Chocolate,Minus the Love Handles

By Carly Young, LifeScript Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Other than on Valentine’s Day, about 75% of chocolate purchases are made by women. When this romantic holiday rolls around, it’s the men who are doling out the treats. From heart-shaped boxes of caramel-filled delicacies to teddy bears holding milk chocolate roses, men spend a whopping $1 billion on sweets in the days leading up to the year’s most romantic holiday. It’s the one gift he can count on to be a success. But what’s a figure-conscious girl to do when faced with a 10-pound box of Godiva chocolates? Here’s how to indulge in your guy’s thoughtful gift without breaking the calorie bank:- Purchase an opaque, airtight container to store your bounty in. This way, you won’t feel pressured to polish off the box before the candies go stale.- Once your chocolate is safely stored, set a limit for yourself before you open the lid, say, one piece every night.- Store the treats in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. You’ll have to thaw each one for an hour before eating, which gives your more time to contemplate whether you really want it.Did your sweetie give you racy lingerie along with those chocolates? Slip it on while you indulge. While form-fitting attire is sexy, it’s also unforgiving and a good reminder to not eat the whole box. After all, it’s way too easy to overindulge when you’re wearing elastic-waist, XL sweatpants.