Let's face it - Halloween is evil.
Scary movies, scary costumes, and most of all scary TEMPTATIONS!!!
Many holidays come with their own food demons, but only Halloween puts literal bags of candy in front of your face screaming EAT ME!!!!
Don't despair though, you're not doomed to spend the day after in a sugar induced coma wracked with guilt and tummy pains. With a little planning you can make it through without giving in to the sweet beckoning of your children's (or grandchildren's) goody bags.
Here are some simple things you can do to get through the scariest day of the year:
- Out of sight, out of mind. Until Halloween night, put the candy up somewhere that is not easy to reach. A good trick is to ensure you have to stand on a chair to put it away or get it down. The harder it is to get to, the easier it is to walk right past it.
- Don't deprive yourself when it finally comes out... Yes, you didn't misread that. It's OK to have a little. David Levitsky PhD, a professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell University recommends having a little chocolate. In a recent interview he stated that "There are several reasons for this, but the major one is that if you tell yourself that you can't have it, you'll crave it. Treat-deprived girls in research studies load up on forbidden foods when they weren't even hungry and tend to be fatter, not thinner."
- Be sure to eat well the rest of the day so a calorie deficit doesn't cause you to over indulge.
- Buy candy that you're not crazy about. If chocolate is your Kryptonite, then buy hard candy or Twizzlers.
- Save up some calories for dinner before the festivities begin. Being full when it comes time to hand out the sweets will help with temptation.
- Go trick or treating with the kids! Make it into a workout by planning a longer route than usual. You'll burn calories instead of consuming them and the kids will sleep like the dead.
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Use a Mimi's Macros dessert as a substitute for a sugary binge. You can eat and enjoy your favorite Halloween movie without feeling guilty.
- If you lose control, don't give up. Tomorrow is another day and a healthy lifestyle is a marathon, not a sprint. Use failure to learn how to improve. What caused you to give in? What strategies could you use to avoid that the next time? Studies show that people who plan their health regimens with ways to deter cheating are more successful.
Lastly, remember to enjoy the holiday and don't turn it into one long exercise in frustration. There will be plenty of time for that in the gym.
All my love and support,
- m
