I have a mean sweet tooth. I always have, and I know I got it from my Dad. Usually women are the ones looking for chocolate, but my dad, like me, is always scrounging the pantry looking for something to satisfy that ever-present sweet craving. I gave up chocolate once for Lent and it wasn’t pretty. The first week I was pumped up and it was a nice challenge. But as the time wore on I didn’t do well and I was very moody.
One of the big things I have learned about myself is that once I start eating sweets I have a hard time stopping. My husband can eat one small piece of chocolate after a meal and be perfectly satisfied. If you give me one piece, I want 12, and could easily eat 12 if I am not careful. If you’re like me, here are some ways to overcome this problem:
- Give yourself a budget. I have a daily 200-calorie budget for sweets/chocolate. I can eat whatever I want for a treat, but I limit it to about 200 calories only.
- Make it worth it. If it doesn’t taste great and satisfy your craving, don’t eat it. You could end up eating too many calories of fat free treats, for example and still not feel satisfied.
- Strive for balance. I am always conscious of balancing what I take in with what I burn. If I end up indulging in a treat, I will try to put in 15 extra minutes of cardio to help balance it out.
And of course I can’t leave you without an idea for a healthier (and scrumptious!) sweet treat. Nothing is better than a hot brownie fresh from the oven. And for 110 calories, this is tasty chocolate satisfaction. Check out this recipe for Healthified Chocolate Lovers’ Brownies
