Allright, this is embarrasing

I usually work out on my bike 5-6 times a week, about 1 1/2 hours, at night. It keeps me in shape.
But them sweets, oh my. I have these cravings for sweets, like chocolate and Dunkin Donuts...

Is this in any way tied to my work out? Is there some mechanism inside that "asks", really beggs... for sweets after I work out? Or is it just me, born to eat Hersheys... ?

I don't know why it happens. It might be that you burn so many calories cycling that you are actually hungry or famished when you return. When I get a craving for sweets I try to reach for really ripe fresh pineapple, cherries or blueberries, dried figs (dried fruits have a lot of sugar in them) or apples with Nutella. Also, sweet potatoes with cinnamon . . . or really dark chocolate like Dove Promises. Dark chocolate is actually healthy in moderation. In winter, hot chocolate (with 2 dove promises) is my favorite after exercise treat.

Sandy

oh my, that sounds delicious

I'd stay away from Nutella. Trans fat + Refined Sugar in large doses. But yeah fruit, dark chocolate (in moderation), and I found these really good macaroon type snacks with chocolate chips and banana at Whole Foods. They're really good.

i get a raging addiction to ice cream when i'm riding a lot. we're talking pretty bad. i would take it away from a child if i could (partially kidding)...

icecream,

a body of mine and I, when we have lunch together, can "finish" a gallon of icecream together, no problem.

Sounds like your body is craving something. When I first started cycling, I was craving potato chips. I figured it was the salt. Once I got my Gatorade going, I was cool with the cravings.

What's in the sweets that you may be craving? Think about it, then replace it with more nutritious foods.

Koffee

Ice cream is my weakness.
Its also what i use to regulate my weight now that i hit 160, down from 190. I drop below 160, I grab a container of Beyers

I'd take Koffee's suggestion seriously. If you're craving ice cream or donuts or sweets or something, your diet might be too low in fat and/or saturated fat. I used to have wild, wild cravings for peanut butter until I started adding an egg yolk, some flax seed, and olive oil to my diet, now it's subsided.

I usually go for the dried fruits.

More important, is your body calling for the sweets, or your sweet tooth?

Another tip is make sure you are eating your "proper" excercise carbs/protein before and after excercise before you hit the sweets so your body can refuel.

My fav after-ride treat (and i can be a binger after a long ride) is whole wheat toast, lots of lowfat cottage cheese and stir in some strawberry jam and cinnamon. Its sweet but replenishes my body fuel.

ps. nutella might have trans fat, but did anyone notice that Trader Joes put out a trans-free version two weeks ago yum!

are you serious?!?!? I'm so there.