When it comes to shedding the pounds, many assume it’s time to say goodbye to chocolate treats.
In the quest for a trimmer figure, countless people promptly ditch their beloved “naughty” snacks. However, online fitness guru Nathan Joseph has some tantalising news – chocolate isn’t the enemy.
He doesn’t advocate for nightly binges on chocolate bars, but he does suggest that indulging in moderation won’t tip the scales – and he’s got evidence to back it up.
Nathan took to TikTok to expose the myths surrounding chocolate consumption, delivering a revelation that’s as delightful as it is surprising.
To illustrate his argument, he calculated the staggering amount of chocolate someone would need to consume to gain just one pound of fat, and the answer will probably surprise you.
In his viral TikTok video, Nathan explained: “It’s a common misconception that chocolate makes you fat. It’s just calorie dense, which means you can’t eat much of it to consume a hell of a lot of calories.
“I break down the common misconceptions about fat loss every single week, so if you don’t want to be scared of eating a chocolate bar every night, you can drop me a follow.
“There’s 3,500 calories in a pound of fat, meaning you still wouldn’t gain a pound of fat if you ate four large chocolate bars. I’m not telling you to pig out on chocolate morning, noon and night.
“This is to show you on those days where you do fancy a bit of chocolate, it’s not going to kill you.”
Nathan emphasised his message isn’t an invitation to gorge on chocolate constantly, but rather a reminder that occasional indulgence won’t lead to “crazy amounts of weight” gain.
He explained that someone would need to consume seven large chocolate bars over their daily calorie intake to gain a pound of fat. So, if you’re craving a sweet treat every now and then, there’s no need to feel “guilty”.
Since sharing his post, it received over 100,000 likes and numerous comments. As expected, many were delighted with the news.
One individual said: “Thank you so much – you’re the first person to put it this way.” Another commented: “The first person in fitness who doesn’t set people up to fail. That’s a follow.”
A third chimed in with: “I love chocolate. I lost 9st 7lbs, and still eat chocolate regularly.”
According to NHS guidelines, sugary foods like chocolate, cakes and biscuits can be enjoyed in moderation. While these items “aren’t needed in our diet”, they should be consumed less frequently and in smaller portions.
However, they are delicious, and everyone deserves a treat sometimes. Now you know that you can indulge occasionally and still lose weight. It’s all about balance, after all.
