I have decided to give up chocolate…for a month. And for me, that’s huge. That’s the equivalent of an alcoholic giving up alcohol for a month.

Why did I decide to do this? Well after becoming more spiritual and much more humble I decided to give up or to fast something I love for a period of time. I also saw “The Daniel Fast” and that’s when I really decided to go for it. You can read about that here. http://www.christ-web.com/missions/farho/daniel-fast

Now that idea is basically giving up something for Lent. I am not Catholic and have never done Lent, but the idea behind it is the same.

In the book of Daniel, Daniel and his 3 fellow Jewish exiles gave up the King Nebuchadnezzer’s feasts of meat and wine for just vegetables and water. After 30 days, Daniel and his friends were healthier and stronger from their meal of vegetables and water than all the men eating the best food and wine of the day from the King’s table.

Now back to the chocolate fast. I decided to give up something I love for a period of time as a show of my faith and humility. In the Bible, fasting is mentioned many times. I had always thought of fasting as giving up all food and water day and night for a certain amount of time. I get thirsty just thinking of that. It would be hard for me to go 3 hours without drinking something. Then I heard you can “fast from something” such as fasting from meat or fasting from sweets.

Now everyone has heard of chocoholics. But I’m a chocaholic on the most severe level possible. If you’ve ever seen the TV Show “Intervention” I should be on that show for chocolate. I am so addicted that I rarely go a whole day without chocolate. I always have to have chocolate for dessert in the evening. On my good days I simply eat a chocolate chip granola bar. On the days I really get to enjoy chocolate I eat rich, premium dark chocolate or maybe M&Ms or hot fudge or brownies. I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of chocolate to only have it on occasion, but will power is hard.

Being so addicted to chocolate and since it’s high in fat and calories I’ve decided to give it up completely for a month. And as a bonus I will lose weight.

It will be different for me not having a chocolate dessert every evening but I know I can do it. Lack of chocolate hasn’t killed anyone or caused any health problems. It won’t cause painful withdrawals like going off of cigarettes or alcohol or drugs. And I’m hoping after a whole month without it, I will lose 10 pounds solely from the chocolate fast and when the month is over I won’t crave it or need it so much.

The longer you go without something, the less you need it.

I’m sure I’ll have cravings, but I will overcome them because I know I made a vow to God and no chocolate is going to make me break a vow to God.

If you want to try a “Daniel Fast” (it doesn’t have to be for Lent) pick something you love to eat or drink and give it up for a certain period of time.