Hi everyone. As a teacher, I find it really difficult when I'm the only person in our staff room and I've got to do my boring marking. We have an actual table designated to biscuits, cake and chocolate and no matter how much I grumble at this no one is prepared to change this factor.

Quite often I'm saintly and won't even look to see what people have brought in, but sometimes when I'm utterly bored with my marking, the chocolate begins to talk to me.

I can't keep on taking in these calories and then punishing myself at the gym because I'm getting no nearer to that bikini body I'm dreaming of.

Help!!!!

Well what wonderful role-models these teachers are for this nation of obese kids!!

Samantha I'd probably hear the nash talking to me all the time, you do well to resist some of it. Sorry not much help to you though.

Stick a bowl on the table, add some fruit

And take from there.


WILLPOWER,

Minute on the lips, lifetime on the hips ( my fav saying)

Boring tasks are definately a trigger for me. Rather than a table of chocolate treats it's the vending machine that calls me. Acknowledging that it's an emotional call rather than a hunger one sometimes helps and
I'm experimenting with fruit teas ... ordinary tea just makes the urge for chocolate to dunk even stronger... and/or stopping the boring ask in favour of something else for 10-15 min.
Of course none of the above are full proof and every now and again I do still splurg but I figure life would be too dull/stressful if I didn't.

I resist but a small 2 pieces of really good dark chocolate the best I can get and really enjoy! Not every day though!

Me too!!! I've been checking reports for days and it's driving me insane! but I don't work in a staff room I have what the school calls an office but I call a cupboard (no daylight, no ventilation). I keep apples on my desk for mid morning, muesli bars in the filing cabinet for if I'm really hungry or miss breakfast (try not to do that) and I have an emergency bar of chocolate in the filing cabinet as well for those occasions when the choice is chocolate or eviscerate a student with my bare hands (low blood sugar) The chocolate has been there since Christmas ans only 2 squares have gone.

But best thing to do if the boredom makes temptation irresistable is leave the room - go chat to someone - or just walk round the block (assuming your school like most is built on a square principle.)

Hi Samantha, as a reformed chocoholic I know where you're coming from. I'm reformed in that I've been sugar free for 11 days now. The only tips I can give you are: don't look at it - divert your eyes at all costs and think about something else and if someone starts talking about it change the subject. If I can resist I swear anyone can! Put the bowl of fruit there and have that instead (imagine how virtuous you'll feel!) - good luck! Simone x

Jean, surely that's against health & safety rules? You can't spend all day in a room with no ventilation or daylight! That would drive ME insane!

I know exactly the problem Samantha - at the beginning of the year I brought in a fruit platter to school as it was my birthday - everyone said how wonderful it was and it lasted no time. But noone else has repeated it. It really is convenience - much easier to buy biscuits which keep for days and need no preparation. And at the end of term when you are exhausted it is really hard to resist. I play this rather childish game of congratulating myself every time I walk past the table, which has some success.

Sometimes, I find that I would be better having a little bit of chocolate/cake etc if that's what's really going to hit the spot, otherwise I find that I can trough all sorts of other stuff trying not to give in, so much so that calorie wise I should have just eaten the chocolate and enjoyed it in the first place.

It is hard to not think about it when it's there - we started a tuck shop at our new office and there is oodles of chocolate sitting in the bottom of the fridge. For the first couple of weeks it kept calling to me, and I answered the call far too often (despite the fact we moved from offices where a newsagent was next door and I rarely ventured out to buy chocolate then...)

I now just tell myself that I don't eat the tuck shop chocolate, and it has lost its power somewhat.

But sometimes, a little of what you fancy (without feeling guilty) is better in the long run.

Theresa
I agree totally with you. There are days when only chocolate will do and nothing else with compare!

I think this has to be one of the key points in weight loss. I'm sure guilt adds a million calories to anything you eat. Which would explain why people who say they can eat anything don't get fat. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Chocolate or ice-cream. Last night someone/thing smashed the glass in my front door! Tonight I'm indulging in ice-cream guilt free ... I think I deserve it.

Hi,


I don't know if this could be hlepful for you, but I have stopped thinking about if this or that is calorie laden but instead I think 'healthy food or unhealthy food'? If you saw the ingrediants of the cakes and biscuits on offer I wonder if you would still be so tempted? Good luck in your endeavours, and as another wise contributer suggested bring in your own healthier options!!
Jane

Samantha, sounds like a nightmare having all those things to tempt you. We only have chocs etc in our school staff room if it's a present from pupil, parents, teacher leaving, etc. but they go pretty quick.

I agree with Jane above, I too have got into this mindset of healthy/unhealthy food and when I read the ingredients on some shop cakes or chocolate bars, it doesn't sound so appetising then.

Samantha, why don't you take in a healthy snack that you like, to eat instead? Or can you work somewhere else? I have a flask of tea and that keeps me going at breaktime.

Thanks for so much advice everyone. I do bring in healthy snacks but it's that chocolate craving I find so hard to curb, which is evidently the case with other people too.

I've tried to take on board the idea of having a little amount like a square of chocolate so that I don't feel 'left out' but manage to avoid a calorie overload. I suppose it's really all down to will power, which I can do most of the time. I need to think of the end result when I'll feel free from fat rather than the taste of something for a few seconds. Thanks!

I used to like sweets and cakes so much,that I could eat 2-3 at a time(nearly 500 cals).A friend of mine suggested that instead of beating myself and worrying about the craving,to buy the best and savour the taste of one cake ,eating it very slowly and relishing every bit.It did work!!!!!!!!

I can relate to your post Samantha, I find marking tedious as well - chocolate really does seem to help sometimes!

I have found that fruit can be a good alternative, a satsuma (although nowhere as satisfying as chocolate) can curb the cravings a little.

I love chocolate and wouldnt be able to stop at one. I have found sugar free lollipops very helpful. They take a long time to eat and still feel a bit naughty! Even a non sugar free hasnt got that many calories.
The other alternative is low calorie hot chocolate to get a little tasteor if chocolate is the only answer a curlywurly or chomp bar take a longer time to eat. Hope this helps Amanda

a few squares of your favourite chocolate shouldnt do no harm, everyone deserves a treat,you could always take your own "healthier" snacks to work, ie there are plenty of lower fat, salt etc versions of things like digestives, but fruit is always a good idea, cheaper in most cases to