Can I Eat Chocolate?
juliacatherine1
Posts: 71 Member
Apologies if this question has been asked previously, I was unable to find it. I have recently rediscovered how much I love chocolate. Thankfully I am the type to have 1-2 pieces and quit! I assume DARK chocolate is allowed on most diets, and I don't mind dark chocolate, but how dark? If I'm going to have my occasional piece or two, what type of guidelines should I be using for choosing and Eating?
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You don't need anyone's permission to eat a certain kind of food, you're an adult. As long as what you are eating fits into your calorie goal for the day, you'll lose weight. That doesn't mean eat chocolate all day, because that would be a nutritional disaster, but if you've hit your nutritional goals for the day and have some calories left over, eat whatever treat you want. People here eat chocolate, cookies, or ice cream every single day and still lose weight.0
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You lose weight by eating at a deficit. Period. Eat "good" or "clean" or "healthy" (whatever those words mean to you) 80% of the time. Fit yummy, portion-controlled treats into your calorie goal. Deprivation can lead to bingeing.
Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
Eat chocolate!
If you are diabetic, choose wisely but other wise just fit it into your daily calories.
I am ignoring the donuts in the office break room so that I can have chocolates later.
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I agree with what is said so far. you can eat any chocolate you like, as long as you keep it within your calories and you don't eat chocolate all day 0
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Just a few things I am unsure of. I have heard several schools of thought on the chocolate front.
Some say avoid it all together, which I won't because im an adult! LOL
Others say to enjoy occasionally but choose the highest % of cocoa. Like I said, I like dark, but im not really into that 70% stuff.
Is this because it contains less milkfat? and more of the beneficial type stuff?
If you're a chocolate eater, what is your happy medium between cocoa content and fat? (what do you eat)0 -
Agreed, chocolate is allowed (you are a consenting adult
).
If you want to get the most out of your chocolate choice then Dark is the way to go. If you like it then 85% is nice (it can be a little bitter - I take the edge off with a nice glass of merlot).
Dark chocolate contains loads of polyphenols and healthy fats (monounsaturated and saturated - with very little polyunsaturated).
Epidemiological studies show that it can lower blood pressure. Plus a load of other cool stuff.
If you go for the milk chocolate types of chocolate you will find that the added milk and other chemicals will negate most of the good stuff dark chocolate does - but even the milk chocolate won't do you any harm and is tasty.
Like everything - moderation.0 -
Yes. Yes you can.
Keep your calories to your deficit and you'll lose weight.0 -
I eat the chocolate that I like best (in moderation), and I enjoy the hell out of every single bite.If you're a chocolate eater, what is your happy medium between cocoa content and fat? (what do you eat)0 -
No.
You can't.
At all*
(*lies. You can. Work it into your calorie deficit and nutrient goals. It doesn't have to be dark either. If you like other forms of chocolate then that is fine as well.)1 -
I recommend Lindor Truffles. They are individually wrapped so it's easier to have just one. They come in quite a few flavors (milk, dark, mint chocolate <--my fave, white chocolate, peppermint, etc.) They are a chocolate "Shell" with a smooth almost melty center. Yummy!0
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the very dark chocolates are lower in calories, so you can eat more of it for the same number of calories, that's it. Eat whatever kind of chocolate you want, log the calories, stay within your calorie goal, and you'll still lose weight. In fact by allowing yourself to eat anything you want in sensible portion sizes, you increase your chances of success in the long term, which is what counts, because it's easier to stick with healthy lifestyle changes in the long term if you don't feel deprived or tortured by them. So eat the chocolate, just log the calories carefully and stay within your goals. If you happen to like the very high percentage cocoa chocolate, that means you can eat more of it without going over your calorie goal. But if you don't like it there's no point eating it because self-torture is counterproductive to long term success.0
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Yes!! If you haven't tried Skinny Cow Chocolates then do! They're soooo good and low in cals.0
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yes, you can eat chocolate.
you can eat whatever you want, as long as you maintain your calorie deficit.
The 80/20 rule is always helpful. 80% healthy, 20% whatever you want = cookies, ice cream, cookies, cake, pizza, etc…0 -
Absolutely.
All things in moderation.
For me this is my new way of eating.................... forever.0 -
If I'm going to have my occasional piece or two, what type of guidelines should I be using for choosing and Eating?
Only eat enough to stay within your calorie and nutrient goals.0 -
As long as you can moderate your eating habits, eat whatever you want.0
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I totally agree with njd1979... Count whatever chocolate in your calorie deficit. Also, if you are exercising, do assume you can eat more calories. Try your hardest to eat your 1600 or whatever calorie allowance Myfitnesspal is telling you to eat. in less than a month, I dropped 23 pounds! We are all different, but I have my 2 - 4 pieces of chocolate every now and cut out soda completely!
Lots of luck everyone,
Vinnie0 -
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I love dark chocolate and when I'm craving will pick up a bag of the Ghiradelli Intense Dark Midnight squares, which is 86% cacoa. I had to become a bit of a chocolate snob in order to avoid the temptations. You can find milk chocolate everywhere but have to put some work in to find truly good high cacoa percentage dark chocolate - and most of the time I'm too lazy to follow through so the cravings are forgotten.
Now that I'm used to the really good, high cacoa percentage dark, all milk chocolate tastes like those cheap imitation chocolates to me. The lower percentage dark chocolates are ok by me though because they still have that stronger, almost bitter taste to them but tend to be smoother and I especially like when they add in yummy extras like dried fruits or nuts.
By the way, the difference is that dark chocolate doesn't contain added milk solids.
As far as fitting treats like this into your calorie goal, you could always get a little extra activity in or skimp on a meal or snack. As long as it fits your calories/macros, no harm done. And if you really are good about only having a 2-3 pieces, that's maybe 200 calories at most so it's no worse than any other reasonably portioned snack.0 -
Just a few things I am unsure of. I have heard several schools of thought on the chocolate front.
Some say avoid it all together, which I won't because im an adult! LOL
Others say to enjoy occasionally but choose the highest % of cocoa. Like I said, I like dark, but im not really into that 70% stuff.
Is this because it contains less milkfat? and more of the beneficial type stuff?
If you're a chocolate eater, what is your happy medium between cocoa content and fat? (what do you eat)
This is all BS. Just eat the chocolate. Whatever kind you like best.
This seems to be Jerry's standard answer to everything in the world.
There is a difference, but based on eating 1 - 2 squares, it's not one that you need to be too concerned about.
Enjoy your chocolate 0 -
Never had a sweet tooth before my weight loss, but now I reeeally love my sweets. I have at least one sort of chocolate treat a day. There's no reason to skimp on or completely rule out certain foods. As others have said, just eat at a deficit and you'll continue to lose weight.0
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I love chocolate! And I have it a lot!
As others have said, of course you can have anything you like - but if it's calorie dense, it has to be less often and/or small portions if ýou want to meet a low calorie goal.
So, if I want a large portion (which I do) or want it on a tuesday nothing special afternoon (which I do) I find ways to have the chocolate flavour without too many calories per serving - to be fair, I like it VERY dark, and I don't mind if things don't come out as the same 'experience' so to say as I'm used to from store bought products etc. So if you like the chocolate bars etc. these tips might not be helpful for you, but if it's just a craving for that dark, dry, bitter, melting, intense flavour of good cocoa, here's my tips:
Dark unsweetned cocoa solid powder is a must have. I sometimes make a "chocolate soup" (it could be hot chocolate, but it's thicker, so I call it soup), where I take like 1½ cups of milk, and keep putting the cocoa solid powder into to it, stirring over heat, and seeing how much I can mix in - it usually turns out with the consistency of creamy soup. Then I throw in some chili powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla what ever - For special occasions I put in like a teaspoon of a good brandy, and at last, use sweetner to taste (it takes a lot if you don't like it bitter).
I've also done this recipe several times: www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2011/02/03/how-to-make-100-calorie-moist-chocolate-cupcakes/
Except I use sweetner instead of sugar, about 50% more cocoa powder, and I make apple sauce myself (grate 2 apples, put in like ½ cup of water, microwave for a couple of minutes, stir, microwave again, stir etc. until it become difficult to tell the apple pieces apart) - they come out at about 65-75cal for me, and are an excellent chocolate fix!
Oh, and you can also just mix the powder in with greek youghurt or skyr, use sweetner or sweet fruit, and it's delicious!0 -
The darker the better! More good fat, less refined sugar.
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Just a few things I am unsure of. I have heard several schools of thought on the chocolate front.
Some say avoid it all together, which I won't because im an adult! LOL
Others say to enjoy occasionally but choose the highest % of cocoa. Like I said, I like dark, but im not really into that 70% stuff.
Is this because it contains less milkfat? and more of the beneficial type stuff?
If you're a chocolate eater, what is your happy medium between cocoa content and fat? (what do you eat)
none of this matters I promise. Eat whatever chocolate you like and log it. Remove the guilt - it's misplaced!0 -
Don't eliminate any foods from your diet while losing weight that you can't live without for the rest of your life - the key is to develop good eating habits so that once the weight comes off, it stays off. So if you want chocolate, eat chocolate if it fits in your calorie limit! I eat a single serving of 60% cacao dark chocolate chips nearly every day - not because dark chocolate is better for me than other kinds of chocolate, but because I like how it tastes best.0
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Don't eliminate any foods from your diet while losing weight that you can't live without for the rest of your life - the key is to develop good eating habits so that once the weight comes off, it stays off. So if you want chocolate, eat chocolate if it fits in your calorie limit! I eat a single serving of 60% cacao dark chocolate chips nearly every day - not because dark chocolate is better for me than other kinds of chocolate, but because I like how it tastes best.
^^ Agreed! If you can't live without it forever, learn to moderate and eat within reason - This goes for Chocolate, Pizza, Ice Cream whatever. Once you lose the weight you want, if you go back to eating that stuff, you'll just gain it back. You have to learn HOW to eat it, not just cut it all out.
By the way - I'm a chocoholic - I am NOT giving it up and have learned to buy the individual wrapped chocolates that I like, so that I can eat one or two and not leave a 1/2 a Hershey bar sitting around.0 -
The day I'm told not to eat chocolate is the day someone should just kill me.0
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You can eat whatever you please so long as you are hitting your calorie goals and you are otherwise getting proper nutrition. Also, news flash...dark chocolate is extremely nutrient dense...it is also calorie dense but it has a lot of nutrients and is very heart healthy. I eat around 200 calories or so per day on average just from dark chocolate...and yes...I get all of my other vitamins and minerals as well as essential proteins and I've easily lost 40 pounds and then maintained and now trying to drop just a few more to make my rides and other physical endurance activities a bit easier.
I also eat pizza once every couple of weeks...I eat pasta a couple times per week...potatoes and rice are a staple of my diet and I also really like jelly beans.0 -
If you're a chocolate eater, what is your happy medium between cocoa content and fat? (what do you eat)
I prefer nuts covered in dark chocolate, but I also like caramels and truffles, etc. I'm not picky.0 -
Everything in moderation is definitely my motto. If I fancy some chocolate and I have enough calories, I eat it 0
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