Seriously, could I be *addicted* to chocolate?!

I participated in this neighborhood challenge all through February where we would get points everyday for different things (drinking 8 cups of water, not eating sweets, eating fruits and veggies, etc.) and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life for one reason- I LOVE CHOCOLATE!  I went the first 2 weeks with not a single treat telling myself that I'd allow myself some on Valentine's Day and when Valentine's Day came, I went nuts! It was like I was making up for lost time! I ate chocolate for every meal that day and not much else! When the day was over, I was in total sugar shock and just couldn't believe my total lack of control that day.

Surprisingly, I was able to completely resist chocolate on all but 5 days in February and I won the challenge by a landslide but here's my question- Should it be that hard to cut chocolate out of my diet?! Could my body be physically addicted to it. I seriously would compare myself to a smoker going cold turkey on those days that I avoid it!

I guess nobody else has this problem...

i wouldn't say that, ishipop.  just that, as far as i know, there's no evidence for chocolate addiction.

cheese - now that's another story ;-)

I think it's possible. I can never restrain myself when it comes to something chocolate. I could just eat it all day long.......

Chocolate is not addictive - there are no physical withdrawal symptoms if you stop eating it. That said, it definitely has calming effects when one is stressed. When I eat chocolate compulsively, I know it's actually an attempt to de-stress. I feel very tense when there is no chocolate available, like I'm afraid I might starve between dinner and breakfast. This has gotten worse since I broke off my affair with red wine. Anyway, I've come to accept that chocolate is better for me than stress, as long as I can stay in control of the relationship. I now try to acknowledge the stress before I eat the chocolate, eat only a small amount (no more than an ounce), and do something else in addition to help ease the stress (like taking several deep breaths as I let the chocolate melt in my mouth ).

What you experienced was 'forbidden fruit'.  Wanting what you can't have.  Sugar certainly has some addictive qualities.  Chocolate's combination of mouthfeel, fat and sugar is very pleasurable.  But you'd psyched yourself into the ultimate binge by excluding it...  A friend that was forced to be vegetarian for a month (Indian trip) came back and did something similar with bacon sandwiches.  Another friend that was fed a very heavy meat diet for 2 weeks (South African trip) came back and went vegetarian.

Everything in moderation....

It may not be chocolate at all, it could be your brain's desire for sugar and fat, and chocolate is often a very good concentrated source of both.

It could be psychological in that you've trained yourself to believe you're addicted. 

Super dark chocolate does release chemicals that act on seretonin levels, but that's not going to create addiction.

It sounds more like the old fashioned, "the devil made me do it!".  :)

Two thoughts -

1. People who crave chocolate often have a low serotonin levels.  It would be better for your waistline to address that with a medical professional than to 'medicate' yourself with chocolate.
2. You set yourself up to "go nuts" by engaging in black & white, all or nothing, polarized thinking.  Instead of telling yourself that you could have a piece of chocolate on Valentine's day and one piece would be OK because chocolate will always be available and you can enjoy it later when you've met a goal, you instead "went nuts"
3. OK - 3 thoughts.  It shouldn't be that hard to give up any particular food, but many people find it to be so.  It is probably wise to examine the root of this and try to solve that.  Not sure addiction is really the way to look at it - that makes you somewhat powerless against it, and that is not a helpful attitude.

This is pretty interesting because i've decided to give up chocolate for the month of march. Some months ago when i was keeping a food journal, i realized that i was having chocolate in some shape or form EVERY DAY. so i figure i can lose some weight by cutting it out. so far, i havent had any serious cravings (lol i know its only been 3 days) but i AM planning on having a chocolate feast on the 1st of April and i dont feel bad about it. i dont see anything wrong with "going nuts" for one day and i doubt it'll ruin the progress i make this month.

ANYWAY. in response to your question, i highly doubt you're "addicted" or you wouldnt have been able to survive the whole month without it. you just wouldn't.

When addicts stop drinking or using heroin they turn to chocolate. I do not know all the stats about why or what the chemicals that are in it. I do know that it can be an issue for some when recovering. Not all addictions create physical withdrawls. Good luck!

I've heard that when a woman eats chocolate, it activates the same chemicals in the brain as are activated when a woman falls in love. So, essentially, when a woman eats chocolate, it's like falling in love.

My name is rufus_k and I am a chocoholic.

I'm convinced that I crave chocolate way more around my TOM.  I've wondered if there might be something specific about the chocolate that causes it - craving iron maybe (which chocolate has a lot of and which could make sense since women lose a lot of blood then)?  Or caffeine (which chocolate doesn't have much of, but which I don't otherwise consume)?  Or maybe it's whatever it is that has the serotonin-like effect?  Or maybe it's just the sugar and fat.  But whatever it is, I DEFINITELY crave (and eat , or maybe ) way more of it for about a week each month. 

I am a Catholic and last year for Lent I gave up all sweets. Ice Cream, chocolate, cake, cookies, candy, pie EVERYTHING!

I found in that 40 days and 40 nights that it had been easier to quit smoking than it was to give up sweets especially chocolate. After the first couple days my 10 year old daughter said eat a candy bar PLEASE! I was so grumpy but I did make it through and then had a calorie fest on Easter SUnday! It was like getting medicated when you are in pain!

I can so relate to this!

I feel about bread the way you feel about chocolate! I can leave the sweets behind for a nice loaf of fresh from the oven french bread! Plain even! It's lunch time...I need to eat!