Chocolatey Goodness!

A calorie is a calorie right? Such as- I'll burn off a bar of chocolate that's 250 calories in the same amount of time as a salad that's 250 calories?  Of course  a salad is a million times more healthy, but I LOVE dessert and would like to eat a bar of chocolate every once in a while. (Otherwise I generally eat very healthy) So as long as I stay within my regular calorie range- will I be okay?

You're right. A calorie is a calorie. You can certainly have chocolate every once in a while and you won't hurt your weight loss goals! Just make sure you're getting tons of healthy food too so you don't miss out on any nutrients or anything! But if you deprive yourself, it's worse because you might eat 3 bars of chocolate and two slices of cake later on!

Cool. I love to eat healthy so that's no problem. I just love a treat or two now and then.

I was just making sure that a 250 calorie chocolate bar won't be anymore "fattening" than a 250 salad or lean cuisine, etc.

You are fine.  I think that people should incorporate treats into their diet.  I think people only run into trouble when they are getting all their calories from treats and they don't eat foods that give them nutrients.

I agree, a calorie is a calorie and whether you eat a tonne of salad or 6 chocolate bars in a day you're still consuming the same amount of energy so it shouldn't affect your weight loss HOWEVER do remember that the way its all broken down in your body is different - you will experience a leap in blood sugar after the chocolate that you wouldn't after the salad. This makes you crave more when it starts to dip as the insulin kicks in to try to maintain the high levels so beware of the times of day you eat and make sure you have a filling meal beforehand so you don't binge on rubbish.

It sounds good.

To me, anything in moderation is fine.

Chocolate bars are not HORRIBLE for you as long as you are not eating them several times everyday.

I think you'll be fine.  I really like those little squares of dark chocolate or the miniatures. (I like dark chocolate best)  I eat a couple off them a few times a week.  Two of the thin squares is like 100 calories or less.  Dark chocolate might even have some health benefits. 

i've lost 57 since 9/4 & i have my chocolate almost every single night!  it's a treat for being good & it keeps me going.  :D

i would totally end up binging without it!!!  LOL  anyway, i just have a mini dark or 2 AND only if it fits into my daily limit.

I think you'll be okay, but I agree with Doris about the insulin issue.  Be sure you eat a good amount of quality protein to prevent sugar crashes.  Protein gives your body energy to metabolize those sugars. 

However, you should eat in moderation.  The bad thing about chocolate is that it usually has high amounts of calories from fat and sugar, but not a lot of volume.  Therefore, you may not feel as full from a brownie that has 250 calories, but you would be really full after having a couple of apples, which have much less calories and more nutrients.

 I get crazy sweets cravings from time to time at work, and I usually try to shove a piece a fruit in my mouth before I reach for a Snickers bar or Twix in the vending machine.  Some healthy chocolate stuff that staves off my chocolate cravings are Chocolate Silk Soy Milk, Chocolate Pudding, or I wait until I get home for some chocolate frozen yogurt with berries.  I really don't care for energy bars that have chocolate in them because they taste funny to me.