Australia is a chocolate-loving nation, with an average of 4.9 kilograms per capita* consumed annually. But with Easter upon us, many chocolate addicts fear their addiction will go into overdrive.
Mum of two Luana Tyne, a self-confessed chocolate addict, broke her addiction to chocolate last Easter and hasn't touched a single bar in 12 months.
According to Little Forest Health Retreat's habit-breaking expert and Hypnotherapist Mark Stephens, a chocolate addiction goes beyond the occasional indulgence or Easter egg.
"I would eat the sugary brown stuff when I was sad, tired, bored, angry, stressed, in pain, as a reward or even happy," said Luana.
According to Stephens, chocolate is an addiction of both the mind and body – when people eat it, they do so in order to feel good. Many confess that they consume more than necessary due to fatigue, loneliness, monotony, heartache or overwhelm.
Stephens confidently claims that his one-of-a-kind fusion of meditation, hypnosis and aversion therapy can cure even the most severe chocolate addiction within minutes, leaving those afflicted no longer craving it.
"By using mindful self-hypnosis, we can disconnect unconscious triggers and retrain the mind for healthy choices," explained Stephens.
To end chocolate addiction, he recommends practicing mindful self-hypnosis for stress reduction, having nutritious alternatives handy whenever possible, eating regular balanced meals to maintain blood sugar levels and drinking lots of water to reduce cravings.
Luana, after renouncing her cravings for chocolate and losing an impressive 40kg exclaimed, "Nothing tastes as good as slim feels!"
