As Patricia said, women’s metabolisms do increase during that part of our cycle; I’ve often lamented about how many more calories I could burn off if I could curb the cravings, but that’s definitely a case of ideal vs. real. Two of my favorite “healthier” indulgences are chocolate mint Zone Perfect bars and Breyers Carb Smart chocolate ice cream.
I caution you against the array of low-carb chocolate candies; they contain maltitol which can wreak painful havoc on the GI tract, which I found out the hard way!
Usually, though, I find that allowing myself a small helping (or should I say “dose?”) of real chocolate–Dove Promises are my favorite–does it best.
You can’t really ignore your sweet cravings! Come on, you don’t tell yourself that you don’t have to pee if you have to! So my advice, give yourself a permission to take a couple of pieces (1 serving size)of that sweet indulgence and put the rest away. This way you don’t completely ground yourself and don’t feel guilty over those “naughty” pleasures!
Ericka, what diet plan are you on? Are you doing the Berardi thing? I’ve been doing it for about a year now and it has greatly reduced my cravings for sweets.
That’s a small miracle for me because I have the world’s all-time incorrigible chocolate tooth. Or I used to.
Now when I do eat chocolate I can control myself. I can even keep it in the house without feeling compelled to eat it.
Other than that, my suggestion is to indulge yourself as part of a planned cheat.
i have a serious chocolate craving issue also…if you want a protein powder treat i highly recommend Beverly International’s Ultra Size. don’t get fooled by the name…it’s not a mass powder it’s their meal replacement and it’s the most divine tasting stuff i’ve ever had. if you go to Beverly’s website you can get loads of recipes for ‘ultra size goo’ and ‘ultra size chocolate cake’ thats all microwaveable, quick and delicious. plus you get the best proteins available out there.
If chocolate cravings are caused by magnesium deficiency, then why don’t we ever crave spinach or oat bran?
I do notice that I have few cravings, for chocolate OR sweets, when my diet is really on target.
I also think that drinking coffee decreases chocolate cravings, at least for me.
On the other hand, I love chocolate. I enjoy eating it. So why not eat some? For me, the pleasure comes from eating straight dark chocolate. No amount of chocolate-flavored anything comes close. So I eat a little dark chocolate.
Dan C, I just don’t believe that the body necessarily craves foods with nutrients it is deficient in. People crave foods/substances that alter brain chemistry and are tied to the brain’s pleasure/reward centers. This would explain why cravings are almost always for sugary or starchy carbohydrates, alcohol, various drugs, etc. Chocolate has sugar, yes, but also has compounds with drug-like mood-enhancing effects.
Humm… I guess the bodys cravings, then, are not that logical. If a craving has no logical function (or need), what do you call it... a want`, an addiction?
Reminds me the allergy mechanisms, where one craves precisely what he is (partially) allergic to (apparently, theres something going in the pleasure centers or something that numbs`) when the reactions set in.
it’s their meal replacement and it’s the most divine tasting stuff i’ve ever had. if you go to Beverly’s website you can get loads of recipes for ‘ultra size goo’ and ‘ultra size chocolate cake’ thats all microwaveable, quick and delicious. plus you get the best proteins available out there.