My struggle with chocolate cravings

As I have mentioned in my previous posts, I have discovered I can lose weight by eating clean foods, like vegetables, salads, whole grain rice, whole wheat pasta and natural ingredients in my meals. This may sound difficult to do, not to mention boring, but I really enjoyed my meals and felt-and looked-a lot better for it.

For eight weeks, I went back to basics eating only natural foods. I cut out caffeine, alcohol, dairy and any artificial ingredients. Stir fried vegetables were used for most of my meals for the first couple of weeks until I became a little more adventurous. Shepherd's pie made with vegetables and topped with sweet potato is a versatile dish which most people enjoy. Vegetable crumble is another favourite, not to mention the curry. I will include some recipes in future posts.

After eight weeks, I introduced some low fat dairy, including cheese, skimmed milk and free range eggs. I only drank small amounts of alcohol at the weekend but continued to drink caffeine free beverages. However, Christmas arrived and I relaxed my eating habits and that's where the trouble started. Chocolate and sweet food became my go to food, I couldn't get enough!

Although I limited myself, I constantly craved chocolate and sweet desserts. Once I had started eating them, I found I wanted them all the time. Was it possible that I was addicted to chocolate? If anyone has the answer, please let me know.

The only way I could curb the chocolate cravings was to only eat the purest chocolate, those bars which contain around 85 per cent cocoa solids. It is quite bitter but satisfies the longing for something sweet, strangely enough. My time of falling off the wagon lasted around six months. I have decided not to beat myself up for my lapse, even though I did gain half a stone. I am now back on the healthy eating, although I am not as strict as before.

If there's anyone else out their who believes they may be addicted to chocolate or other type of food, please let me know.

Lose weight with a healthy diet

Lose weight with a healthy diet


I am surrounded by friends and family members who have tried all manner of diets, eating just vegetables, only consuming foods of a certain colour on specific days, avoiding carbs and eating more protein- you name it and I have heard of it.


I'm not going to tell you that these diets don't work, as I'm not qualified to tell you that. However, I can tell you that although most of the diets will probably help you shed some weight, you are very unlikely to maintain the weight loss, and could even harm your health.


To lose weight and maintain it, you have to consume less calories than you are burning each day. In other words, stop overeating and move about more. I apologise if that sounds harsh, but I have learned the hard way that this is the formula to losing weight, maintaining your shape and being healthier.


Eating a healthy diet is the obvious way to lose weight and improve health, but what is a healthy diet? In an earlier post, I mentioned a new way of eating I had come across by accident, although it is more a way of life than a diet. I tailored the new eating plan to suit my busy life. In a nutshell, you eat anything which is natural, like fruit, vegetables and eat wholemeal and brown versions of food. For instance, out goes the white sliced loaf and in comes the wholegrain version. I am a vegetarian so don't eat meat or fish, but if you want to eat them choose organic free range versions which aren't pumped full of antibiotics, growth hormones and other harmful chemicals.


To start with, go back to basics and eat only fruit, vegetables, brown rice, wholemeal pasta, wholegrain bread, herbs and spices, including garlic. Eat just these foods for around six to eight weeks. This will give your body a chance to eliminate toxins. Introduce other foods, like eggs and dairy one at a time so that you can identify any reactions, which may include bloating or other symptoms. Throughout this time, avoid alcohol and caffeine, drinking water wherever possible.


This sounds completely boring and you are probably thinking that this way of eating is impossible, but once you have tried it, I can promise most people will notice a difference in their health and well being. Personally, I used to suffer from bloating, cramps, wind and alternate constipation and diarrhoea- possibly IBS but I didn't fancy having tests. After eight weeks of basic natural foods, my symptoms had reduced significantly. For the first time in years, I attended meetings at work without fear of my stomach making awful gurgling noises and needing the loo.


I did resort back to my old eating habits at Christmas and found it hard to get back to normal after the holidays. As a result, I regained half a stone and my old stomach troubles returned. I will write further posts which include various recipes which include normal ingredients you can obtain from a supermarket, and which are quick and easy to make for all those super busy people out there.


If you decide to give it a go, please contact me. I will be happy to give advice or hear your stories.