Don’t you wish there was a chocolate diet? Though the last thing that you should do if you want to drop all of that extra weight is to start making meals out of candy bars, you might not need to give up your favorite treat altogether, if it is chocolate. In fact, if you’re already eating chocolate regularly, you may not want to give it up completely, or – according to a recent U.K. study – it might work against you.
Can a Chocolate Diet Really Exist?
Among the people in the study who lost at least 10 percent of their body weight, 91 percent of them had continued to enjoy chocolate to a reasonable degree as a part of their diet. The study was conducted by YouGov, a market research firm.
The results looked very promising for chocolate lovers, particularly because among the groups of dieters who cut out chocolate and certain other foods completely in order to lose weight were only successful 63 percent of the time in shedding extra fat.
Treats in Moderation
It seems that while chocolate may not help you to actually lose weight, it may not be something that you should give up completely if you are on a diet. Instead, you should start to consume it within reasonable, small portions, to use it as a treat for just a pleasant taste, instead of gorging on it.
This isn’t the first time that this kind of study result has been discovered. There are also a number of nutrition experts that are finding that a tasty treat every now and again, instead of eliminating foods completely, can be a far more effective way of staying healthy over the long term.
Don’t Make Yourself Feel Deprived
One of the most notable examples of this is Chalene Johnson in the book “Push”, in which the 10 eating habits of successfully fit people were listed. There, she stated that people who are perpetually in shape nearly never eliminate foods completely. Instead, they learn how to appropriately enjoy the foods that they crave the most, instead of trying to avoid them no matter what and then suffering a binge later on as they gorge on what they have longed to have.
This means that if you adore chocolate, all you need to do is make sure that you’re eating a smaller portion of it – or whatever else you truly love to eat. If you usually come home and eat a chocolate bar, just reserve a square for yourself, instead, and truly savor it. You’ll receive the same enjoyment and your diet won’t be the worse for wear. Best Weight loss Tips Online at Intechrahealth.com
Tricks to Eat Chocolate in Your Diet and Still Lose Weight
If you’re just not convinced that having one or two squares of chocolate will be enough to satisfy your craving, then there are some tricks that you can use to enjoy your favorite treat.
The key is to focus on what you love about chocolate and then make sure you can get a good enough portion of it to enjoy it without sending your sugar and calorie intake through the roof. Of course, you’re never going to be able to eat a whole pan of brownies without unfortunate consequences. However, with the right strategy you can still have a decent portion and savor every bite.
The following are some great tips to help you eat chocolate on your diet without ruining everything:
- Fun size candy – Fun size candy bars – the type they give out at Halloween, for example, are the perfect size to give you the feeling of having a chocolate bar without eating a whole standard sized bar. The tiny size portions out your treat for you. You don’t have to take one or two bites of a candy bar then wrap it up and put it away – because we all know that won’t happen consistently.
- Low cal brownies – There are some fantastic homemade brownie recipes online that can help you to eat one or two brownies without blowing the top off your daily calorie intake. Some of these recipes deliver extremely rich and flavorful treats. That way, you can eat chocolate while you diet and not feel guilty afterward. Look for recipes that cook with erythritol or stevia instead of sugar. Focus on recipes that recommend using pure cocoa powder as they will produce the best flavor when all is said and done.
- Frozen banana ice cream – You’ve likely heard that frozen banana, mashed or blended, is a spectacular low cal and healthy non-dairy substitute for ice cream. Whether you agree with that or not, it can provide the base for an incredible frozen chocolate treat for your diet. Add about a tablespoon of pure cocoa powder to a mostly frozen banana and blend until smooth. Freeze for a few more minutes to get it to the perfect consistency and enjoy. You’ll be astounded at how indulgent it tastes.
