I’d love to start by saying that I am lucky I don’t have any big addictions as far as I know, not those of the most common such as alcohol, cigarettes, or shopping, but also not the other end of any eating disorders, I am in no position to recommend any of the steps I am taking since I am not a nutritionist nor a doctor. Please consult a doctor if any of the next writings cause you trauma, or if you need help. I am not dismissing those with addictions.
However, I consider myself addicted to sugar. In all its beautiful forms but the best known to humans as chocolate. As I have grown older my palate has become considerably a bit more elegant, I purposefully choose the dark or “healthier for you” options but have not abstained from chocolate since…. well, never.
if you like chocolate, you should try these!
A huge chocolate basket in Brazil!
I am the type of person that has willpower, and I often can carry sweets or chocolate from Christmas well unto Valentine’s Day. “A little a day keeps the doctor away”- according to my book. I also make clear differences in the type of chocolate my kids eat versus the kind I eat. They wolf down their cheap, clearance candy like the world is ending tomorrow, as fast as they can gulp it down (at times, skipping the chewing) while I can savor it…
HIDING SPOTS
To savor and make it last includes creating hiding spots so awkward and unusual even to myself that I forget… “Where was that dark chocolate bar again? Under the bed or inside one of the empty drawers in the laundry room?”
Once in a very empty attempt to ‘hide’ such treasure (not because I am a bad, selfish mom of 5…. but because when I “need” some it needs to be there- I am not one to go to the store for my cravings), I hid this bag of chocolate inside the air fryer. “No one touches the thing, except me”- I thought to myself- “what a perfect hiding spot”.
But on that day, someone turned the air fryer on, without checking for a hidden bag of chocolate inside (how dare them!) and you can imagine the mess and the work over the cleanup! The worse thing about this story? The chocolate wasn’t in shape to be saved!
I can clearly say that yoga has helped me to become that much more aware, about eating habits, sleeping habits, cell phone habits, you name it. I am in control of my breath or learning how to control it and henceforth taking those lessons into my daily life and those rituals. How you deal with cravings coming from a mindful point of view, and not a lack of nutrients in my body, or a family history of addiction as I previously mentioned in the beginning of this article.
Trista and I at a chocolate factory in Indaiatuba, Brazil (Chocolateria Suica).We often look for ways to become healthier and find that balance, just like in yoga you practice so often to find the balance, even if just for a few breaths.
This past week I jumped on my husband’s wagon, he mentioned cutting down sugar, carbs, a few other things and losing 7 lbs. in one week. He works out every day, is much more disciplined than I could ever possibly be, and he inspired me to try to “avoid” chocolate for a few days. I set myself for three days, thinking I couldn’t possibly last one or two. Let alone three.
We have an absurd amount of sugar in our home, snacks, some healthier than others, but also fruit and veggies and salad most days. I pride myself for making healthy smoothies every day before going to teach my yoga classes which consists of fruit, a huge handful of spinach, kale, lettuce, any fruit of the season, collagen, ginger, protein powder, you name it.
This isn’t “Home Makeover”, so I wasn’t deciding to clean out my whole pantry or yet, deprive all of my children from their daily treats. Nutella cans were already looking at me, with their pleading labels and begging flavors. Note that before this challenge, very often I “forgot” we still had Nutella in the pantry. But also, am known to have hidden the Nutella in the very back of the pantry in a plea to diverge the goblins in this home.
What I came to find out when day 3 arrived is that my Yoga perhaps was helping me out more than I thought. My awareness and mindfulness were kicking in. I felt powerless, I felt cranky, I felt defeated, and a bit different than my bubbly self. I wasn’t depriving myself completely out of sugar, I was able to eat fruit, and the occasional spoon of peanut butter (which by the way, tastes NOTHING like dark chocolate! But would peace out my craving immediately). I cut most power bars and granola bars since the ones we carry have chocolate chips. My family went on with their treat routine. I had to be strong and decline my piece of brownies or better, “brookies” (a mix of brownies and cookies).
After all of those crazy feelings, and sometimes noticing the sky wasn’t as blue and the day wasn’t as happy without chocolate, I decided to carry on. Let’s make ONE week. Could I survive one week? One entire week away from the thing I love the most – okay, after family and my husband, and yoga and horses- but REALLY REALLY REALLY love this THING???
Happy to say I survived and am writing this article. I lost 3 lbs. but that wasn’t my goal to start with. I can pinpoint when my craving was worse- usually right after meals. I drank more water (no soda this week also, even though before this I had an occasional sip here or a sip there). I work out every day and teach and take SEVERAL classes of Yoga a week. I lifted a little heavier because, why not? Let’s make this game count!
I taught my bachelorette classes during the weekend, and instead of packing sweets in my cooler, I packed little containers of nuts. They are BEAUTIFUL and they make me happy and bring me comfort. I love all kinds of nuts and believe spending the money on them is well spent money. I packed tons of water! Coconut water!
I still craved other things (and went for them!) such as salty snacks, but mindfully I watched my portions and chose the “baked” kind. One example of my Achilles ’Endom is those “puff” snacks from Trader Joe’s. Oh my! They perhaps can be my next challenge.
YOGA
To conclude, either you wish to create a new habit or break an old one, create a new pattern or watch your pattern habits, try to rely on your YOGA breath, making good choices takes time. Try journaling when those cravings are the hardest. Get curious, why is this happening now? Am I hungry or simply bored?
Finally, I found myself wanting my reward or treats every time I got upset, frustrated, or the kids grew louder. Yes, the hiding place under the bathroom sink wasn’t a smart one- because every time I reached down there, I would see my lil bag of chocolate. But also made me stronger. Just the fact that I KNOW I can be stronger than my cravings is a prize on itself.
And to celebrate today, one week later? Guess what I am having- and loving it?