EEEK.... The scariest day of the year is ALMOST here!!! After a weekend of spooky sugary treats, ghoulishly good drinks and devilish comfort food, HALLOWEEN weekend causes many of us to think we’re in a fun house, when look in the mirror Monday morning. As you’re staring at yourself in the mirror, you begin to count how many ‘fun size’ candy bars you’ve enjoyed, and how many pumpkin martinis you drank. Yes, those ‘fun size’ candy bars might be portion control size, however, most of us eat more than just one, and the pumpkin martinis go down nice and easy, so the next thing you know you’re a BIG kid with a bloated belly and a chocolate pumpkin muffin top in your jeans.
When it comes to food, and everything else in life, mindset is HUGE. We’ve got 12 days until Halloween, which means… EEK…. the candy is already starting to enter the house!! I want you start changing the way you look at and think about food NOW! The temptation is there so I’m not gonna lie and tell you this is going to be easy… however, this doesn’t mean you don’t try or you take a whole week or more off from eating healthy and working out because you don’t have any willpower. TRUST ME… You’re stronger than you think you are! I’m doing 21 Day Fix to help keep me focused as this is the EASIEST time of year to get off track. Here are some tips to help you stay on track….
1. DON’T give out your favorite candy to trick-or-treaters. Seriously, why would you torture yourself like this?? My mom was infamous for doing this though… She would alway buy Milky Ways, and Junior Mints to give out, which are her favorite. Since we lived on a street with only 8 house, and 2 main roads at either end of our street, we didn’t get many trick-or-treaters. Needless to say, my brother and I would always open the candy before Halloween, and my mom would yell at us for opening it and then hide it. We would always find her hiding spots, but there was also alway less candy in the bag then when she hid it.
INSTEAD---- Get a candy you don’t like and doesn't tempt you! In the past I’ve given out snack size bags of pretzel, or cookies, and since I’m gluten free there is no temptation there. My Grammy would hand out raisins!! Trust me, your house isn’t going to get egged or TPed because you didn’t give out the king size candy bars. Kids are getting lots of goodies in their bags.
2. Out of sight out of mind. Again… why are you torturing yourself? Keep the candy bowl hidden! If the devilish dish of goodies is sitting on the kitchen counter or the table by door your mind is saying “Feed me, Seymour!” everytime you walk by or see it! I don’t keep candy in the house, and when I do have chocolate in the house, I keep it next to my Shakeology! Once Halloween is over get the candy out of the house!! Honestly… you don’t need it, and neither do your kids… have the kids keep a few of THEIR favorites and then donate the rest! Take it to a local children's hospital, give it to your spouse to take to work, or you take it to work. When I was teaching the Teacher’s Room was ALWAYS filled with treats after Halloween. There is no reason to feel the need to keep all this candy in house. The only thing it’s going to is undo all the great work you’ve done and make the kids more hyper than they already are! Sugar is as addictive as cocaine! The more you have of it, the more you crave it! You’ve been warned, once you start it's hard to stop!
3. Keep a journal. I’m a HUGE fan of food journals. It’s how I figured out gluten and I aren’t friends. As we enter into the holiday, it’s even more important to be tracking what you’re eating and drinking. Honestly, this time of year it's so easy to not realize what you’re consuming. A taste of this, a bite of that, a glass or 2 of wine, a fall cocktail, the infamous words “You need to try this!”, before you know it you’ve consumed way more than planned. However, when you pay attention to what you’re eating by writing it down, you’re being accountable, staying on track and won’t second guess yourself. As a foodie, I know when I don’t keep track of what I’m eating I have tendency to over do it.
4. Exercise. It's NON-NEGOTIABLE! No matter what, you need to stick to your fitness program. Halloween is on a Saturday, I am going to get up have my tea and do my morning meditation, have a healthy breakfast of poached eggs over avocado, pack an overnight bag, do my workout, have a healthy snack, drink my Shakeology for lunch, have another healthy snack and dinner! I'm going to a Halloween party and will have a few drinks with the friends. Maybe a piece of candy or a few treats, but I’m not going to gorge myself on the festive foods and wreck my day. I'm not starving myself to have extra calories for the evening! The plan works, stick to it! 80/20 means 1 meal not an entire day or week! The key to success... Everything in moderation and don't EVER skip a workout on a cheat day, EVER! KAPEESH!!!
5. Find healthy alternatives. We all have those favorite Halloween treats we love, and the ones which take us back to our childhood. There are PLENTY of healthy options out there to replace some of those treats.
Need a little extra accountability?
Join my Candy Coma Detox Challenge Group to help you rid your body of the Halloween goodies you did eat, add easy, tasty, healthy recipes to your recipe box, and have you feeling and looking fabulous just in time for the the Holiday Season! To reserve a spot complete the application below! There is a limited number of spaces and its first come, first get!
