How to Eat Chocolate and Not Get Fat

A lot of people have a weakness for chocolate. I love the stuff myself. It always makes me feel better whenever I eat it. Well, if truth be told, I usually feel better right away but later I start to feel guilty and wonder whether this enjoyment is going to backfire on me and I will see this chocolate on my abs, thighs, arms, or butt.

I know that a lot of people have the same dual emotions regarding chocolate. You want it, you crave it, but you're scared to indulge yourself. After all, you make a lot of effort to remain lean, you workout, you eat right, and you don't want to ruin it with some small piece of chocolate.

The truth is that you don't have to worry so much. You can enjoy a fine piece of chocolate as long as you do it right, as long as you take the right steps as stated in this article:

1. You do need to have some control over the quantities you eat. You can't expect to stuff yourself silly with chocolate and expect to not gain weight. I highly recommend that you eat in moderation. It is up to you to maintain some control and it is possible. Buy smaller packets of chocolate, limit yourself to one or two bars, don't overdo it.

2. Eat chocolate strategically at times in which your body is best able to deal with the added calories. You want to feed your body with chocolate when your metabolism is at its highest point. This is usually after your workout, for 1-2 hours. During that time your body is like a furnace, eager to burn more and more calories. This is the time to enjoy yourself without getting into trouble.

3. You need to choose the right kind of chocolate. Yes, you may love milk chocolate but it's full of sugar and just not good for you. Dark chocolate is much better and is actually healthy for you. What makes you fat in chocolate is the added sugar, not the cocoa beans. So, you want to eat chocolate which has a high concentration of cocoa beans. I recommend 70% cocoa beans concentration to make sure it is still healthy for you. Although dark chocolate is more bitter than milk chocolate, it can still be quite tasty and does retain some sweetness. I often eat an 85% dark chocolate but that may be over the top, 70% will do.

If you follow these rules you can eat chocolate and not get fat. Enjoy.

Visit Why is Dark Chocolate Healthy to read about the healthy benefits of this chocolate.

For 10 super foods to help make you healthy and lean, click here: 10 Super Foods to Burn Fat

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. He now runs a weight loss forum and publishes a diet and fitness newsletter.

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