The chocolate bar guilt...

Shannon311

So today I took a healthy choice grilled veggie steamer to work for lunch. YUCK. I had a different type yesterday and loved it. Such a let down. I only ate a few bites and of course after lunch I was pretty hungry. All I could think about all day was chocolate. I did buy a dove bar and ate half. I felt so guilty afterwards. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good chocolate substitute? I want something that I can feel good about eating, but will help with the craving of chocolate or sweets.

Qarol

I wouldn't recommend any "substitute." The real thing is going to be more satisfying. Less of it will be better than a lot of those so-called diet foods.

Don't beat yourself up. Instead, why don't you try incorporating a little chocolate into your diet a couple days a week. That way, you have something to look forward to. Make it a special treat. Like one Dove piece (not a whole bar) right before bed or something.

And I'm not a fan of those frozen lunches. They're never very satisfying. It might be better to just make yourself a light sandwich in the mornings to take with you. Plus, those frozen foods have a lot of sodium in them.

melsinct

Allow yourself a small portion of quality chocolate once in a while. Fruit is good when you need a sugary treat, as is flavored yogurt. However, if you crave sugar every day, you may want to ween yourself off. If you eat it daily, your body just wants more. Kick the habit of regularly eating sweets and it will get a lot easier (says the girl with the former afternoon sugar snack addiction!).

Mairgheal

Never feel guilty, it's only another food. If you are going to eat 300 cals or so on chocolate, you may as well ENJOY it!

DrBorkBork

taking a magnesium citrate supplement will help with chocolate cravings. I'm a chocoholic, and taking magnesium has turned my obsessive "Must have!" into "Meh."

also, always aim to eat dark chocolate. It's loaded with antioxidants and less processed than milk chocolate. The darker the better! I really like Scharffen Berger's 99% bar.

Adiptee

I usually have Cadbury's 100 Cal chocolate. It's the real deal, but sold at a size that ensures you're only consuming 100 calories. It usually rids me of my chocolate cravings.:happy:

Syreeta6

Hershey's dark chocolate minis does the trick for me!

plharwood

I add Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder to oatmeal or yogurt. The cocoa is only 10 calories per tablespoon, and adds a LOT of chocolate flavor, so I don't even add a whole tablespoon to a bowl of oatmeal. However, you will need to add somne sort of sweetener also, because it's unsweetened. I use Equal, but you can add whatever sweetener you prefer.

chevy88grl

I LOVE Reese's peanut butter cups. I mean LOVE THEM. Well, I managed to stumble across Skinny Cow heavenly crisp peanut butter bars. OMG. They are so very good and you know what? I eat one of them instead of Reese's and I'm happy afterward. They are 110 calories and only 8g of sugar -- BIG difference from the Reese's. Try and find stuff like that to help with the chocolate craving. Another thing I've found that works? Buy the mini candy bars and portion them out (most of them you get 4 or 5 minis for around 100 calories). That helps too.

GoneWithTheWhinge

I eat dark chocolate, my preference in Lindt dark mint intense.

Most importantly though, IMO, is to remember that chocolate, in moderation, can be part of a healthy balanced diet. I find trying to find substitutes for something you REALLY REALLY crave is on a hiding to eating more calories as downing an apple when you've got a chocolate thing going on won't cut it all the time. Dark chocolate is better than milk, its a higher cocoa % so hits the chocolate craving better, in a smaller quantity. I keep it in the fridge and have a square and really really savour it rather than just scoffing it down how I used to.

That's just my opinion, I'm trying to make my changes a long term sustainable thing and for me, a life without any chocolate wouldn't be good so by working it into my daily calories its accounted for. I also don't like the idea of guilt after eating, we HAVE to eat to live and the act of eating shouldn't be something to feel guilty about.

Good luck in your weight loss and stay positive. You are doing wonderfully well.

nisharae

Chocolate Chips... If you find the right brand you can have 2 TBS for 70 cal. If you eat them slow they last a while and are pretty satisfying ... And btw every once in a while I eat a dove chocolate bar, when I want chocolate... I mean its only like 180 calories.. sometimes it just has to be done Just go lighter with dinner

shonasteele

Someone suggested Fibre One bars with chocolate. I ran out and bought a box yesterday! But haven't tried it yet. Hmm. That does sound pretty good now that you mention it. Oooh, I've got one in my purse - I may be posting my opinion shortly...

kent4j

I buy a bag of Dove dark chocolate pieces and incorporate two pieces in my daily diet. I'm a huge sweet/chocolate lover and this satisfies me as a dessert after dinner. I really take the time to eat them slowly so I enjoy every calorie.

riespieces

I enjoy the 90 calories fibre one brownies (found mine at Costco) they are nummy and satisfy my chocolate craving! Good luck!

blacktallon

I like the special k 90 calorie bars. I also like these little tiny frozen yogurt bars by irresistibles for 90 cal. I still get awful cravings for chocolate so the small portions make it easier not to eat too much. I find opening a chocolate bar just to eat a few squares too tempting.

dfunk06

Deep Chocolate vitatops! (www.vitalicious.com and select stores)

katt742

Hershey's dark chocolate minis does the trick for me!

Me too! One little piece and i savor it...its so rich that it satisfies me!

Hearts_2015

Why the guilt? I suppose if it was unplanned I could see how it might hit you that way or if you didn't have enough calories left in your allotment. Otherwise a bit of dark chocolate (NICE quality, not cheap crap or you'll be disappointed and feel cheated) or treat like that planned out shouldn't make us feel guilt. It's the guilt that will make us binge and eat chocolate until we're sick!:sick:

Chocolate without Guilt!

TNAJackson

Look into the 100 calorie packs... they even have those mini chocolate cupcakes (my weakness).

bryzzl

I know what you mean, I'm the kind of person who goes on a diet and then sneaks chocolate throughout the day so that I have ended up eating a full on bar of chocolate plus! And have to think about that later..and cos I'm sneaking it (BAD BAD!!) I can't savour the taste, it has to be chomped fast. Sometimes I think part of the compulsion of chocolate is that it used to be my go - to food when I am bored, as I ate it so fast I never really appreciated it as chocolate, if you nkow what i mean...so then I used to have some more chocolate to go on top of that. I think the trick is to allow yourself chocolate, afterall you have to be realistic within a diet and yourself (otherwise you sneak) but to incorporate it into your daily eating plan; 2 squares of chocolate after tea or something so that you can have it, and enjoy it without feeling guilty. That's what I'm hoping to do, cos ill never be able to NOT have some!

shonasteele

I eat dark chocolate, my preference in Lindt dark mint intense.

Most importantly though, IMO, is to remember that chocolate, in moderation, can be part of a healthy balanced diet. I find trying to find substitutes for something you REALLY REALLY crave is on a hiding to eating more calories as downing an apple when you've got a chocolate thing going on won't cut it all the time. Dark chocolate is better than milk, its a higher cocoa % so hits the chocolate craving better, in a smaller quantity. I keep it in the fridge and have a square and really really savour it rather than just scoffing it down how I used to.

That's just my opinion, I'm trying to make my changes a long term sustainable thing and for me, a life without any chocolate wouldn't be good so by working it into my daily calories its accounted for. I also don't like the idea of guilt after eating, we HAVE to eat to live and the act of eating shouldn't be something to feel guilty about.

Good luck in your weight loss and stay positive. You are doing wonderfully well.

EEEEK! A world without chocolate! I'm with you - NOT an option!

And I agree that sometimes substitutes just don't cut it. I've had days when I'll eat fruit and a bunch of other "less bad" stuff then wind up eating the chocolate anyway cuz the other stuff didn't cut it and I ate an extra 200 calories in the meantime. Little bits of dark chocolate that you take your time & savour are a great solution - milk chocolate just goes down way too quick & easy.

Hearts_2015

I eat dark chocolate, my preference in Lindt dark mint intense.

Most importantly though, IMO, is to remember that chocolate, in moderation, can be part of a healthy balanced diet. I find trying to find substitutes for something you REALLY REALLY crave is on a hiding to eating more calories as downing an apple when you've got a chocolate thing going on won't cut it all the time. Dark chocolate is better than milk, its a higher cocoa % so hits the chocolate craving better, in a smaller quantity. I keep it in the fridge and have a square and really really savour it rather than just scoffing it down how I used to.

That's just my opinion, I'm trying to make my changes a long term sustainable thing and for me, a life without any chocolate wouldn't be good so by working it into my daily calories its accounted for. I also don't like the idea of guilt after eating, we HAVE to eat to live and the act of eating shouldn't be something to feel guilty about.

Good luck in your weight loss and stay positive. You are doing wonderfully well.

:flowerforyou:

CallMeMamaBoo

Chocolate Goldfish 50 of them for 140 cals and Jello sugar free chocolate mousse for only 60 cals! but honestly I eat at least 1 or 2 candy bars a week but then I choose to eat them on days that I burned more than 600 cals. LOL So I guess I work for them!

chevy88grl

Look into the 100 calorie packs... they even have those mini chocolate cupcakes (my weakness).

Love the chocolate cupcake 100 calorie packs. Yum.

kathyhull

Hershey's dark chocolate kisses, Bliss squares or Dove Dark chocolate - I always put a few (4 or 5 kisses or 2 or three squares) in my lunch bag and try to spread them out over the day. I couldn't live without chocolate. I'm going to have to look into the substitute for Reese's ( Cow heavenly crisp peanut butter bars) 'cuz they're also a favorite of mine! Thanks Chevy 88Grl!!

Never deprive yourself of something you really want or you'll end up binging. Just give yourself some ground rules - I can have a Kiss after I finish this whole bottle of water. I can have a kiss after dinner if I eat all my vegies.

myofibril

We have this print above our dining room table:



What's life without a little pleasure, be it wine or chocolate? I agree with what others have said. Work it into your calories and savour every second of it. It will not dent your progress one iota if your diet is generally good otherwise...

mel4395

I Love the CHOCOLITES! they have peanut butter cups, pecan turtles, anything you can think of! and yes, they are very good for a low calorie diet! even a low carb diet! and they dont taste like diet chocolate! my son loves them, he is 18 and a junk food nut! when I get these I have to get extra! and one bar will fill you up! they are in the food database as well.

Lilpuck

Fiber one bars work well for that

rachrach66

A single serving of Ghirardelli dark chocolate 60 percent cacao squares, four squares according to the label, contains 220 calories. If you could make yourself eat only one, you would consume 55 calories.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/278439-ghirardelli-squares-dark-chocolate-cacao-60-nutritional-value/#ixzz1Me568f74

lfcutie

skinny cow came out with chocolate bars and clusters. they are so good and about 110-120 per serving:)

LambornBetsey

I just discovered Nature Valley Granola Thins with dark chocolate. They are amazing and only have 80 calories in a pouch.