So many women I know love chocolate. So many women that I know get chocolate cravings, but did you know that most women think that to lose weight they have to completely cut chocolate out of their diet? Say it isn't so...OK, it isn't so! No need to worry about getting your hands caught in the chocolate box...If you love chocolate but want to lose weight,
there are ways to keep those calories from sabotaging your diet. Pick
the right kind of chocolate, control your portions, and eat a balanced
diet. Here are some suggestions for taking care of your health while you
indulge your sweet tooth.
Choosing the Right Chocolate:
1. Eat dark chocolate. Did you know that dark chocolate is much better for you than milk chocolate? Dark
chocolate is good for your heart and overall health. Studies show that
it contains plant flavonoids and antioxidants that can improve the
functioning of your blood vessels and protect you from clogged arteries.
When you want something sweet, go with dark chocolate.
2. Drink cocoa.
Cocoa is the ingredient that endows dark chocolate with its health
benefits. Drinking unsweetened cocoa powder in skim milk is another way
to get the flavor you crave without much fat or calories. Just keep in
mind that milk can interfere with how your body absorbs the
antioxidants. Another alternative is to sprinkle some cocoa in your
yogurt.
3. Try chocolate-flavored products with no calories. Suck on sugar-free hard candies in chocolate flavors. A small
indulgence can help keep you from feeling deprived, which will keep you
from splurging on something that will wreck your diet.
4. Enjoy chocolate scents. In between meals, surround yourself with chocolate scents. Today, you can find products ranging from candles to lip balms. As for me, to the day, I've lost 21 pounds enjoying the aromas of wonderful chocolates and dessert flavors such as Whoopie Pie, Double Layer Chocolate Cake, Creme Brulee, Vanilla Cupcake and Buttercream from Yankee Candle. Menopause kicked in over a year ago and weight began piling on. I felt like it was out of control and I ate more and more not even realizing it. When I began my weight loss, I did it my way. For me, it was about savoring those delicious flavors and scents, not eating them. Now, I indulge in the scents with my tart burner while using the gazelle or treadmill.
5. Avoid milk chocolate and white chocolate.
White chocolate contains no cocoa solids, and milk chocolate contains
much less than the darker version. Dark chocolate is much more
nutritious, especially when you're trying to limit your overall
calories.
Controlling Portions:
1. Plan ahead. That's right, do some juggling with your diet schedule and meals. This means; limit
your treats to once a day. If you want fudge brownies with dinner, pass
on the birthday cake at the office. When you've had a chocolate
croissant for breakfast, eat berries for dessert.
2. Eat slowly. Honey, there isn't a race to see who can finish the cake or brownies the quickest, so indulge and enjoy it. Savor the flavor! Enjoy your food by sitting down and loving every single bite. Eating slower will also help you notice when you're full.
3. Share desserts.
Many restaurants serve huge portions. Ask for one dessert and two
spoons so you and your companion can share. You'll both be better off.
4. Give away holiday chocolates. Getting
a huge assortment of chocolates for Christmas or your birthday may be
too much temptation for any chocolate lover. Take them to the office or
put them out for your house guests to enjoy. Most artisan chocolates
should be eaten while fresh, but some varieties may be frozen for a
later date.
5. Buy individual truffles. Many
bakeries, candy shops, and department stores sell individual pieces of
candy or slices of cake. If you find it difficult to resist the lure of a
whole box of cookies, take just one home and divide it up!
Eating a Balanced Diet:
1. Know your calories. Did you know that a three-and-a-half ounce chocolate bar contains about 480 calories? Yup... A
single Hershey's Kiss has about 25 calories. Even though dark chocolate
is healthy, you need to closely monitor the amount you eat if you're
trying to lose weight. Those calories can add up fast. Before you know it the pounds are on you and your clothes have either become tighter or the darn dryer is broken and has shrunken them!
2. Replace other sweets with dark chocolate.
One easy strategy is to replace less nutritious snacks and desserts
with chocolate. Two Hershey's Kisses is far less calories than a bag of
almost any potato chips. And if you have a chocolate treat as part of
your daily routine, you'll be more motivated keep eating the complex
carbohydrates, plant foods, and lean proteins necessary for a balanced
diet.
3. Get more exercise.
Complement your healthy eating with regular exercise. Daily aerobics is
the best way to lose weight safely. Try Yoga Booty Ballet....(my favorite) or take a walk, go ride a bike or hike. Look
for opportunities to stay active throughout the day, like doing floor
exercises during television commercials. There are several things that you can do to stay active and exercise without even having to try hard. Just make it part of your daily routine. Before you hit the shower, jump rope, or do jumping jacks, or run on the treadmill for 10-15 minutes. Each day/week, increase that until you are doing more and more...however, just because you are doing more and more activities to boost your metabolism does not mean that you should be eating more. That my friend completely defeats the purpose.
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