Not eating chocolate was harder than quitting smoking, and I quit that cold turkey. I had a lot of time to think about why that was, and it's because I had to quit smoking for the health risks and cost, and I'll never smoke again. I knew that I was going to eat chocolate again in "40" days, and chocolate can't kill me.
I keep putting 40 in parentheses because I thought I was quitting for the "40" days of Lent. A couple weeks into it, after obcessing about chocolate the whole time, I counted the days and found it is actually 47 days. Why do people always say 40 days? Well, I guess the number of days is a little different every year, and Catholics don't count the Sundays of Lent, or some crap. So imagine my disappointment on day 15 when I learned that I had to do 7 days longer than I thought.
My total weight difference during my challenge was +2 pounds. The reason for that is simple. I supplemented the sugar intake with other forms of sugar. Birthday cake Oreos, Nutter Butters, butter pecan ice cream, etc. Not eating chocolate made me realize a few things, for instance chocolate helps maintain my weight. Also, desserts without chocolate are a complete waste of time. I noticed there aren't a lot of cereals or ice creams without chocolate in them. You'll see what I mean next time you're at the grocery store. Something that helped a little was Yoplait boston cream pie yogurt. There's no chocolate in it, but it helped take the edge off.
I thought about chocolate a lot while I couldn't have it. I daydreamed of Easter when I planned on going hog-wild and making myself sick. I lost my creativity and/or inspiration. I don't know if that had to do with quitting chocolate, or if it's just a funk, but it's easy to blame the lack of chocolate. I've also been falling asleep earlier, which is nice for the rest I get, but annoying that I can't stay awake past 9:30-10:00.
Megan was awesome and got me an Easter basket filled with chocolate goodies. My favorite-Reese's peanut butter eggs, Snickers eggs, Kit-Kat's, and a few other things. I wanted to see it early because I didn't want to double up on things when I went out the day before Easter and bought chocolate on which to binge.
On Good Friday Megan and I went out to eat at our old home-away-from-home, JJ's on 394. We had a great dinner, Megan had a couple of drinks, and Ozzie was a dream-baby. He was smiley, dancing to the music, and soaking up all of the attention that everyone gave him. During dinner I was thinking about how I'd done what I said I was going to do. I didn't have any chocolate for 40 days plus 5 more. I didn't have to do it, but I did. I didn't "cave." I ordered the chocolate cake for dessert and I have no regrets.
It was better than I remember chocolate. The first bite was honestly euphoric. The cake and the chocolate syrup mixture was perfectly balanced, and it had chocolate pudding inside. It was the perfect thing to get back on the chocolate horse. When I got home I had a Reese's egg, and my biggest vice, peanut M&M's. I have been indulging in chocolate ever sense and couldn't be happier.
I learned a couple of things. I learned that I can do it, and that I'll never do it again.
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