Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed??

Subject: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Tue May 06 2008, 10:55

Hello Everyone!

I was just wondering if we are allowed to consume dark chocolate without sugar to help with the chocolate cravings?

I have been having some chocolate cravings & was wondering if this would help! Please HELP!!!! winking

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LoveMichelle =)

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.
--Martin Luther King Jr.

My Progress!

Go 110 Go! Go 110 Go! Well, OK, I'll be so SUPER Happy w/ 115# =)

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Tue May 06 2008, 13:09

Sadly no, it is not allowed on Phase 2, see list of allowed foods post. The best thing to do is to try to drink maybe some lemon water with flavored stevia to help with the sweet cravings. The liquid stevia comes in many flavors one of which is chocolate. Maybe you could try a few drops of this in your water to help with the cravings.

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Tue May 06 2008, 13:13

Thank you so much for the reply!! I couldn't find the liquid stevia from my local whole foods market. Only the powder and it taste kinda weird!

What about cocoa powder??
_________________
LoveMichelle =)

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.
--Martin Luther King Jr.

My Progress!

Go 110 Go! Go 110 Go! Well, OK, I'll be so SUPER Happy w/ 115# =)

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Tue May 06 2008, 13:29

No, sorry! Whole Foods definately carries the liquid stevia. Ask them, it is usally in the supplements section at my store not in the aisle with the sweeteners.

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Tue May 06 2008, 16:12

Hi...I can understand cravings. I own a hand dipped chocolate shop and besides working with chocolates all day I also manufacture over 40 kinds of fudge. It is around me all day with that great aroma. This weekend I'll be dipping strawberries in chocolate all weekend. Here is what I have done for this round to see how it works. I have normally not been one to do "cheats" but this has helped me while around the chocolate. I actually read this recipe from a post from one of the oldies that was on here (Biz) and it has worked for me so far on this round which has not been long. I have considered cocoa powder like a seasoning (unsweetened). If you dont want to use the cocoa maybe you could do the chocolate stevia as suggested above.
Here is what I have made that has helped me:

Blend the following
3 oz spinach
3 oz l/f cottage cheese
5 oz frozen strawberries
1 T cocoa (I use a little more)
2 pks stevia
Add enough water to blend down well

This has helped me enough to get through those cravings and has stayed pretty legal. It will total 150 calories for the drink and it is filling. I actually do half drinks sometimes. Try and see if this can get you through this craving time till the cravings cease perhaps. You can use 2 of these for a meal and still have either lunch or dinner of 200 calories for the day.
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GT gram

Original Starting Weight 226.6

Jesus Christ Saves Sinners

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Tue May 06 2008, 17:49

Thank you so much for the reply GT gram & sofarsogood! I really appreciate your help.

Yes, I did go to whole foods earlier and sure enough, I found the liquid stevia. I was always looking for it in the sugar/sweetener aisle that's why I never found it there and was surprised when they led me to the supplement section so you're definitely right! Thank you! I got the dark chocolate, vanilla cream & regular one. way to go

GT gram, thank you so much for the recipe. I didn't know we're allowed to have cottage cheese! that's great to know. rolling

_________________
LoveMichelle =)

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.
--Martin Luther King Jr.

My Progress!

Go 110 Go! Go 110 Go! Well, OK, I'll be so SUPER Happy w/ 115# =)

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Wed May 07 2008, 03:00

Its states if we have an adversion to meat that that can be substituted occasionally. I have used cottage cheese quite a bit on my rounds.
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GT gram

Original Starting Weight 226.6

Jesus Christ Saves Sinners

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Wed May 07 2008, 11:47

This is totally off protocol, but it works well for me and quite a few others. I get Lindt 85% cocoa. It is a large bar in 10 sections. I allow myself 1 section in the evening if I've done TOTALLY well all day long. I just nibble it and thoroughly enjoy the rich dark chocolate.
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Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Wed May 07 2008, 17:22

Yes even if you are eatting 85% cocoa it still has cocoabutter (or a few other things) that will be a fat. That is why I use unsweetened cocoa in the drinks I make. The only reduction is mainly the amount of sugar etc to sweeten the chocolate. I think granny is very fortunate in the fact that she can do things off proto and still continue to loose at an amazing rate. Most of us do not have the results she seems to be able to do. This being your first round I would suggest you not eat the chocolate...just envy her that she has that ability!!
Dont we all wish we could do that!
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GT gram

Original Starting Weight 226.6

Jesus Christ Saves Sinners

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Wed May 07 2008, 22:07

Thank you so much GTgram & grammasmitty for your reply and helpful suggestions!! I really really appreciate your input and helpful advice!

I am really having a tough time with forgoing the chocolate because I was always consuming chocolate in a regular basis and I feel that this has been more of a mental challenge for me than anything else.

I know I have been doing so well with preparing the food and cooking especially for someone like me who was never really a cook but the hcg recipe site has been my saving grace! But satisfying my sweet tooth has been extremely the most difficult part of this hcg diet!!! The liquid stevia hasn't really helped me that much but I just have a hard time satisfying my sweet tooth!!!

I have been going to whole foods or trader joe's almost daily to make sure I eat healthy but I still can't manage to control my sweet tooth!! I ended up purchasing this dark chocolate mini chunks from whole foods that only has 70 calories with the serving size of 1 tbsp.

I was wondering if I worked out for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, will that help offset those calories from the chocolate???!!! I know it sounds really really stupid and absolutely CRAZY but I am willing to workout as part of this protocol in the treadmill just to be able to have those tablespoons of chocolate!!!

Or any suggestions for using the liquid chocolate stevia syrup???
I haven't tried yet what I bought but I have the dark chocolate & raspberry chocolate but not sure how the best way to use it for. I would love any helpful suggestions!!! Thank you in advance! way to go

_________________
LoveMichelle =)

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.
--Martin Luther King Jr.

My Progress!

Go 110 Go! Go 110 Go! Well, OK, I'll be so SUPER Happy w/ 115# =)

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Thu May 08 2008, 06:51

Grammy and quite a few others have lemonade for the hungries but it also can be sweetened with stevia for maybe a sweet drink. Here are a few suggestions dont know what if any will work but...

1. apples and cinnamon with stevia for dessert
2. cottage with cinnamon and stevia is really good

CHOCOLATE:
1. maybe make my blender drink with extra cocoa but remember all spices have calories in them so make sure you add the extra cocoa calories. Also make only half the drink at a time so you can have 4 drinks through out the day to even yourself out a little better perhaps. Remember you will have to cut your meal you have left back to accomadate the calories you have left for the day. I do not eat any other fruit since i have in the drink with strawberries in it. I just cut my protein back (cottage cheese in drink) and either have cukes or some other low cal. veggie if possible.
2. if you do coffee maybe sweeten with stevia and a little of the chocolate syrup you talked about?

WORKING OUT:
On proto you are not to "workout" you can only do a very easy walk (unless you are already used to it)

CRAVINGS:
On sugar/chocolate cravings normally for me if I can stay off for about 9 days it will go away. On this proto it should go away a little quicker. Its just really a mind thing unless you are really craving sugar. (the only legal drug still available) laugh 4

Also if you have been having hfcs you may be craving because of that. The best thing to do for cravings is just to not do it. Normally, many times, a slip up will result to a over indulgence in many times...not always....but some times. With this being your first round I would try and stay as true as possible. You will find after you have done some rounds you will be more in control of what you eat....ie: you can have a piece and not go crazy like in times past.

I'm sure gs or sfso may have more suggestions to add to this since they have both been on so long and have had success.

Hope something of this helps!
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GT gram

Original Starting Weight 226.6

Jesus Christ Saves Sinners

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Thu May 08 2008, 14:01

Thank you soooooo much GT gram for your kind reply. I really don't know what I would do without this support group site. It has helped me tremendously!!! way to go

Yes, you are right. This is such a mind thing and totally mental!!! Today is a better day for me so far because I seem to be doing alright as far as controlling my sweet tooth (BUT I am keeping my fingers crossed!!!) and I have also printed some positive affirmations to look at during tough times but so far today I have not need it yet!!! Yay!! Also, I was so happy this morning that the scale moved even just a little since I was for sure I gained some since I had that piece of dark chocolate yesterday. I do love grammasmitty's advice that a very tiny piece of chocolate could be my award for doing well for the day!!! Oh yeah, thanks so much for the recipe, I will try that for sure. I aslo found some frapuccino recipe that uses dark chocolate stevia with coffee and 1tspn of milk and some ice. Can't wait to try it!! moving flower

Again, thank you soooooo much for your help & THANK GOODNESS for this site, it has been such a blessing for me to browse this site for help and support!!! smile jump

_________________
LoveMichelle =)

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.
--Martin Luther King Jr.

My Progress!

Go 110 Go! Go 110 Go! Well, OK, I'll be so SUPER Happy w/ 115# =)

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Thu May 08 2008, 18:29

no problem....the scale moving down is also great at helping cravings stop!! laugh 4

_________________
GT gram

Original Starting Weight 226.6

Jesus Christ Saves Sinners

Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Fri Jun 06 2008, 14:02

I'm ordering some chocolate bars made with stevia and I'm going to see how many calories it has. I'm going to try what grammasmitty did but with that chocolate. I also wonder how it tastes.
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Subject: Re: Is Dark Chocolate w/o Sugar allowed?? Fri Jun 06 2008, 14:35

Let us all know where you ordered those. I'm sure they would be ok for phase 3 but remember chocolate has fat in it and it is not permitted during phase 2.

MY OPINION ON THIS IS: Those of you that are on the first round DO NOT eat anything other then exactly what is allowed. This is the first round and you need to do this round 100% correct. After you have completed your first round (or in my opinon a few rounds) then if you want to do a little experimenting have the history behind you and get to know your body. Its not logical to deviate off the proto and then say it doesnt work. Please....do not cheat on your first round. You will find that it will be much better and you'll be happy with yourself in the end that you made it through 100% proto. WHEN YOU GET A CRAVING: Nothing will replace chocolate I know, however, do something with some stevia such as your apple with stevia and cinnamon baked on it. another thing that i have just stated lately is to blend my frozen strawberries with water and a little stevia for what taste almost like sherbert or a smoothie. This is also filling. The most important thing is remove yourself from the temptation. I find it is so much easier for me on sundays when I'm not at the shop with chocolate all around. Dont have it near you....if you have kids make a rule your husband or kids have to have a candy bar before they come in the house. They wont die even though they may act like it. I know you can loose control at times (been there done that) but please please do not change anything till after a round or two!

The bars sound like a great treat for Phase 3 for us chocoholics.
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GT gram

Original Starting Weight 226.6

Jesus Christ Saves Sinners