Secrets of Success

Sweet tooth fix

When I have a sweet tooth, and I know that a piece of fruit just won't get it (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't), my go-to snack is to melt 1 oz chocolate chips (30 chips) = 70 calories and stir in 1/3 oz (8) raw almonds = 49 calories. A total of 119 sweet, savory calories that always takes care of my sweet tooth or chocolate craving.

Tactic for a Sweet Tooth

When I used to have a terrible sweet tooth I devised a plan to stop sabotaging my healthy eating with sweet treats that made me go over the calorie limit.

End of Day Reward was born.

Don't snack between meals on sweets or desserts, biscuits etc during the day, unless it's a healthy breakfast, i.e. porridge with jam/pancakes etc.

Instead, pre-plan 1 treat for the end of the day as a reward for keeping within your calorie range.

Kill a Chocolate Fix

I found these amazing thin chocolate cookies called World Table Chocolate Cookie Thins at my grocery store. The serving size is 7 cookies and it's only 130 calories. They melt in your mouth and if you eat them slowly they will kill ANY chocolate urge!! They're not a diet food so they don't have that crappy diet chocolate taste either :)

Afternoon Sweet Tooth?

When I get hungry in the afternoons (or after a good workout), I mix 4 ounces of regular fat free Greek yogurt with a packet of Diet Swiss Miss cocoa powder (25 calories). Its a very filling and satisfying sweet snack!

END Chocolate Cravings With This Low-Calorie Fix

For intense chocolate urges, buy UNSWEETENED hot cocoa. Store brands such as Nestle or Swiss Miss = too weak/processed. Splurge for a high-quality brand: Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa is a lifesaver.

Add a dairy/non-dairy component and sweetener. Anything from Coffee-Mate to skim milk to milk powder to creamers. Just keep the total calories 200 and under. This completely erased my chocolate and food cravings all day.

Atkins Endulge Chocolate Coconut Bar

Rich, moist coconut surrounded by a thick layer of chocolate. Whats not to like! I got these at Sam's Club after a taste test, and it blew me away! I can not believe just how good these are. And I don't have to feel guilty because I am not eating a candy bar with way more calories, fat and sugar. If you just can't cut the chocolate addiction, this is a wonderful little treat that I don't have to feel guilty enjoying every once in a while. :)

GNC Pro PerformanceŽ AMP AMP 100% Whey Protein- Chocolate

After Gastric bypass, I had to figure out ways to get protein other than meat, being I really don't like meat. LOL I have tried so many protein powders, its not even funny! Most I can handle, but don't love, this one I LOVE! With only 130 calories, 2 grams of fat, 8 carbs, 3 fiber, only 2 grams of sugar, and 20 grams of protein, its a wonderful way to get that extra protein boost so many need. I love how little sugar it has, and the taste is very good.

Freeze! The Chocolate That Is

Freeze dark or any kind of decadent chocolate you like. I find that if I let the bag just sit in my cupboard I am more apt to just grab piece after piece until I've binged big time. Freezing it not only keeps you from overindulging, but letting it melt slowly in your mouth helps you feel satisfied with less.

Control: Chocolate or Me

I am not a breakfast eater, at least I was'nt, until now. I found a way to control my chocolate cravings and have breakfast without feeling yucky. I went and bought some special K meal bars. Double Chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter. This gives me my chocolate and vitamins the body needs, especially fiber. They taste great!!

Candy craving?

How to eat a candy bar without the calories!

A regular snickers bar has 266 calories! They only take a few moments to eat. To satisfy your craving, use the BITE SIZE snickers and Freeze them.

A bite-size Snickers has only 42 calories & freezing it means it will take you longer to eat it. You will get the taste of Snickers for a longer period of time. I use it to trick my brain into thinking I've been eating a lot of chocolate when I've really been eating the same piece for several. minutes!

Post Workout Drink

The best is chocolate milk. It has the perfect combination of carbs and fat. Woohoo for Yoohoo!

A Treat a Day Keeps My Extra Pounds Away

I work a small treat into my meal plan each day to avoid the temptation of overindulging. I try to get something single-serving, like a small chocolate truffle. I only get single-servings so I won't accidentally "eat the whole bag" and this trick works for me because after the chocolate I tell myself I don't need more because I'll have some tomorrow, too!

Sometimes NOT tracking everything is a good thing...

OK... I'll admit it.... the week before my period I NEED (not want.. NEED) chocolate. I don't over do it, but for 5-7 days, I have to have it.

The problem is that once I go over my max 1300 calories a day, I tend to go waaay over.

Instead of tracking my indulgences this week, I make myself a deal... As long as my food calories stay under 1300, I allow myself up to 1000 calories each cycle that I don't track. My calories are low enough overall that the indulgence is okay.

Mini Chocolates

If I've stuck to my plan for the day, I reward myself with a mini chocolate before bed. Then I brush my teeth so I won't eat another. I keep the chocolates in the freezer, removing one at dinnertime so it can warm up before treat time.

Fast breakfast that tastes like dessert!

Fast -- 1/2c chocolate soy milk (light, pre measured and frozen is best), blend with half a banana, 1tsp honey, couple drops of vanilla and a bit of flax seed. --- yummo!

Oreo Substitute

I don't know about you, but I love Oreo's! However, I have decided to go organic. An excellent substitute is Newman O's. Everyone I know who has tried them says that they taste either exactly like, or even better than Oreo's (I think they taste better). You will still have to watch calories, but you will at least know that everything in that little cookie is organic!

Mini candies

It's hard for me to resist chocolate and if I resist too long, I end up binging on it every few weeks or so. So I allow myself a miniature (bite-size!) candy once a day (or twice a day sometimes), put it on my tracker, and factor it in for my nutrition for the day.

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

This is the way it was given to me. Make adjustments to lower calories.
2 T cocoa
4 T sugar
4 T flour
˝ egg
2 T oil
3 T milk
(optional) 2 T chocolate chips, caramel sauce, or crushed chocolate mints (like Andes)
1. Grab a mug (oversized one if you can), spray lightly inside with cooking spray, put dry ingredients into a separate bowl & mix. Beat egg briefly, then dump half of it into the bowl with dry ingredients, following with the wet & optional ingredients, mix all until combined.

Cocoa Roast Almonds - dark chocolate

Check out the dark chocolate flavored Cocoa Roast Almonds from the company Emerald. This is a great snack at 150 calories for 1/4 cup of almonds that have a thin coat of dark chocolate powder on them. You can have a chocolate taste without going overboard and get some great healthy fats, protein, fiber, and 35% vitamin E.

Drink more water - Add Metro Mint water to plain water for flavor

I add Metro Mint water in peppermint, spearmint, lemon mint, orange mint, and even chocolate mint to my plain water to help me guzzle down the 8 glasses per day.

My Chocolate Fix

A couple of times a week for lunch I'll have a can of Slim Fast Royal Chocolate. I put it in a smoothie mixer, add half a cup of skim milk, a small banana and a few ice cubes and mix it up. It satisfies my desire for chocolate in a very good tasting way and fills me up!

Chocolate A Day...

I got this Idea when I started my weight loss diet.I couldn't resist my sweet tooth. I loved chocolate.I didn't want to go on crash diet, hence I took out my Snicker chocolate from the fridge and had a bite of it with my 4 meals.Hence I had my full chocolate eaten in a day, with my diet and exercise.

The Sweet Tooth Game: you CAN have your cake and eat it too!

I sometimes buy some chocolate that I like a lot and see how long I can keep it in the fridge without eating it. I get the frills from resisting candy AND I know I will eventually have a very good treat for myself! It's a win-win situation!

Caution: Don't try this at home if you're seriously addicted to sweets! I will decline all responsibility! But also watch out for the expiration date, you don't want that candy bar to become sentient after 1 year of living in your fridge!

Vitalicious VitaTops

These "muffin tops" are amazing! Only 100 calories, 1.5 g of fat each. And 9 g of fiber! And not only that but they offer 15 different vitamins and minerals (many of which are 50% daily value). And to top it off, I think they are good! So far I've only tried the Deep Chocolate flavor but they have many other ones. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, easy, on-the-go breakfast or snack. (Side note: These are only 1 Weight Watcher Points Value also)

Isofemme chocolate protein shake

I just tried this product and it is BETTER than the creamiest hot chocolate I have ever tasted (only cold). This is going to be a great way to subdue my chocolate cravings.