Your physical appearance is a reflection of what is going on under the surface. It shows not only the kind of food you eat, but also the kind of person that you are. Because your body is linked so strongly to your mind, if you really want to be successful with a new diet, you have to be willing to turn inward and analyze your motivations and desires.

Most people don't listen. This is probably the biggest reason why so many people struggle to get their physical appearance in line with what they would like it to be. When you're trying to make wise decisions regarding diet and fitness, you simply need to listen.

Here is an experiment to try. Next time you have a meal, take a minute immediately afterward and assess how that meal makes your body feel. Then repeat this process a half hour later. Notice any changes? Typically if you just listen and pay attention, your body will tell you what is good and what isn't good for you.

Typically when you eat foods that are really high in sugar, you may have a "sugar buzz" for a while immediately after eating, but give it a half hour or so and you'll inevitably feel a dramatic "crash" as your blood sugar spikes and then drops. This is an indication that you are not treading lightly with your body, you are doing damage that you could easily avoid if you cut out such extremes in sugary foods.

Another thing to pay attention to is your overall energy level. After you eat a meal, do you feel like you have more energy or less? Do you enjoy the food while eating, but afterward regret that you ate it because you feel sluggish and weighed down? These are all indicators that your body is not going to benefit from what you are eating.

Listening to your body is a skill that has to be developed over time. It is good to start with something that produces a dramatic effect like high-sugar foods so that you can start to develop this skill.

Once you have figured out what makes you "crash" the hardest, make an effort to avoid those foods. The reality is, this is simply your body's way of telling you that you have made an unwise food choice.

If you think that avoiding the crash means you have to cut out all sweets, you're wrong. Chocolate is actually considered a "low GI" food, which means it does not cause a big sugar rush after being eaten because the fat that it contains slows down the sugar absorption. Chocolate is also scientifically confirmed to promote lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and overall heart fitness.

A couple of fitness trainers have improved on the natural qualities of chocolate by developing Good Energy Chocolates. These chocolates contain guarana, Green Tea, Carnitine to boost metabolism, and Glutamine to promote muscle function and help stabilize blood sugar changes. They also have vitamins B5 and B12, essential for good metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates and proteins and for normal functioning of the brain and nervous system.

Avoid the crash, enjoy a moderate daily dose of chocolate, and if you listen, your body will thank you.