250 calories per day on chocolate?

Graelwyn75

I have 81% dark chocolate, 2 squares, maybe every other day or so. 140 calories.
Either that, or I stick to 50g of nuts and dried fruit.
I try to avoid milk chocolate now because I tend to want more and more once I get a taste, but I do occasionally have it.
I had a kitkat today while out cycling and enjoyed it thoroughly.
And I will no doubt have some at Easter since my mum sends me a bag.

EHisCDN

I eat chocolate everyday and I've been fine . It makes me happy and that's important throughout this process too.

Sarauk2sf

That truly depends on your goals.

If your goal is to lose weight only, then go ahead and eat whatever you want "if it fits your macros" - eat chocolate each day

If you have other goals that include improved body composition, improved overall health etc., then you may want to re-think that strategy.

I am confused by this statement.

How does fitting your macros not include improved body composition (re diet) - what should they do? Not hit their macros?

Sarauk2sf

OP: as long as the chocolate still allows you to hit your macro and micros (e.g.. a balanced diet with a good amount of nutrient dense foods), then it is fine.

jmv7117

Chocolate is necessary for survival. Not mine, everyone else's...

Eat it, savor it, log it, carry no shame about it.

^ THIS!

Mighty_Rabite

If you fit that into your macros, I'd say why the heck not?

[Dark] chocolate has been shown to not be too bad for us, also ^__^

Greytfish

Okay, true. I kinda jumped the fence with the "demonizing sugar" statement. I think I/we lost track of the whole point of this tread anyway (a common demise of most threads.) I guess the roundabout point I'm trying to get to (rather aimlessly) is that 250 cals from a high sugar and fat food (most chocolates) isn't going to upset most folk's catabolic processes. And I could see that even folks who only run at the gym can easily metabolize the extra sugar, along with their other macronutrients over the course of an average day.

Generally speaking, we aren't dealing with elite athletes here on MFP. We're dealing with normal folks who - with or without chocolate - will do just fine in the long term with mild fluctuations in their macro distributions… Okay, many will fail completely. But it won't be because they chose 250 cals of chocolate vs 250 cals of wild Atlantic salmon. It's because of gross dietary indiscretion leading to failure.

Well, presuming they aren't an athlete taking in 3,000 calories 200 plus grams of protein, and still losing fat, 250 calories on a more than infrequent basis is going to upset lots of processes and will crowd out macros and some important micronutrients. But the point, all along, has been that it will reduce the amount of fat lost overall simply because 250 calories of milk chocolate has about 29 grams of sugar the body will either burn or convert to fat and store, over and above the 16 grams of fat. Considering the carbs are on the plus side of 30 as well, it's quite an impact, especially for the average former overeater here.

And, while no one will succeed or fail at the base minimum goal of weight loss with 250 calories of milk chocolate over 250 calories of salmon, it cannot be a surprise to anyone that the person who picks the salmon more often than not will lose more fat, build more muscle, and be more likely to reduce injuries than the person who more often picks the chocolate - especially considering how many people trying to lose weight cut out many creatine heavy foods like beef in an effort to trim fat and calories.

And speaking of replenishing glycogen during events… I detest gels myself. I'm more of a Shot Bloks girl. Plus some Accelerade in the bottles for good measure (yes, it contains protein - hush.) Bloks are mostly brown rice syrup, which is 45% maltose, 3% glucose, and 52% maltotriose. I think I might suffer from dumping syndrome (egads) if I mainlined glucose. So, no pure glucose is not recommended (except for diabetics having an episode).

Yeah, gels aren't the food of choice of lots of folks, given their druthers. I'm not eating for pleasure though when I'm running or training. I'm fueling my body, sparing muscle, and promoting recovery. It's not a casual dinner with friends, so I make my choices based on health, performance, and recovery.

The good news: a moderate amount of DARK chocolate has good nutrients and less sugar than crappy chocolate bars. Like having a small serving of red wine with dinner, it's probably good for you or at least not bad for you.

The rest of the reality: if you're eating a minimum of 250 calories of it a day, that's probably too much of your overall daily intake. Worse, if it's milk chocolate or otherwise low quality junk, you're sabotaging yourself big time.

The folks who say "a calorie is a calorie" and those who say "all carbs are evil" are both oversimplifying, and the science doesn't agree with them. It DOES absolutely matter what you eat, not just how much. Yes, you can loose fat in a calorie deficit with plenty of your intake being sugar and booze and transfats (and you might as well smoke some cigarettes there, too). But you'll loose more fat more quickly if you minimize any sugars you eat (and highly refined foods like white rice and flour, too). More importantly, you'll feel better if you eat more whole foods and fewer processed foods, many more vegetables, more greens and less grains, and minimize processed and refined foods. Sure, have some treats (everything in moderation), but they're TREATS, not staples.

Lookie thar, almost a handful of thinking folks now. Great post.

AlwaysInMotion

Well, presuming they aren't an athlete taking in 3,000 calories 200 plus grams of protein, and still losing fat, 250 calories on a more than infrequent basis is going to upset lots of processes and will crowd out macros and some important micronutrients.

In all things moderation. I don't encourage daily over-indulgences with anything (chocolate or otherwise).

And, while no one will succeed or fail at the base minimum goal of weight loss with 250 calories of milk chocolate over 250 calories of salmon, it cannot be a surprise to anyone that the person who picks the salmon more often than not will lose more fat, build more muscle, and be more likely to reduce injuries than the person who more often picks the chocolate...

Again, moderation. After glancing around, most MFPers are not competitive athletes on performance-tuned diets. They're average people who don't typically "eat clean" anyway. When an average person elects to eat 250 calories of a treat like chocolate, he/she usually compensates by consuming less "junk" normally consumed elsewhere in the day's budget. I doubt most folks will trade the day's lean protein (ex: 8oz chicken breast) for a Butterfinger.

...especially considering how many people trying to lose weight cut out many creatine heavy foods like beef in an effort to trim fat and calories.

Helpful tidbit: salmon and tuna have almost as much creatine monohydrate (4.5g/lb) as lean beef (5.0g/lb). Good to know if folks grow tired of lean beef/chicken/beef/chicken...

Yeah, gels aren't the food of choice of lots of folks, given their druthers. I'm not eating for pleasure though when I'm running or training. I'm fueling my body, sparing muscle, and promoting recovery. It's not a casual dinner with friends, so I make my choices based on health, performance, and recovery.

And there are athletes who use alternatives to gels. And I'd never serve gels at an intimate dinner gathering - couldn't stand fishing those sticky spent packets out of the damn wine glasses or off my Persian rug. Racers are insufferable litterbugs.

The rest of the reality: if you're eating a minimum of 250 calories of it a day, that's probably too much of your overall daily intake. Worse, if it's milk chocolate or otherwise low quality junk, you're sabotaging yourself big time.

Not condoning daily indulgence. Most importantly, not condoning eating low-quality or *bad* chocolate. And what's with the milk chocolate hate-a-thon? We need to nip that in the cocoa nib.

But you'll loose (sic) more fat more quickly if you minimize any sugars you eat (and highly refined foods like white rice and flour, too). More importantly, you'll feel better if you eat more whole foods and fewer processed foods, many more vegetables, more greens and less grains, and minimize processed and refined foods. Sure, have some treats (everything in moderation), but they're TREATS, not staples.

Yes, eat *good* chocolate in moderation. I did so at the expense of other junk carbs and it was a worthwhile trade. T'was my whole point from the beginning... Be happy, be healthy, eat chocolate!

Greytfish

And, while no one will succeed or fail at the base minimum goal of weight loss with 250 calories of milk chocolate over 250 calories of salmon, it cannot be a surprise to anyone that the person who picks the salmon more often than not will lose more fat, build more muscle, and be more likely to reduce injuries than the person who more often picks the chocolate...

Again, moderation. After glancing around, most MFPers are not competitive athletes on performance-tuned diets. They're average people who don't typically "eat clean" anyway. When an average person elects to eat 250 calories of a treat like chocolate, he/she usually compensates by consuming less "junk" normally consumed elsewhere in the day's budget. I doubt most folks will trade the day's lean protein (ex: 8oz chicken breast) for a Butterfinger. [/quote]

Except, the fact that the majority of people here have been overweight in their lifetime strongly argues your assumption is misplaced.

Helpful tidbit: salmon and tuna have almost as much creatine monohydrate (4.5g/lb) as lean beef (5.0g/lb). Good to know if folks grow tired of lean beef/chicken/beef/chicken...

Yeah, that was my point. They largely eschew beef because of an irrational aversion to saturated fats and in having a chicken heavy diet they are already limiting the health and recovery of their body by shorting creatine - and doing so in a way that will not be reflected in their macros.

Of course, it's worth noting that tuna is a particularly poor option for women of childbearing years as the limits are two small servings per week, which means women cannot obtain much protein from tuna from ages 18-44 or thereabouts.

And there are athletes who use alternatives to gels. And I'd never serve gels at an intimate dinner gathering - couldn't stand fishing those sticky spent packets out of the damn wine glasses or off my Persian rug. Racers are insufferable litterbugs.

They do, because they're generally making the same fueling mistakes that land so many people here - eating for soley taste and texture and not health and performance. Short term goals. To be fair, a few of them are taking in the maltodextrin in other formats.

No, cyclist are insufferable litter bugs. The water bottle tossing is insane. Honestly, though, people are insufferable litter bugs. That's why littering fines are so high.

I'm the odd one out there as I always put my cups and wrappers in the trash, or carry them with me. My momma taught me if I didn't bring my maid, I had to clean up after myself.

Not condoning daily indulgence. Most importantly, not condoning eating low-quality or *bad* chocolate. And what's with the milk chocolate hate-a-thon? We need to nip that in the cocoa nib.

Milk chocolate is like coffee light and sweet - it's what you think chocolate/coffee is if you've never had actual, good chocolate/coffee and you just like sugar and dairy - which in both cases is the overwhelming majority of what you're tasting. It also makes a handy scapegoat since it's more socially acceptable to crave/need coffee or chocolate.

adsmcfc

I've eaten a 110g milk chocolate bar every day for the past 5 days but I've still lost 2 pound

jagged95

What are the 'macros' everyone is talking about?

There are 4 macronutrients. A high level explanation of each of their functions is:

Protein, which is required for muscle retention/growth
Fat, which is required for healthy body functions
Carbs, which provide energy
Alcohol, which provides for embarrassing photos

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

Alcohol, you made me giggle.

martinytime

I just ate 1/2 a serving of 86% cacao dark chocolate for 125 calories. If you are going to eat chocolate, eat really good chocolate with lots of antioxidants that come with the darker chocolates. Aim for 70% or higher cacao for the most bang for your calories

mteague277

If eating that chocolate is what keeps you at your daily calories, keep eating it

AlwaysInMotion

Except, the fact that the majority of people here have been overweight in their lifetime strongly argues your assumption is misplaced.

My assumptions are not misplaced. Quite the contrary.

I realize my personal experience only counts as anecdotal evidence, but...

I was morbidly obese. I lost 120 lbs and have kept most of it off for over 10 years. Realistic, incremental changes to my diet and lifestyle over the long term is what has enabled me to keep the weight off long after the majority of my fellow "big losers" have gained it back. I didn't deny myself anything (treats, whatever) and I've done just fine. In fact, I'm in the best health I've ever been - faster, stronger - and I'm much happier, too.

Since you don't share much in your public profile, greytfish, I'm left to wonder... Are you speaking as an obese or formerly obese person yourself? If yes, how much did you lose and how long did you keep it off? Just curious. I always wonder about the folks I interact with. What's their backstory? Why did they say that?...

FWIW, I've "walked the walk" in the fat suit. I think that gives me just a tiny bit of MFP cred. I just want to share what I've been through. I hope to give someone a little hope that it can be done - and by mere mortals. I'm not here to lecture people on the right or wrong ways to lose weight - because I can't. I'm here to offer what I can - support, comraderie, consolation... and maybe a little tough love if someone needs it.

Greytfish

Assuming that most people won't pick the Butterfinger over the chicken is a nice gesture, but the sheer number of people here and in the population at large who are overweight or some veriation of obese undercuts that assumption. It's quite difficult, even for a conditioned overeater to intake an appropriate amount of protein for a person their size (vs. the "just enough to maintain the base amount of muscle to sustain the life of someone not overweight and subjecting their skeleton to extreme stress: suggested as an RDA or by MFP) and then eat enough Butterfingers to become obese or overweight.

And, I applaud your effort in losing that much weight, keeping it off, and remaining here for others. I try not to make personal assumptions about people, but your remaining here as a resource speaks well of your character.

This might be the only thread in which it hasn't come up in discussion, no, I have never been obese or morbidly obese. I've been more fit than I am now as well as less fit, had more and less body fat that I have now, carried more and less muscle mass than I do now and done most of it in everything from the near vegetative sedentary state of being post serious injury and post serious surgery to the other end of the spectrum of being very active. I'm just fortunate, not in my genetics, but in the habits I formed from a young age, because it was something my mom prioritized. It has made it much easier to keep a mentally helathy relationship with food and other challenges in life. I can't take credit for that, but I can use it to help people battling illesses and severe injuries get more active and stay in better shape, which constitutes a good portion of my nonprofit work.

AlwaysInMotion

Thanks for sharing a little of your backstory, greytfish. I appreciate it. It's more difficult to interact with or relate to someone when you don't know what's an interest or a trigger topic. (I've hit a few too many triggers in my day. Unintentionally.)

I try to remain optimistic about folks on MFP. I believe people have a desire for positive change and have a great capacity for learning. I also believe in reinforcement / positive feedback loops. When someone makes healthier choices, then sees positive results, I hope that inspires him/her to make more positive choices. (Until chicken over Butterfinger becomes the norm, not the exception.) Unfortunately, heavy reinforcement can also lead some people to disordered eating (not just overeating, but anorexia). A pendulum effect, if you will. For me, tight restriction lead to extreme restriction, and I had to learn to back myself off of it. So now, I just try to encourage folks to stay within the boundaries of normal eating - which may include treats now and again.

Thanks again for revealing yourself a little bit! It's nice to learn more about interesting people.

likitisplit

Except, the fact that the majority of people here have been overweight in their lifetime strongly argues your assumption is misplaced.

My assumptions are not misplaced. Quite the contrary.

I realize my personal experience only counts as anecdotal evidence, but...

I was morbidly obese. I lost 120 lbs and have kept most of it off for over 10 years. Realistic, incremental changes to my diet and lifestyle over the long term is what has enabled me to keep the weight off long after the majority of my fellow "big losers" have gained it back. I didn't deny myself anything (treats, whatever) and I've done just fine. In fact, I'm in the best health I've ever been - faster, stronger - and I'm much happier, too.

Since you don't share much in your public profile, greytfish, I'm left to wonder... Are you speaking as an obese or formerly obese person yourself? If yes, how much did you lose and how long did you keep it off? Just curious. I always wonder about the folks I interact with. What's their backstory? Why did they say that?...

FWIW, I've "walked the walk" in the fat suit. I think that gives me just a tiny bit of MFP cred. I just want to share what I've been through. I hope to give someone a little hope that it can be done - and by mere mortals. I'm not here to lecture people on the right or wrong ways to lose weight - because I can't. I'm here to offer what I can - support, comraderie, consolation... and maybe a little tough love if someone needs it.

I agree with you. The tools that MFP offers makes it possible for people, who for whatever reason, have fallen into unhealthy eating patterns to figure out how to make realistic choices in the context of their overall diet.