You're right, it's a mental state. One option is to change the mental state directly, by practicing alternative mental states like appreciation, gracefulness. Wake up with gladness for being alive and being given yet another day to shine. But what if you don't actually feel that way? Fake it. After all, feeling constantly deprived is itself an accomplishment, a remarkable achievement, in a world filled with stunning bounty.

I just now looked out the window at a tree filled with pink blossoms. I noticed its beauty. Then I noticed the more fundamental fact that I have eyes to see, ears to hear, hands with which to touch, feet capable of taking me to new places. I suspect if I keep thinking like this, I may have a glorious day. Am I willing to go there? Damned right.

Just eat the damn chocolate, don't go overboard:) If you do, move on. Life is too short to deprive yourself of the good things in life (excluding grains, legumes and refined sugars).

Paleo4ever, are you asking if there is a way to eat so that you have a happy high, or just to feel calm, alert, and like smiling?

Dr. Emily Deans posted about the belief that eating any-old-carbs carbs make folks serotonin-happy. And later in this post, ending with this paragraph:

*And, since this mechanism depends on insulin, if one is contending that a high carb "serotonin cure" diet is helpful for depression, one must take into account that people with severe hyperinsulinemia are more likely to be depressed than people without, not less (though there are other confounding factors - since inflammation is one, the high carb diet in an (inflamed) type II diabetic might lead to increases in kynurenic rather than serotonin, explaining the diffference… but you see there is way too much unknown to make any general prescription for high carb diets in this context.)

Many of us have found that it takes a goodly time of trial and error, in order to find a food plan which gives us the best nourishment for our nervous system, brain, and moods, leading to better health and wellbeing.

It seems to me, that wanting to eat sweets is not just a mental habit. It could very easily be that one needs certain nutrients and that real need merely gets interpreted as a desire for sweets.

The amounts of protein, carbs, and fat AND what foods make up those categories are equally important. Some can get away with sloppy food plans and stay well and cheery. Others of us walk the razor's edge, and must eat for our health first.

A couple of my own examples:

It took a bit of gumption for me to take up eating liver and brains, and take cod liver oil. I'm ever so glad I did. And taking supplements has helped greatly, too. I now find I prefer offal and egg yolks over many other foods. :) Drinking bone and meat broths instead of something else, has given me more physical strength and endurance, and a feeling of steadiness.

I don't miss what I don't eat. Having health challenges put health as first, second, and third priority. ;)

It appears, to me, that there is a danger when various foods symbolize personal or social fulfillment. That approach, to me, makes food a symbol for something which rightly ought to be filled through something else, and let eating being for nourishment for health. (I have noticed that I am very much amongst those who draw the No Candy Cigarettes line. That might be my favorite post of Dr. Harris' commentaries.)

Also, some have found that taking magnesium and eating more animal fats helps solve that desire for chocolate.

Hope this helps a bit. I wish you all the best. :)

From my experience, I crave certain foods much more if I forbid myself to eat them. If my attitude is "I must never ever ever eat cake, because it's so harmful in so many ways", I will be craving it and eventually eat way more than I would have if I allowed myself small indulgences. I try to avoid severe mental restrictions like that (doesn't mean they never happen). The attitude that works for me is: It's cool to be healthy and I try to eat as healthy as I can. When I want to try something non paleo, I just go for it (making sure I do it after having some nutritious food beforehand), try some and move on.

If you're paleo most of the time and avoiding restrictive relationships with food, some chocolate every once in a while shouldn't hurt. And because you don't view any food as taboo, your cravings should eventually subside (I'm assuming your cravings are of psychological origin, however if you have some sort of nutritional deficiency it's prolly a whole different story).

Stop eating all artificial sweeteners like stevia. Somehow it worked magic on my brain and I stopped feeling deprived or strong cravings for sweet foods.

So you cut all chocolate out altogether? That takes a lot of dedication. I hear what you're saying me and my girlfriend who is also polish love dark chocolate. I dont know about yourself but we afford ourselves the occasional treat once in a while. Coffee with cream and a bit of 90% dark lindt :D

We are strict paleo most of the time but from time to time need a bit of a reprieve. Its good for the psyche. On a side note we have foud the polish diet to be really geared up for paleo eating. Lots of fatty meat, raw dairy and plenty of fresh veg.

Heck no I don't "CUT out Chocolate". I make brownies, but I only eat one or two a day... The rest of the time I eat my veggies and meats. If I am trying to lose some weight, I will go more lean with my meats.

1 cup almond butter 2 eggs 1/3 cup Cocoa powder 1/2 can full fat Coconut milk (mix it up) 1/2 cup coconut crystals, or palm sugar 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/3 cup almond or coconut flour

Pour into a buttered pan and bake for approx 30 to 35 minutes. Variation add cream cheese mixture on top then bake: 8 oz cream cheese 1 egg 1/3 coconut crystals or palm sugar 1/4 cup almond or coconut flour 2 teaspoons vanilla

Bake as stated above.

Why You Should Eat and Drink High-Cacao Dark Chocolate: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-you-should-eat-and-drink-high-cacao-dark-chocolate/

I'm eating way more chocolate than before going primal/paleo. My body feels good about it. But I think it's easier to lose weight and cheaper if I try to reduce my intake a bit. It might be a good idea to indulge during the weekends but restrict chocolate usage a bit during the week..

Have you tried Cacoa Nibs? Absolutely no sugar in those babies. Eating them straight is a little intense, but with chopped nuts it's almost like a dark chocolate nut bar. Grind them up (I use a mortar and pestle) and add a little melted butter...it's almost more chocolate than chocolate. The bonus of the Nibs is you can also get your cocoa fix from savory foods, like slow roasted meats. It sounds a little odd, but a cocoa based sauce (mole sauce, I think it is?) is often used in savory mexican cooking. Try it in coconut or almond milk heated up with a little chili pepper. I guess you could just use cocoa powder, but the raw cocoa butter in the nibs gives it that chocolate creaminess that cocoa powder lacks.

I am eastern European as well and a cocoa junkie for life. But you don't have to eat traditionally prepared chocolate to get your cocoa, which is actually packed with antioxidants and fiber and proven to boost your mood.

This is an important question since in my personal experience a sense of deprivation carries with it a risk of deviating from the planned mix of foods.

Some times I can't avoid it, as I'm gluten sensitive enough that having a sesame seed bagel with my fried eggs just can't be my standard breakfast any more. A year hasn't eliminated my wish for it, though.

I've chosen to eat a lot of vegetables, leafy/non-starchy/starchy, and a grapefruit per day plus sweet/starchy fruit in my yogurt. In my case, eating all those things keeps any sense of deprivation at bay when added to liberal servings of fatty meat.

So I guess what I'm saying is that the first step in managing my sense of deprivation is high quality nutrition from a variety of whole foods. The more foods I rotate the less deprived I feel.

For me, step two isn't food-based at all. It's the excellent results on this month's blood work and my status as a 65-yr-old taking NO meds thanks to meat, fruit and vegetables. Yes, I love many SAD foods but my health is more important to me. If that changes, I'll be having bagels with my eggs.

Follow Dorado Galore's advice, and then think about this:

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it...I can resist anything except temptation.” ― Oscar Wilde

We are so blessed to be living in a time of amazing food artistry, well crafted chocolates being among the choices. Sure, food should be for health and fuel the vast majority of the time, but orthorexia is such a bore. I think the human soul benefits from memorable indulgences.

Even if there is a little bit of a recovery time after one of these indulgences, if the pleasure outweighs the pain, it is certainly worth it.

Eat those chocolates, make it an event, and savor every moment. You will remember it fondly for years to come.

Read this and decide for yourself if you should eat sugar.

http://www.dannyroddy.com/main/2012/2/27/sugar-pure-white-awesome.html