Need help with my chocolate problem...
kerrylkatriviera
Posts: 25 Member
I have lost 75 pounds in the past three years - size fourteen to a size two. I do circuit training 2-4 times a week, walk several times a week and try to stick to MFP's guidelines. My weakness is chocolate. Since I do need some of it for a blast of energy, I do buy it. I like dark chocolate with nuts or chocolate covered almonds (added protein, which I need since I'm strength training.) Only problem is, once I bring it into the house, I can't seem to control myself, and it puts me over the limits for fat and sugar and sometimes even salt. How can I control myself and only eat a little bit of chocolate? Should I keep it in a padlocked container? I find that when I go for a few days with little sugar, my body craves it less. Should I just buy a little chocolate only once or twice a week? Should I put it on a high shelf so that it's a pain in the rear to get to? What are your secrets for snack issues?
4
Replies
-
I would buy smaller pieces, if you have trouble moderating chocolate.1
-
I’d buy one serving at a time. That way it’s not there and you can’t be tempted by it. If you only have one chocolate bar in the house, you can only eat one bar.1
-
I have the same issue. I love chocolate/sweets! I keep dark chocolate chips in the freezer. When I’m craving, I’ll nibble 3-5. That’s not bad at all & helps me out.1
-
I used to eat gumdrops every night. When I started mfp, I tossed them. Within two weeks of eating pescatarian, my cravings were gone. I haven't had gumdrops since that first day. I don't miss them.
Some people fit their treats into their daily calories. I opted not to.4 -
I find chocolate chips and Ghirardelli squares easy to moderate, but not chocolate bars.1
-
You can buy very low calorie chocolate syrup ( 5 calories per tbspoon)1
-
kerrylkatriviera wrote: »I have lost 75 pounds in the past three years - size fourteen to a size two. I do circuit training 2-4 times a week, walk several times a week and try to stick to MFP's guidelines. My weakness is chocolate. Since I do need some of it for a blast of energy, I do buy it. I like dark chocolate with nuts or chocolate covered almonds (added protein, which I need since I'm strength training.) Only problem is, once I bring it into the house, I can't seem to control myself, and it puts me over the limits for fat and sugar and sometimes even salt. How can I control myself and only eat a little bit of chocolate? Should I keep it in a padlocked container? I find that when I go for a few days with little sugar, my body craves it less. Should I just buy a little chocolate only once or twice a week? Should I put it on a high shelf so that it's a pain in the rear to get to? What are your secrets for snack issues?
I like nuts too, but because they are much higher in fat than protein, I consider them a fat source with a small protein bonus, rather than a protein source.5 -
I love chocolate as well. But candy bars just cannot keep in the house, as I have the control issue. What I have found instead. Is mixing One Tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, they have it in dark as well. With a tsp of powdered cinnamon, one packet of truvia. Then in a container with a mix of almonds and walnuts. I weigh out in 1 oz consider a snack, 89 calories 3 carbs, 1 protein and I think either 6 or 9 fats for the day. It hits the spot and I have kept to one snack of these a day. After exercise. I think you need to find, what you can keep in the house and not attack.1
-
What most people said, buy it in small portions or keep most of what you want out of the house/in an area that you don't frequent often. When I need something out of sight and out of mind, that thing ends up in my car. One of my two foods that I have trouble moderating are red vines. I'll eat them every week or two but I buy them in the very small packages that 240 calories each. It's very easy for me to fit that into my calorie allowance and it's also easy for me to not buy more than one package.0
-
kerrylkatriviera wrote: »I have lost 75 pounds in the past three years - size fourteen to a size two. I do circuit training 2-4 times a week, walk several times a week and try to stick to MFP's guidelines. My weakness is chocolate. Since I do need some of it for a blast of energy, I do buy it. I like dark chocolate with nuts or chocolate covered almonds (added protein, which I need since I'm strength training.) Only problem is, once I bring it into the house, I can't seem to control myself, and it puts me over the limits for fat and sugar and sometimes even salt. How can I control myself and only eat a little bit of chocolate? Should I keep it in a padlocked container? I find that when I go for a few days with little sugar, my body craves it less. Should I just buy a little chocolate only once or twice a week? Should I put it on a high shelf so that it's a pain in the rear to get to? What are your secrets for snack issues?
i am in the same boat0 -
I relate to you! I've lost 67 lbs. from a size 16 to a size 2 or 4 (depends on the size) right now, and also have a love of chocolate lol.
I have tried buying individually wrapped chocolate squares and different types of caramel chocolates but many times end up eating way more than I planned, and those calories add up quick. This week I bought a box of decadent truffles and plan to eat two a day. I have been pretracking my treats each day, they are planned, and I have them sometime after dinner. I intend to sit down and enjoy my treat during treat time lol. I did fine on day one, tonight will be the next trial lol.
I have heard that maybe buying pretty dark chocolate that maybe isn't the sweetest could be a solution as they aren't as tasty and addictive. I suspect that abstinence from chocolate most days could be a good solution. I never was this into chocolate before about a year ago. I started eating dark chocolate as a healthier treat, and now I crave it every day!
Good luck!0 -
I've thought for years that someone should design a locked box with a timer that delivers one snack (like a gumball machine) based on what interval you put in the timer. Then we would only have to be disciplined enough to put the treats in without eating them.
I've tried numerous solutions. High shelf that requires that I get out a step stool. Locked drawer that my husband hides the key to. Setting up a mental schedule (one after dinner, every Sunday, etc). Buying one treat only when I shop. Out of sight, sort of out of mind. Mentally telling myself that they are for child or husband.
Some work for a while - until they don't. It's a work in progress.3 -
I crave similar treats, chocolate, nuts, nut butters. Sometimes pretzels with it. I am working on moderating it, as i can't commit to abstain from treats. I love dark chocolate and find it most satisfying, so usually it's dark. But i also love truffles and different candy bars. Some more than others. So my strategies are:
- preportion treats, weigh and bag individually,
- i have treat time, after dinner, before bed, so i wait for that,
- sometimes start with frozen fruit, it's sweet, satisfying, much lower in calories than the main snack, so it's especially good on nights when I'm particularly hungry or just have very strong bottomless cravings,
- remind myself that it will be there tomorrow and if i eat too much i will be disappointed next day and probably will have to have a bit less to maintain,
- after i have my snacks, i promptly go to brush up for the night, it's the certain way to stop,
- in all fairness here, i have snacks in abandon at home, so it works for me overall
- oh, and i don't keep them on the counter, so somewhat out of sight.
I believe in practicing moderation for myself. It took some time for me to grow enough patience to wait for treat time rather than dig in too early and deal with cravings all night. And since nuts are my main source of fat, i feel free to indulge nightly.1 -
if it's normal chocolate or chocolate with nuts, I can't - I eat the whole bar if the bar is there. I can however moderate eating super dark - 99% dark chocolate. 3 little squares. very slowly. delicious and velvety and you can't eat more than that as it's too strong.
Can you up your dark chocolate-ness? And just get the plain one, no nuts.
0 -
Very verydark chocolate. Montezuma absolute black is my go to, its 100% cocoa. Usually 3-4 small squares is more than enough and it hits my chocolate craving without triggering the sugar hunger cascade.1
-
I wish I was a moderator, but I'm not. I love chocolate! I've tried all kinds of things but can't keep the majority of treats in the house. I even bought chocolate rice cakes after not having chocolate for a long time and scarfed them down! The one thing I've found that I'm ok and won't devour are ice cream bars. Something about opening a new one stops me where having a pint of ice cream means I'll eat the whole thing. The other thing I do is have the treat and make it a good one, like getting a chocolate peanut butter cup or truffle from a gourmet chocolate store over Reeses or a cheap candy bar.1
-
I would do as others suggested and just buy single servings. You can buy a truffle or ice cream cone when you’re out but don’t keep it in the house.
Eating darker chocolate many also help. I don’t know too many people who binge and eat the whole bar of 70-80%+ cacao.0 -
I have been on various diets for decades and as a self-admitted chocoholic, it was always the hardest thing to cut out completely, so I don't. I eat one piece of individually-wrapped Dove dark chocolate a day; 42 calories, 5 carbs, the only processed sugar I have in my diet and very much worth it because I can't miss what I have every day!
Individually packaged chocolates are a must. You open up a big candy bar and you'll end up saying, "Just two squares." But then that turns into, "Well it's open now, how about two more... and two more... and well I wouldn't want it to go stale.."0 -
I would do as others suggested and just buy single servings. You can buy a truffle or ice cream cone when you’re out but don’t keep it in the house.
Eating darker chocolate many also help. I don’t know too many people who binge and eat the whole bar of 70-80%+ cacao.
*raises hand*
If I had not spent years learning to moderate my chocolate habit, I could do it easily. Darker chocolate might help some people feel satiated, but it’s not a sure thing.1 -
I would do as others suggested and just buy single servings. You can buy a truffle or ice cream cone when you’re out but don’t keep it in the house.
Eating darker chocolate many also help. I don’t know too many people who binge and eat the whole bar of 70-80%+ cacao.
If I liked most chocolate more, I could totally eat an entire bar of 70-80% chocolate. My favorite chocolate maker is Zotter, and eating an entire one of their darker chocolate bars is easy until it creeps up to 90% and above. For better than worse, chocolate is not something I crave and I can easily stop with just a small amount of chocolate in most situations.0 -
If chocolate is your sweet of choice, is there something else that you can cut back on? For example, I am not a latte/mocha/sugar in my coffee drinks kind of person, but much prefer to have my sweet calories through pastries, cookies, etc. I don't have them every day, but I feel like it balances out because I'm not double dosing on sugar. Maybe not the most sound logic, but it helps me enjoy the stuff I really do like.
I've also heard that sugar cravings can be a sign of a nutritional deficiency -- calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium I think. Are you hitting those nutrients? Is there a way you can combine chocolate with something high in those nutrients? I have a lentil brownie recipe somewhere which is BOMB (so fudgy and delicious) that hits all those marks.0 -
I quit sugar sweetened candy a while ago. I almost never eat it anymore because I can't control it but I buy sugar free candy. If you aren't adverse to artificial sweetners I would recommend it. I have a brand of sugarless chocolate that I love (Ross) and I allow myself one square a day. With no sugar in it I find I don't binge on it.0
-
... I don't know if anyone's mentioned this, but chocolate in particular is high in magnesium. Almonds and cashews are *also* high in magnesium...
I can tell I'm low in magnesium because I start craving chocolate, which is noticeable for me because I don't actually *like* chocolate.
So... Maybe try a magnesium supplement and see if that doesn't ease your craving down to "I like this!" instead of "IMUSTEATALLTHISRIGHTNOW." ?0 -
I find it helps if I have some chocolate flavoured things regularly.
For example, I stir cocoa into porridge, use chocolate but butter as a drizzle over yoghurt, or on toast.
I like chocolate plant mylk as a snack.
Any actual chocolate I have will just get scoffed, so try to just buy one small bar at a time to minimise that.0 -
Is there a supplement that can help curb sugar cravings?0
-
Well, I found something new. I live in a food desert and can't find those little Ghirardelli chocolate squares that I like, otherwise I'd grab one before my workout. But I found boxes of small thin mint cookies (like York Peppermint Patties - only 3.5 grams of fat per serving and they hit the spot. It's not the sugar I crave, I hate too much sugar. I did get sick of eating semi-sweet chocolate. But the chocolate covered nuts really get me. However, the mints are a nice substitute.
Thanks for your suggestions!0 -
Is there a supplement that can help curb sugar cravings?
Fruit
Also protein, oddly enough. Here's my whole list:
When I do the following, I don't have cravings:
1. Get sufficient sleep
2. Exercise regularly - when I get the happy hormones from exercise, I'm not prone to seeking them from food. Additionally, mild to moderate exercise appears to work as a mild appetite suppressant for me.
3. Get sufficient protein in relationship to carbs. I'm not low carb, but reducing carbs and upping protein worked for cravings for me. See also http://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/fuller/understanding-satiety-feeling-full-after-a-meal.html
4. Eat moderate amounts of fruit. This makes me less interested in higher calorie sweets.
5. Take a magnesium supplement. This can be especially helpful for women premenstrually.
6. Save foods like chocolate for after dinner, in small amounts
7. Stay hydrated
8. Have a calorie deficit that is appropriate for the amount of weight I need to lose. An overly aggressive goal can definitely lead to cravings.
9. Eat at maintenance when my appetite goes up premenstrually.
0 -
Is there a supplement that can help curb sugar cravings?
Not really. In general, supplements don’t do even a fraction of what the marketing claims they do.
Protein helps a lot of people feel satiated as @kshama2001 said. This chocolate is really good and claims to help with cravings, but it does that by adding protein powder to the chocolate: https://jojoschocolate.com/
Whether it does anything for cravings or not, it’s still good chocolate.0 -
I have recently bought and love the Lily Dark Chocolate made with Stevia. Honestly I only eat a half serving now , I do not know why, its delicious and rich but very satisfying at the smaller amount...Each bar is 2 servings instead of just a square. As already suggested the dark, dark 80% and above chocolate is very rich and hard to eat large amounts, but satiates that chocolate craving for me.0
-
I can’t cut out foods I like including chocolate. I just don’t eat them every day or even every week. I try to plan for when I’m going to eat chocolate. I do find that if I eat a cup of blueberries (or raspberries or strawberries )after dinner it kills my sugar craving. But if I just say I’m never having x food again I end up craving it.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions