Dieting is hard especially if you have a problem with binge eating. I have spent years gaining and loosing weight - the cycle repeating over and over. I joined Weight Watchers twice before, and lost but then lost motivation. I decided to join again to kick off the new year. I also decided to make a new year's resolution to go with the new diet plan: no chocolate for three months. I realized quickly when I binged on chocolate it triggered me to continue doing so on all other foods. I needed to make a drastic change, and now. Those three months came with lost of highs and lows. Here are some lessons I learned.

1. The first week is the hardest.

This I found to be false. I was so motivated the first few weeks I didn't have many serious cravings. I had a serious commitment to my plan. Sure my body had a couple mood swings when I quit eating my daily dose of chocolate goodness. But otherwise it was a breeze.

2. Having a support system makes it worth it.

My mom works for weight watchers so she sent me back to school with lots of healthy options. She gave me the tools I needed to start off strong. Before going back to school though I spent the first two weeks working behind a bakery counter (shout out to Harner's). My friend worked with me everyday, and supported and encouraged me as I stayed far away from everything chocolate. Then the support of my friends carried me through as I adjusted back to college life. My friend's didn't eat sweets around me as often, and encouraged me when all I wanted was a candy bar. They kept me going during the really hard weeks.

3. As time goes on the cravings start to go away.

This is completely FALSE. It was towards the end of my second month, and I was having the worst cravings. I wanted everything bad: ice cream, cookies, candy bars etc. It was so rough. My big sister in my sorority joined Weight Watcher's online with me, and helped me push through that rough week (and the other ones to come).

4. Giving up one thing alone doesn't cause massive weight loss.

For me my body type when I eat one 'bad' thing my body holds onto it, and shoots me up at least five pounds. So even though my binge eating stopped, and I was no longer eating desserts (of any kind) the weight was slowly coming off. I had to diet, and exercise to see real change. Over these three months I have seen changes though. I have lost a total of 17 pounds within that time. It takes a lot of work, but it it so worth it.

5. Learn to compromise.

I gave up chocolate for my resolution, but with that tried to give up all sweets. But if I wanted I could have them without breaking my true resolution. While in school I found something sweet, and yummy I decided was not a dessert: frosted animals crackers. They are amazing. They are one smart point each, and so worth it. They are perfect for when I want something small and sweet to put in my mouth. I also began to eat four smart point chocolate chip granola bar. Though they do have chocolate chips in them I do not consider it breaking my resolution. They are not sweet enough to binge on, and most of the time they're very few chips in them anyways. They are satisfying, and keep me on track.

6. People love their sweets, but you have to remember your goal.

I can't tell you how many times I have been surrounded by chocolate. It is given out for free often on college campuses. When its free, or just being around people eating it can make it much more tempting. A great example of this struggles is when I was at my sorority house to get to know some of the new members. Their were only a total of five people there so it was decided we should go to Peace, Love, and Little Doughnuts. So we drove there, and I see all these beautiful doughnuts in front of me making my mouth water. I start thinking I could get one without chocolate...but I knew that could be a slippery slope. So I walked away. By the time I got back to my room I flicked on the light to find chocolate chip cookies on my desk. I yelled, and ran out of my room. I called my mom, and while on the phone with her went back into my room, grabbed them off my desk, and gave them to my friends. After that day I started telling people I was allergic to chocolate.

7. Figure out what motivate you.

When I lose my weight I want three things. A hot bikini, a belly button piercing to go with the bikini, and a hot (and slightly inappropriate) dress. This motivates me along with how I feel right now. I want to feel more confident in myself. I want my clothes to fit better. I want to feel good for me. This keeps me on track, and motivated to keep going.

8. Now that I have hit my goal I am nowhere near done.

I am proud of how far I have come, but I am nowhere near done. I am going another three months. My goal is to go a year, but I am taking it three months at a time. This works for me, and makes me feel better so I am going to continue this journey.