MY "I LOVE CHOCOLATE" DIET
I really wanted to break my addiction to chocolate, but I have
read that chocolate is actually GOOD for you, releases
endorphins or something. I also wanted to eat healthy. I decided
to combine the two and see how it works. I figured, if a little
chocolate is good for you, a LOT of chocolate would be very good
for you, and on the other side of the coin, too much would make
me sick of it, hence breaking my addiction. I was sure this idea
would really work. (Funny, I got very sick from drinking too
much champagne once, and that did not stop me from consuming it
other times)... but that was not an addiction. My over
consumption and obsession with chocolate needed to be stopped.
As with all diets, they say, you need a game plan. I decided to
incorporate chocolate at every meal. And since I LOVE chocolate,
that would not be a problem. Snacks would also incorporate
chocolate. Imagine carrot sticks, not dipped in ranch dressing,
but Hershey Syrup... an omelet for breakfast with melted
chocolate chips. Getting enough fiber in one's diet is equally
important. Just mix your Grape Nuts with chocolate pudding.
Strawberries dipped in chocolate are VERY good... as are
bananas, peaches, and any number of things.
Day 1. Using the Atkins plan for high protein, and my idea of
chocolate... for breakfast I fried two scrambled eggs in
one-half stick of butter (fats are good for you too). I then
added grated chocolate and some fiber cereal to make it really
healthy. It looked pretty terrible, and did not taste too good
either, but, hey, what health food does?? I gagged it down,
followed by a glass of chocolate syrup laced orange juice,
(which wasn't too bad).
For lunch I tossed a delightful salad. ½ of a fresh pear,
romaine leaves, balsamic vinegar, topped with crumbled chocolate
chip cookies. This proved to be the best meal of the day.
I really was not too hungry for a snack as I was feeling a bit
queasy. But all diet experts tell you to eat three meals a day,
so for supper I planned a festive delight. Atkins protein
again... Thick, juicy slice of prime rib with hollandaise,
topped of course, with chopped Dove Dark Chocolate Promises.
Before bedtime, I really was quite a bit nauseated, so I drank
the six glasses of water I forgot to drink. Good thing, too, for
during the night I was awakened with abdominal pain and diarrhea
(must have been the fiber), and all that water probably helped
me not to be dehydrated. I was also experiencing a funny pang
sensation in the right upper quadrant of my abdomen, but, again,
it was probably my lean, mean, burning machine body burning fat.
Day 2... Well after not getting much sleep the night of Day 1, I
was not too hungry. But I was determined to stick with my game
plan and diet.
For breakfast I figured some tofu would be healthy. I got out
half a stick of butter again, cubed the tofu and sautéed it
gently with some celery (remember fiber) and to make things
elegant, (on a diet you are not supposed to feel deprived or it
will fail, I read) I got out my box of Godiva Chocolates that
someone kindly gave me for Christmas. HMMM Chocolate truffles
chopped and sprinkled on top. I even added a sprig of parsley on
my plate to make it look festive. I took a bite... then another,
then I ate the rest real fast to get it down.
Lunch was kind of light. A Hershey bar with tuna salad piled on
top wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. The tuna salad had LOTS
of celery, onion, and heaps of mayo (you can use mayonnaise on
Atkin's).
Supper was even lighter. For some reason the pang in my right
upper abdomen were getting worse. Must be the fiber. I suppose
if one is not used to all that fiber, it takes a while for the
body to adjust. I just popped a few chocolate covered cherries.
Cherries have great antioxidant properties.
I nearly forgot to drink my water again, so I downed 64 ounces
and sloshed to my bed.
Funny, I woke up a lot at night with trips to the bathroom. I
wondered if I was getting irritable bowel syndrome, and I was
feeling irritable. Maybe it was just hunger pangs or something.
That can happen on any diet. Headaches too.
Day 3... Breakfast. I really did not want to eat too much.
Still feeling a bit queasy I dissolved two Alka Seltzer in a
glass of chocolate milk. That helped, a little.
Lunch was.... forgotten.
So was supper.
This article was written from my hospital bed after I woke from
the anesthesia after emergency gallbladder surgery. The
dietitian is due in my room any minute... so...
Thanks for reading! Karen A. Lech Copyright 2006
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