Troubled chocoholic

I am a total chocoholic. I just started on MFP this past week and it's really helping me with this problem since I am now aware and counting everything I put in my mouth. I keep a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips in the freezer, if you have a Trader Joe's near you, theirs are really good. Any time I get that craving I eat like 5-10 and so far this week it seems to be keeping me from eating anything else.

It took me almost 6 months to get a handle on the same problem. I still have flare ups now and again.... but for the most part I've moved past it. I haven't lost a ton of weight, but my skin has cleared up dramatically. The best? I am starting to feel in control again. I was really out of control with it.....

snacking on chocolate cheerios or cocoa almonds.

I always have to break myself of the taste-for about a week, no actual chocolate at all. If a craving does hit, I actually eat chocolate jello pudding. You can have a sugar free cup for 60 calories, which still tastes good. Helps me, especially for the before bed sweet craving. Or, sometimes you just have to have it. I usually save around 150 calories for the end of the night in case it hits...if I need to, I can have 2 cookies.

chocolate calcium chews 1 or 2 a day, fudgecicle, low cal hot chocolate, chocolate protein shake, chocolate protein bar, mocha coffee with mocha splenda

Chocolate has a bad rep but they're actually good for you. Like wine is good for your heart ,so they say, so is chocolate because my understanding that it has high antioxidant and revs up your inner desires If you're troubled by chocolates avoid the ones that are milk chocolates or high in sugars. I always preferred dark chocolates: the ones that are 70% or more cacao. I think I've broken the world record by eating one Double Chocolate Brownie from Starbucks for a whole year every single day! It's my secret weapon to a healthy me.

I feel your pain. I love me some chocolate, too. Try the Fiber One Brownies! They are only 90 Calories with 5 grams of Fiber and 1 gram of Protein. They are super rich and delicious! I will heat one up in the microwave for 20 seconds and add a couple of scoops of the Weight Watchers ice cream to it. It's wonderful!

I love the fiber one brownies! They are much better than expected and are big enough that I feel like I'm being really indulgent!

Another thing that helps me are the skinny cow chocolate truffle ice cream bars. It satiates my need for chocolate and ice cream and they are only 100 or 110 calories. Very delicious as well!

WHAT???? Do these exist in Canada? If not how does one smuggle them across the border? :smokin:

I almost forgot, I've also gotten Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe bars that are heaven in a wrapper! It's very dense, so I can usually eat only 1/2. For the whole bar, it's 180 cals, 17 carbs, 4.5g fats, 20g protein, 75mg sodium, 2g sugar, 2g fiber.

I keep it quiet by having chocolate in some form nearly every day. Diet Hot Cocoa, Fiber One Chocolate bars or brownies, or my favorite...sugar free Hershey's Syrup with strawberries or a banana. It's never a lot, but enough to squash the cravings.

Okay. don't kill me, people. I eat Hershey's chocolate kisses.

Seriously. Nothing is absolutely bad. A single serving of normal chocolate should not break your calorie bank that badly. (Okay, maybe half a serving of the kisses, but that's still 3-4 pieces.)

For me the key is simple portioning. Don't keep the bag of chocolate or whatever next to you on the couch or at the computer. Keep it in the kitchen. When you want some, put a single portion (or half portion, whatever you're allotting yourself) on a plate or in a bowl. Put the rest away and take the plate with you to the living room or where ever, sit down and really enjoy your snack, don't wolf it. You should be able to do this almost every day if that is what you really love.

If you're worried about the sugar shock to the system, have a half cup or cup of low fat milk with the chocolate to add protein. I like milk with my chocolate anyway.

The best thing I've found to help with the cravings is to moderate but don't deny myself. And eat the chocolate that you WANT. In my experience, substitutes are rarely satisfying and just leave me wanting the real thing more, so all the calories I just consumed are truly wasted. If you're really loving your snack and wanting more, try thinking about when you'll get to enjoy it again, tomorrow.

Of course, not all advise works for everyone but this has worked for me and is working for my mom too and we are both very morbidly obese. Hopefully that will be a thing of the past soon.