Hey there! It's me again, your wellness buddy, and today we're going to chat about something a lot of us can sympathize with—that need for chocolate. Everyone has that moment, don't they? You're looking at that bag of Peanut M&Ms, and your self-discipline just evaporates. You know what? That's okay, really, it is. You should feel good about treating yourself once in a while. Shocking, isn't it?

You see, deprivation isn't the way forward. Say you've been smashing your goals for 12 solid days - eating right, working out, you're on top of the world. Then, wham! All of a sudden, you're face-to-face with a packet of Girl Scout cookies you've been trying to avoid. Because you've been labeling them as "forbidden" (I strongly dislike the phrase because, really, nothing should be forbidden), you dive in headfirst.

Caught up in the delicious moment, you forget all about moderation. And, unfortunately, this moment is later followed by this overwhelming wave of guilt. That's not how it should be, my friend.

So hey, let's be real about this—we're all human. We're bound to eventually want something from our not-so-healthy list. Being realistic about our craving is a huge part of the solution.

Here's a little secret, lots of fitness gurus like Jillian Michaels, Jackie Warner, Dolvett Quince, and Tony Horton are totally on board with this concept. They call them “cheat” meals—I prefer to call them Planned Indulgences, because it’s all part of the plan.

Your Planned Indulgence Strategy is pretty flexible. You can enjoy a little 100-calorie treat every day, like a small handful of chocolate or a few fries. Or, you can choose to have a couple of special treat meals during your week. Now, when I say treat meal, it doesn't mean having a free-for-all binge fest (no, a packet of Thin Mints does not define a "meal"). It's all about portion control.

And just a heads up, it might be best to avoid your trigger food for the first few indulgences. If you know that a single bite of that certain something will turn you into an absolute Cookie Monster, it's okay to go for something different but enjoyable. After a bit of practice, you might be able to invite your regular culprit back into your safety list.

In this journey towards better health, it's about treating yourself mindfully rather than putting anything on a forbidden list. Believe me, when we plan for our exceptions wisely, it will feel less like cheating and more like a happy and healthy balance. Enjoy your journey!