How to Battle Your Addiction.

So my last blog focused on chocolate addiction and whether or not it existed. Well now all know that it does. It possible for someone to be addicted to chocolate, see I was not lying. However with all addictions, there are side effects. Chocolate can cause pimples, cause you gain weight, and have a negative impact on your health.

Being a bona-fide addict, I know that summer is fast approaching, and I want to kick my chocolate addiction to the side so that I can look fabulous! I found some helpful suggestions on what I can do to kick the habit, and thought that I would share it with you all.

• Discover if the craving is emotional – there are all sorts of reasons why people crave foods. It can often be related to feelings of low self-esteem or depression. If you can identify your reasons, then try another approach to tackling the problem.
• Incorporate small portions of chocolate into your usual diet, rather than restrict yourself. Moderation is the key. A research trial found that people who limited eating chocolate to within half an hour of eating a meal gradually weaned themselves off their craving.
• If you are feeling bored and craving chocolate, go for a walk, run errands, call a friend or read a book. If you can take your mind off food for a short time, the craving may pass.
• Make sure you always have healthy food nearby, so you can replace chocolate with fruit a few times a day. Eat an overall balanced diet, eat regularly to avoid hunger, and eat more slowly. When your blood sugar levels are stable, cravings are less likely to occur.
• If you think it’s necessary, do not allow chocolate in the house. Ask friends and family not to buy you chocolate, or even not to eat it in front of you!
• Finally, it is a good idea to increase your level of exercise, to burn off excess calories and increase your metabolic rate. Exercise also releases endorphins, which counteracts stress, anxiety and depression.