I'm wondering how you all feel about sweets. I LOVE chocolate. Seriously.

Years ago I read an article in Reader's Digest. The cover of the magazine said eat sweets and lose weight and it had a picture of Oreos on the front. It talked about that fact that if you like something eat it and figure it into your daily calories. They recommend a 250 cal. daily snack. So, being a seriously chocolate lover, I had to try (this was years ago).

I ate approx 1400-1600 calories and EVERY day I had a 250-300 cal. treat. I didn't eat fat free treats, etc. I ate pre-packaged sweets or Starbucks drinks. At the beginning of each day I plan what I'd eat for the day (including my snack). Naturally, I ate way more salads, fruit and veggies...to allow room for the 250 cal. treat. I lost 80 pnds. I pretty much ate most of the foods I ate before, just way less of it. My fillers were veggies and fruit.


After babies and the stress from moving from one state to the other, I did gain about half back.

While that method worked for me before, I'm really trying to hold off on approaching sweets (besides frozen yogurt) until I can get a handle on everything.

I'm curious as to whether anyone else eats this way? I guess I'm hoping to find some support once I get to that place.

I always make sure i have 270 calories left for a magnum white ice cream after my dinner , it gives me something to look forward to and tastes awsome and i have still lost weight so i think daily sweets/ choclate can be done just work it into your calories.

Btw I eat 1200 cals aday so it might seem like it takes up a huge chunck but I find that I always have enough left anyway so.

Work it into your calories.

I listen to Jillian Michael's radio show and she often talks about needing to have chocolate. She buys organic dark chocolate peanut butter cups and allows herself one every day and just works it into her calories.

I too love chocolate. I am not counting calories like you are, but am doing WWs. I have a certain number of points I am allowed each day. I make sure that I have 1-2 pts left each evening for a WW chocolate ice cream on a stick. It is huge and full of fiber. I think there is 4 grms of fiber in each one. It tastes great and satisfies.

I know it is hard to give up the candy for diet ice cream, but it pays off.

Keep up the good work.

In His Hands

TACKLENURSE

I've been eating 1200-1300 for the last several months and I allowed myself enough calories each day for a treaty snack, too. Mine weren't always chocolate - sometimes I did an apple with caramel dip, cinnamon graham crackers, chocolate milk, small serving of ice cream, or sometimes straigt up chocolate, depending on the mood. I did make sure that I had room for it every day though. The days I lost track early on and didn't have it I found myself grouchy... I didn't always use 250 or 270 calories on it, but used at least 130, up to about 250.

I don't have sweets every day, but I do plan to have them during the week. I have similar menus that I rotate, so that I know which days I tend to have a couple tbsp of dark chocolate chips, or some frozen yogurt. Somewhere around 100-175 calories, normally.
Sweet stuff has really become a treat for me, and not a daily food item.

Now, my coffee on the other hand, I always budget in the dairy for a latte or cafe au lait daily LOL!

I have sweets every day. I save mine for a before bed snack, like a Skinny Cow Mint ice cream sandwich. Hasn't hampered my weight loss at all. In fact, I think that is why I have been successful after failing on two other low carb restrictive diets.

I must have the option of dark chocolate or a glass of wine! I don't eat them everyday, but if I want them I'm having 'em! A 4oz glass of wine or 4 squares of dark chocolate are approx 100 calories. I consume slowly and enjoy it! I don't see why you can't work treats into your day.

I'm a die-hard dark chocolate fanatic, and I'm not willing to give up my dark chocolate. Thankfully, I'm also a chocolate snob, and the stuff I like tends to not have a lot of sugar or other junk in it. Soooo....I keep a variety in my fridge and indulge in a reasonable portion when the desire strikes. I have found that since I've been eating more whole foods and less processed junk, it's taking less and less chocolate to satisfy the urge.

Just like most everything, the key is reasonable portions and to work it into your total.

I plan some dark chocolate into my day nearly every day. I use small prepackaged rounds (about 25 cals each) and use them as "dessert" after each meal. It's how I tell myself that I'm done eating for now.

I do a lot better not having sweets every day, and not having "diet" desserts pretty much ever. 250 calories seems to me like a big chunk of nutritious foods to give up every day. But I have a good dessert about once a week with no regrets . Saturday was mom's homemade chocolate birthday cake (not mine) with frosting that was practically fudge. God, I wanted seconds, thirds and fourths. Hmm, I still do. But only had 1 piece (and a half consisting of several "slivers", if I'm honest )

See the third paragraph in post # 11 of this thread: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150866

i eat a chocolate chip cookie every day...and not one of those small, whimpy ones. I honestly don't know how many calories are in them...but they're fantastic and I lost almost 50lbs still eating one (sometimes 2!) a day!

I'd go crazy without my cookie fix!

Red wine and dark chocolate - almost every day. One of the BEST reasons for counting calories - it is a lifestyle change. I couldn't imagine a plan where I had to deprive myself of chocolate!!!!