January 1, 2007

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why are you giving up chocolate for 2007?
It's a personal decision. I'm taking control of my chocolate habit, one chocolate chip at a time. I was snacking even when I wasn't hungry. I decided on the spur of the moment just after New Year's Eve 2006 that I needed to take the year off.

Do you really mean no chocolate 24/7 for the whole year?
Yes.

You're nuts.
That's not a question.

Are you nuts?
None of my personalities say so.

What are the ground rules?

• No finger dipping in someone else's dessert
• No beater licking
• No batter bowl sampling
• No sample spoons
• No five-seconds-on-the-floor rule
• No crumb inhaling
• No taste testing
• No tasting and spitting out
• White chocolate – well, I don't really know what that is, but I'll say no for now.
• Smelling is okay. I am allowed to inhale.
• Looking at pictures of chocolate online is okay.

Is this a joke?
No, I'm serious, although I do have a sense of humor about this. It's not a chocolate fast for world peace.

Is this a diet plan?
Not exactly. I did not consult my physician before quitting chocolate cold turkey for the year. But since my snacks are usually chocolate, cutting them out this year may mean I snack less. I might also end up compensating with non-chocolate snacks. I'll have to see what happens.

Are you encouraging others to quit eating chocolate?
No, not at all. I have nothing against chocolate and love it very much -- but in my case, too much.

What happens on January 1, 2008?
I don't know whether I'll stay off chocolate completely, return to an average amount of consumption, or dive head first into a glorious bowl of chocolate cake and rocky road ice cream.

Is there a reward?
No. However, if anyone wants to offer donations to a legitimate charity on the condition I really stay away from chocolate all year, I would support that.

Who are you?
My name is Wes Williams. I am the Director of Online Project Management with Scripps Networks Interactive, which produces the Web sites of for Food Network, HGTV, HGTVpro.com, DIY Network, Fine Living, and GAC (Great American Country). My background is in broadcast journalism, but I've worked with the Internet since 1998. I grew up mostly in Weslaco, TX, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. I currently live in Knoxville, TN, with my wife and seven-year-old son and am enrolled in the Professional MBA program at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

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