Chocolate

While laid here struggling to sleep due to an incredibly guilty conscience after having an evening of mindlessly binging I realised I haven't yet blogged about my successful attempt at lent.
Being a self-confessed chocoholic I knew the ultimate challenge for me would be to go the whole six weeks without any form of chocolate. 
It isn't until you give up something like chocolate that you realise just how many food products have chocolate included. Biscuits, cereal bars, granola's, ice-cream cones. It is a constant battle trying to avoid the stuff. 
While I didn't go without the occasional craving I found it surprisingly easy to do. There came a point where I really didn't miss chocolate (although the bourbons at my sisters were a true test to my willpower). 
So when Easter weekend came something in my mind told me I had to be excited about eating the luxurious milky egg I had waiting for me. I also decided I would eat a number of things I had craved over lent. 

Courtesy of Lee McCoy

Now, I am not ashamed to say I ate the whole egg including the bars it came with as well as some extra bits. But one thing I really have to admit is, deep down I was not looking forward to it and when I was stuffing my face I really did not enjoy it. The one thing that has been a constant comfort in my life did not satisfy me and really did not taste that great. It has not stopped me having the odd few pieces this week but it has certainly opened my eyes.
I definitely feel much better after a big fruit salad then I do after a bar of chocolate. I can only hope the mental craving doesn't cloud my clear vision again. There really was a point in my life very recently where I couldn't get through the day without some chocolate but I know that is all in my head. The problem is I am very weak mentally. 
Hopefully I can keep in mind the disappointment I feel every time I have eaten chocolate this week and it will become a rare occurrence in my diet. 

Lent

Ahh lent, the time of year everyone is hopeful and believes for a couple of days that they have will power.
Anyone who has read this blog before would know, I gave up chocolate for three weeks recently.
Since being able to eat it again I have binged, ridiculously.
The sad thing is I don't know why. I have not particularly enjoyed any that I have eaten. I think it was a matter of 'you can now so do!'
So I am giving up chocolate for lent.

My last chocolate treat before lent began

In my opinion it is all in the mind. The problem is I am weak willed. There is so much chocolate around and on offer if I get it in my head I want something, it just sort of happens. Luckily I proved to myself I can go without by doing 21 days no choc. I just hope I can stick to it for six weeks. For me, it isn't chocolate bars per say, but biscuits. Chocolate biscuits, cookies and things with chocolate in. Luckily there are alternatives so I hope they will help. But only when absolutely necessary because what is the point of giving up the dairy goodness to just replace it with something else? This should help my sugar cravings too if I play my cards  right.

So I hope whatever you have decided to give up for lent works out for you. Let's all keep thinking of the satisfactory feeling we will have when we do it! Because we will!

Just for good measure, check out my super healthy dinner from tonight. 

Salmon with cajun spice, cabbage and spinach. Superfood!