Superfoods – Dark Chocolate – D15P2R5C1
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R5P2 Starting Weight 176.8
Yesterday – 165.4
Today – 163.8
1.6 lb LOSS Overnight
1.8 lb Over LIW of Round Four (162.0)
13.0 Lost Since Start of R5C1 (VLCD) 05/06/08
87.0 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07
Now that is what I am talking about. It’s about time. My loss for the 2nd week was a whopping 2.4 pounds. That goes on record as one of my two slowest weeks since starting the protocol. I had another 2.4 loss in one week back on Round 2 during my final week (that round was 6 weeks long). Whatever caused the stall looks like it might have just broken. Ok, so it’s going to take me the ENTIRE time to get to my goal, but that is OK – I needed this lesson. Day #15 and I haven’t even reached my LIW – oh yes, this surely has taught me a VALUABLE lesson for sure.
My mind set just wasn’t in doing a P2 Steak Day yesterday. HA! I should have known. There is just something between me and steak days. I have an attitude. So I decided to do straight protocol yesterday, with the exception of me eating green beans. I had grapefruit twice, green beans twice, and catfish for lunch and mahi for dinner, with a small side salad with just white balsamic vinegar (have I mentioned to you yet that this stuff is da bomb?
So I am just saying, this break in my stall was not the result of any ‘recovery’ operation. I tried an egg day on Sunday, ended up with a massive headache (most likely the fat free mayo I tried, geesh, it’s in the trash now) and no weight loss. I stick to protocol standards, and I lose a significant amount. Whoda thunk?
Let’s look at my numbers now:
- Round 1 (14 completed days) – 6.30% of body weight lost
- Round 2 (14 completed days) – 6.44% of body weight lost
- Round 3 (14 completed days) – 7.25% of body weight lost
- Round 4 (14 completed days) – 9.22% of body weight lost
- Round 5 (14 completed days) – 7.35% of body weight lost
My 4th Round is still down on paper as the most kickenist round ever of all time, I would like to bottle that round up and sell it, I would make MILLIONS!
Superfoods – Dark Chocolate
Ok, I debated whether or not to include this in my discussion for a long while. I don’t want to give anyone the idea that I am recommending you over indulge in chocolate. Nothing could be further from the truth. But this is something worth mentioning because Dark Chocolate does have some very good benefits, and like with anything else, when eaten in moderation, can add to your health. Not to mention our ‘emotional’ health! ROFL
As I was doing research, I found that there were those out in the scientific community that felt the same way that I did, scared to show this to the public because they didn’t want people going off half cocked taking license to eat as much chocolate as they want just because it’s good for you. For starters, don’t expect to grab yourself a Snickers or a Babe Ruth and feel all sorts of fuzzy because you think you did your body good. No, notice the emphasis on “DARK CHOCOLATE” – most people are in love with MILK CHOCOLATE or WHITE CHOCOLATE, but turn their nose up to the benefits of DARK CHOCOLATE. So for the purposes of this article, please understand that I am FOCUSING in on only DARK CHOCOLATE, and only 1 – 2 ounces a day.
So, that being said … we need to know what flavonoids are if we are to understand what makes dark chocolate good for you, because dark chocolate is just FULL of them. The best definition I have found for flavonoids was found at this website:
Flavonoids are compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and certain beverages that have diverse beneficial biochemical and antioxidant effects. Their dietary intake is quite high compared to other dietary antioxidants like vitamins C and E. The antioxidant activity of flavonoids depends on their molecular structure, and structural characteristics of certain flavonoids found in hops and beer confer surprisingly potent antioxidant activity exceeding that of red wine, tea, or soy.
Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that are ubiquitous in nature and are categorized, according to chemical structure, into flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanidins and chalcones. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been identified, many of which occur in fruits, vegetables and beverages (tea, coffee, beer, wine and fruit drinks). The flavonoids have aroused considerable interest recently because of their potential beneficial effects on human health-they have been reported to have antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant activities.
I was going to try to break that down into a language we can all understand, but alas, my english isn’t all that good, and heck, I understood it just fine how they explained it.
Dark Chocolate is high in antioxidants (remember our discussion here) that are called flavonoids so it delivers quite the bunch in nutrition. As noted above, and for repetition sake, these particular antioxidants can benefit you in the following ways:
- Sharpen problem solving skills
- Reduce risks of blood clots
- Improves skin quality
- Lower blood pressure
- Increase endurance
The trick with Dark Chocolate, and to get the most health benefits, is to pick chocolate with the highest amount of cocoa by percentage. For example, for 100 grams (around 3.5 ounces) there is about 250 calories and 24 grams of fat in 100% cocoa (of which only 1.6 grams is saturated), but on the other end of the spectrum, let’s say a Snickers bar (always picking on the old Snickers, only cause it used to be my fave!) – for the same amount 100 grams, you are talking over 500 cals and 8.5 grams of saturated fat. See the difference?
The thing about using real Dark Chocolate also instead of milk or white chocolate, is that you are forced to savor each and every bite. It lasts longer, it satiates better, there is no guilt, and it’s good for you!
Here is a great recipe to try for Phase 3 or Phase 4 – this is healthy enough for you to have every day, but only 1 serving!
Coconut Bark (makes 4 servings)
4T coconut oil (please only use virgin coconut oil)
1T cocoa (I use Hershey’s Unsweetened)
1T almond butter (no salt, just ground up almond)
2 packets sweetenerMelt the coconut oil gently, very gently. Add other ingredients and then freeze on a piece of saran wrap, break into four servings. Enjoy!
Tomorrow? Let’s talk tomatoes!
