sports or exercise
Exercise also makes you produce happiness hormones. Therefore, start exercising more precisely. This is healthier than chocolate and has the same effect on your sense of well-being as chocolate. Win win win!
Virtual gastric band
Are all these practical tips not working? Then in some cases a virtual gastric band may be the solution to stop eating chocolate and other unhealthy foods.
A virtual gastric band is a hypnotherapy that affects your diet and your sense of hunger.
Worldwide, hypnotic gastric banding has a 72% success rate. That's more than 7 out of 10 people who are truly helped with a hypnotic gastric band to get rid of an eating addiction, such as being addicted to chocolate.
Unfortunately, a hypnotic gastric band is not always properly put down in 1 session. Therefore, sometimes 4 sessions are needed to place a hypnotic gastric band.
During these sessions, the cause of chocolate addiction, for example, is discussed and you visualize getting a real gastric band under the guidance of a hypnotherapist.
Changing beliefs about chocolate
Thus, the cause of chocolate addiction is addressed during virtual gastric band placement. Beliefs about yourself and about chocolate can also be the cause of chocolate addiction.
It is then important to change those beliefs. One way to do this is through hypnotic suggestions. You can even repeat these aloud to yourself during self-hypnosis.
For self-hypnosis, you first find a quiet relaxing place in your home. You sit or lie down comfortably and first focus on your breathing. Make sure your inhale and exhale are the same length and that you breathe through your belly.
When you do this well and notice that you become calmer close your eyes. Then you can begin repeating the hypnotic suggestions the hypnotherapist has given you, such as:
Milk chocolate is not healthy, but whole dark chocolate is.
Chocolate is not my way to happiness.
I choose happiness.
I am worthy of healthy living.
These are just examples of hypnotic suggestions. See a hypnotherapist to get suggestions that fit your beliefs about yourself and chocolate.
Want to learn more about hypnotherapy and other mental techniques to help yourself and others get rid of problems? Then come to a playshop and check outHypnosis Institute Netherlands' training programs.
Also pin this handy infographic as a reminder:
Sources:
Ellie.
on28 Oct 2017Edwin Selij
on31 Oct 2017