What do you think about eating only sweets ...

[Michelle]

... for seven days in order to break an addiction to them?

I just wonder if the misery would be so great after that time, I would never want to see sweets again.

[Raoh]

hi
sweets only for seven days... utch.. not good for health at all...
i'll suggest you do the opposite, try a 7-day abstinence trial and you'll extend this time if you can, until your addiction is gone.
sure it's easy to say

kisses
...and excuse my poor english, i'm french

[Dharma]

YUM!!!! What? You're not sweet enough?

[Michelle]

Very cute, Pete :-).

Look, most people have no success in restricting their diets. Why not go in the opposite extreme and allow everything with no guilt for a little while, feel the pain and possibly be cured of the obsession?

[StarFish]

I really don't think it would take 7 days for you to become that sick of sweet! If you were going to do that, I would think 1 full day of stuffing your self with candy would work. Not that I'm saying that's a good idea...

[Mark Lapierre]

Here's a good reason to not do that

But if you take a step back, is this the way you want to approach the challenges you'll face in life? What happens when you run into a temptation that you won't get sick of?

[Dharma]

Do the sweets you eat now have an effect on you that you want to change? ie. my teeth are rotting away, I gained x pounds, I cannot afford to stock that much dark chocolate as a student, etc...

[Dimitry]

I think the outlook that people never change based on restrictions is a limiting belief. Though I agree that some things are hard to quiet by restriction, going on a binge won't help you quit (think smoking, alcohol etc). What also happens when the bad effects wear off and the initial after math sickness is gone? You'll be more prone to temptation to do it again since you're less reluctant to remember the bad associated with the thing and instead on the perceived good.

Also I can speak from experience that I changed my habits through restriction in a lot of areas in my life (food, tv, internet, and the list goes on). In certain cases I wasn't able to give things up completely and am still battling with them but the amount of times I break down are rare and pale in comparison to when I was fully engaged in the activity.

Anyways, my point is things can be done if you understand why you are doing it and really see the benefit in the restriction. If it's just a fad, you're mind will know it and won't co-operate. YOU will have to WANT to do it and go through the initial "pain" and "withdrawals".

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by Dharma

Do the sweets you eat now have an effect on you that you want to change? ie. my teeth are rotting away, I gained x pounds, I cannot afford to stock that much dark chocolate as a student, etc...

Well, I would like to be fitter. My body is a really good one for opera singing, but I would just like to be more in shape and feel sexier.

It seems each time I am about to make a breakthrough in some area of my life, I get uncomfortable, anxious, fearful and want to cry. Eating amazing chocolate (I am not talking candy bars here - yuck), marzipan, ice cream ... it all feeeeeeeeeeeeeels so good. And also, since I am very often alone all day while practicing it comforts my aloneness.

Here's a good reason to not do that

But if you take a step back, is this the way you want to approach the challenges you'll face in life? What happens when you run into a temptation that you won't get sick of?

Yes, but I think I have a greater risk of all those things with extended consumption of the high fat stuff. If I do a binge which lasts for a few days while making me sick and miserable, my life beyond those 5 days could be much healthier if I start associating pain with chocolate instead of pleasure. If you burn your hand on a stove you surely don't burn it again, but you need the first burning experience to avoid doing it again.

It happens very often that in order to progress to the next level a step backwards is needed. At least this is how I progress in singing.

I just notice my emotional reaction while considering allowing myself to eat whatever I want with no guilt or worries is one of relief. I thought maybe experiencing the relief, but then the misery of going through several days of only sweets would cure my subconscious of it's association to pleasure and comfort.

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by Dimitry

I think the outlook that people never change based on restrictions is a limiting belief. Though I agree that some things are hard to quiet by restriction, going on a binge won't help you quit (think smoking, alcohol etc). What also happens when the bad effects wear off and the initial after math sickness is gone? You'll be more prone to temptation to do it again since you're less reluctant to remember the bad associated with the thing and instead on the perceived good.

Also I can speak from experience that I changed my habits through restriction in a lot of areas in my life (food, tv, internet, and the list goes on). In certain cases I wasn't able to give things up completely and am still battling with them but the amount of times I break down are rare and pale in comparison to when I was fully engaged in the activity.

Anyways, my point is things can be done if you understand why you are doing it and really see the benefit in the restriction. If it's just a fad, you're mind will know it and won't co-operate. YOU will have to WANT to do it and go through the initial "pain" and "withdrawals".

What about parents who give their kids a whole pack of cigarettes to smoke, and then the child can barely even think of smoking without getting sick? I do not want this to be an everyday battle, you know? I just think there must be a way to start liking sweets less.

[maclinda]

Another way of dealing with this is to find another reward/consolation. At first it may not seem to be as big a treat but over time it can be.

Sweets tend to be addicting because of the rise in your insulin levels. When insulin rises, it sends a strong signal to your brain to EAT NOW. Has to do with chemistry, not character. So then you eat, and you feel better. This reinforcing cycle is the definition of addiction.

[MartialDev]

Originally Posted by Michelle

... for seven days in order to break an addiction to them?

I just wonder if the misery would be so great after that time, I would never want to see sweets again.

I did that with coffee and it worked.