A CHOCOHOLIC'S MOTIVATION!

Well it is rare if not at all, that I write 2 blogs in one day.  I guess I am just on a roll.  Earlier I sought reasons for not losing the weight I had intended.  Now this is the kicker.  It is my way of staying motivated.  I don't have to rely on anybody else.  I don't have to rely on Weight Watchers meetings.  I know the program by now.  I have been on it since last July.  Now that doesn't mean that I won't check in and buy the few things that they have that I am interested in.  That also doesn't mean I am going off track.  In essence, I think the program in itself is a good one and a healthy one.  It is all about staying motivated and if I can't get it from the meetings then I have to get it elsewhere.

The hottest topic of the day is chocolate, of course, because Valentine's Day is Tuesday.  I have read so much about chocolate lately that I added it to my regular repertoire of food again as of yesterday.  Of course, I am conscious of the type of chocolate and have a large bar of Lindt dark chocolate in the my pantry that has 70% cocoa in it.  On the point system it is about 1.3 points a square or just over 50 calories. 

I love the 5 health benefits to chocolate.  It is just some positive reinforcement to a chocoholic's addiction.  Turns out a little addiction may save your life.  I know someone whose husband boasts that his wife eats chocolate every day.  I know it is just one square and it is the highest and darkest chocolate but it is a good measure of the possibilities it holds for us.  She is super slim and so her husband is very proud of her.

5 CHOCOLATE HEALTH BENEFITS.

1. CHOCOLATE MAY HELP YOU WITH MATH.  Chocolate contains flavonols that have antioxidant-like properties that are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain.  After drinking hot cocoa filled with flavonols, participants in a study were able to do calculations more quickly and accurately and were less likely to feel tired or mentally drained.

2.  CHOCOLATE FILLS YOU UP. That is why Mom wouldn't let you have chocolate before dinner.  They did a study on that too.  Those who consumed dark chocolate ate 15% fewer calories than those who had milk chocolate and they were less interested in fatty, salty and sugary foods.  MMMMM!   I like that one.

3.  CHOCOLATE MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER.  Chocolate triggers the release of endorphins similar to the one that people get when they fall in love.  No wonder it is the food of Valentine's Day.

4.  CHOCOLATE HELPS YOU RELAX.  It turns out that chocolate contains a compound that activates the same brain receptors as marijuana.  No wonder a bite brings on bliss.

5.  CHOCOLATE MAY HELP YOU LIVE LONGER.  All kinds of studies on that one.  I guess though you have to stick to a one-ounce serving to get your fix without wrecking your waistline.


There is plenty of information out there to keep me and everyone else motivated.  There are so many inspiring stories of people who have reached their goal.  Being online is being connected to the world.  Reading about tips on health and diet available almost everywhere are an inspiration.  Everyone has roadblocks along the way.  It is a reminder that we are all in the same boat.
I miss not having a partner or a buddy who has a similar goal so I think writing more regularly will help me out that way but I am definitely into reading and learning all there is out there and sharing it too.