Can the Foods You Crave Actually Help You Lose Weight?

January 30, 2019
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

Who doesn’t love a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning, a piece of decadent chocolate, or a good burger?

But, did you know these foods you crave can actually help you reach your weight loss goals? It’s true!

We were enjoying dinner out last weekend when I overheard a comment at the next table: “Girl, let’s order appetizers and drinks, I’m off my diet and ready to celebrate!”

We’re finishing up the first month in a new year and already diets are being abandoned and gym attendance is going down. Have you ever wondered why people give up on their resolutions and weight loss goals so quickly? (Hint: the answer is in the overheard comment.)

In the third video of our Metabolism Reboot mini-course, I’m giving you mouth-watering recipes to make delicious foods that are more of a treat and less of a chore. If you missed the first two on detoxing your kitchen and crushing your cravings, it’s not too late to join us! Click here to sign up for my free 5-part series to give your metabolism a Radical Reboot!

Your Feelings About Food Influence Your Fat Loss

I read this study a few years ago that had a tremendous impact on how I viewed dieting. Researchers asked Americans what emotion they associated with chocolate cake. The overwhelming answer – guilt. My guess is many of you reading this would agree.

Then they asked the French what emotion they associate with chocolate cake. Their answer may surprise you – celebration. The study went further and showed that people who associate decadent treats like chocolate cake with guilt and loss of control were less successful at maintaining or losing weight over an 18-month period than people who associated it with celebration and joy.

I took this a step further and came to the realization that diets that don’t incorporate celebration and the foods we enjoy and consider treats are doomed to fail, because of how strongly our emotions are tied to our food. Comments like the one I overheard in the restaurant really show how we feel deep down about going on a diet – like it’s all work and no play. For a diet to be successful, at least some of our daily food choices have to “spark joy” or we throw it out.

Make A Radical Change to Your Weight Loss Resolutions

With my 4 decades of experience helping thousands upon thousands of dieters like you lose weight and keep it off, I understand the need for decadent treats to enjoy while trying to lose weight. I was thrilled to discover the research that showed some of our all-time favorites like coffee and chocolate are actually superfoods that stimulate your fat-burning metabolism. My new Radical Metabolism plan will teach you how your favorite comfort foods and celebratory foods can be used to help you lose weight – without feeling guilty!

For instance, I discovered coffee is a superfood that is rich in chlorogenic acid. This means your morning coffee is good for your liver, heart, and brain, plus it triples your fat burning all while helping you retain lean muscle mass. If coffee doesn’t agree with you, then you can substitute roasted dandelion root tea for a healthy liver or Oolong tea for more rapid fat loss.

Did you know:

  • You can have your coffee, chocolate, and even bacon and use them to lose weight
  • Starting your day with coffee and chocolate will not only make you feel full and crush your cravings, but will also jump-start your metabolism
  • A mid-afternoon coffee pick-me-up made the right way will also boost your fat-burning metabolism while it gives you the energy you need to make it through the rest of the day
  • An after dinner treat is not only a good idea but a must-have if you want to keep cravings away and continue to burn fat
  • You don’t have to go keto for a good bacon burger to help you with weight loss
  • Bitter tastes like coffee and chocolate make your diet work better by cutting cravings, increasing digestive juices like stomach acid and bile, and helping you reset your digestion after a high fat diet like keto or paleo.

It’s time to get Radical and change how you look at your diet. Make it a celebration of weight loss and not a chore, with my new Radical Metabolism plan. Don’t wait! Get started now by signing up for my free 5-part Metabolism Reboot course.

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

9 Comments

  1. Diana

    I have been making the Citrus Blaster and love it! I feel it has made a difference in my weight loss efforts, But I do have a question about the recipe. It calls for 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Milk but does not say what kind. Is this the kind that comes in a can (example brand is Native Forest)? If so, should it be diluted? Or is it calling for the one that comes in a box (32 oz, example brand is Pacific) and is similar to all the nut and seed milks? It seems this makes a difference given the one in the box is much more watered down compared to the can.

    Reply
  2. Team ALG

    Diana, you can use either one but the coconut milk in the can has more flavor because it is richer.

    Reply
  3. Maheswari Ravi

    I need to know if using non dairy creamer is good, as I always use it to my white coffee instant 2 in 1 packets to take away the bitterness. I also add it my Indian type of percolated coffee and use Stevia, as a sweetener.

    Reply
    • Maheswari Ravi

      I also like to eat a piece of homemade frozen cheesecake once in a while. As I do not like chocolates. Is it ok.

      Reply
      • Team ALG

        Maheswari, The main point of eating coffee and chocolate is that they are bitter foods that stimulate the liver. Adding sweetener decreases that effect. Cheesecake is not recommended as a weight loss food

        Reply
    • Team ALG

      Non dairy creamer is made from chemicals and is not recommended. Coconut milk and stevia will take the bitterness away.

      Reply
  4. karlin

    Really a bacon burger? If we dont drastically change carbon emissions immediately, climate change catastrophe, within 12 years, will be irreversible according to UN 2018 Climate report, I love you Ann Louise but if we dont have a planet, what good are cravings? Mass extinction is one thing that can certainly cure cravings.

    Reply
    • Susan

      Don’t worry Karlin, God is in control. The UN is full of scare tactics to try to control people. There won’t be mass extinction from carbon emissions within 12 yrs. God made plants and trees and guess what, they take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen into the air. So put some of your worry energy into planting trees or donate to the Arborday Foundation to plant trees, that should make you feel better. Take a deep breath and have some bacon, well if you eat bacon. Ahh, maybe not huh. 🙂 You know, eating carrot sticks with your chocolate makes you feel like your eating tons of chocolate. I discovered that years ago and works wonders to bring good endorphins to your brain. K, have a great day and try not to worry! 🙂

      Reply
  5. karliin

    Hi Susan

    God also made animals. But he did not make them so that gluttons can put them between 2 pieces of bread and face shove them. Thanks so much for your concern, however I am not worried because god is in control. Ive done no harm. My carbon and karmic footprint are light. Wish I could say the same for others.

    Reply

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