I know I need to lose some weight, but I can't go without nice food, especially cheese and chocolate. Is there anything I can do to satisfy my cravings and still shed some pounds?

answer

Yes, and we'll address that in a moment. First, you should know that being overweight increases your risk of developing health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Therefore, it is important to watch your weight by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Try to set a specific goal of how much weight you want to lose and over what period of time, then set intermediate goals so that you don't lose heart. Aim to lose no more than 2 pounds a week.

As far as your diet is concerned, it needs to be realistic to be successful long-term. Firstly, aim to cut down the amount of fat in your diet by choosing low-fat versions of foods you love, particularly cheese and chocolate, and try to eat less of these each week. Try low-fat mature cheese, as it is strong in flavour. You'll tend to eat less of it and use less in cooking, yet still be able to satisfy this craving. There are also plenty of low-fat, fat-free and low-calorie chocolate bars on the shelves in supermarkets and chemists that can replace your normal full-fat chocolate. But beware; these low-fat chocolate versions tend to be very high in sugar, so they can still pack in the calories.

Most chocolate fanatics swear that having a small dose of the real stuff satisfies their craving best. Plus, real chocolate is full of endorphins that give you a happy, comforted feeling. Most importantly, don't try to resist the foods you love altogether - enjoy one serving of real chocolate or limit your intake of the low-fat versions and you'll be more likely not to overindulge. Good luck.

Why not chat to other iVillagers about weight loss on the You Can Do It - Diet Support message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:

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Cravings and weight loss