Halloween may be looking a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean the candy and treats go away! My kids are beyond excited to Trick or Treat in the neighborhood. Plus, Landon has already arranged a sleepover with his buddies from school. Sooo I’m pretty sure our house will be filled with lots of treats on Halloween.
What I have learned over the years of being in the health and fitness industry is that you don’t have to over indulge during a holiday weekend. You can find a pretty healthy balance. Awareness is the biggest key to transformation. I want you to enjoy a fun holiday but I also still want you to rock those skinny jeans and feel your best.
Let’s talk about a few things that can easily derail you on your health and fitness journey.
MINI CANDY BARS: You might think to yourself that those mini candy bars are a good idea because they are portion sized but then you also think to yourself that you can have more than 1 because they are bite-sized! Before you know it you have taken down half the candy bowl and you are feeling pretty defeated!
Can I challenge you to change your thinking about those bite sized morsels?
I know, I know… a holiday week is challenging. You have to dig down and find will power and stay focused on your goals.
I get it, its hard when everyone else around you is pressuring you to eat the food and drink the drinks.
But what do you really want? What makes you feel empowered and in control?
It’s all about changing your mindset. Mindset is everything.
Here are some of my top tips:
1. Don’t get your favorite candy to hand out on Halloween. Honestly, it’s like a death sentence. Why on earth would you torture yourself by getting your favorite candy, putting it in a bowl, and starring at it maybe even drooling as people slowly take your favorites! I will almost put money on it that by the end of the night you have stashed a few pieces away in your pocket bc you feel like you deserve it!
INSTEAD—- Get a candy that is not your favorite and doesn’t tempt you! In the past, we have gotten the large boxes of pretzels to hand out and there is no temptation there. Trust me, you are not doing a disservice to other kids. They are getting plenty of goodies in their treat bags. There will be no almond joys and Reese’s peanut butter cups in my house!
2. Exercise. So its important that no matter what you stick to your fitness program. So Saturday is Halloween, I am going to get up do my workout, drink my Shakeology for breakfast, have 2 healthy snacks, a healthy lunch, and dinner! I’m going to trick or treat and have a few drinks with the neighbors. Maybe a piece of candy or an appetizer but I’m not throwing all caution to the wind for the entire day. I’m not starving myself to have extra calories for the evening! Stick to the plan. It’s 1 meal not an entire day or week! This is the key to success. Everything in moderation and don’t skip a workout on a cheat day! DEAL!!!
3. Keep a journal. It’s really really important that as you move into the holidays that you have a great way of tracking your daily food intake. Honestly, it’s so easy to not realize what you are eating. You take 1 little bite here and 1 little bite there and before you know it you have had way more than you ever expected. But when you have to write it down and be accountable to that it makes you second guess that decision! I know for me, that was the defining moment in my weight loss. I was self-sabotaging myself and not even realizing it.
4. Out of sight out of mind. So don’t keep a candy dish in the kitchen or on the end table. It’s screaming eat me mindlessly as you walk by! We have a candy container that is in the pantry closet and its up pretty high so that you have to go out of your way to get to it. My kids very often forget that there is even candy in there. It’s not readily accessible so they are not constantly sugared-up either! Once Halloween is over you can keep a few pieces and then donate your candy, send it with your spouse to work! There is no reason to feel the need to eat all that candy. It’s just going to undo all the great work you have been doing for yourself. Candy is literally like crack, the more you have it the more you crave it! Sugar is very very addictive! So beware, once you start its hard to stop!
5. Find healthy alternatives. So you have some favorite Halloween treats you love to eat. Find a few better options to replace some of those not so healthy options!
Here are a few of my fave healthy alternatives to get me through wanting all the Halloween candy!
For me, Shakeology is always my sweet treat replacement!
* My Pumpkin Spice Shakeology *
No bake chocolate peanut butter balls are great for something rich
The chocolate pumpkin granola bars are a great snack idea
It’s all about finding a replacement— you can have the best of both worlds!!!
Black bean brownies- No one even knows its beans!
If you want to change you are going to have to give up a little to get a lot of good!
Want an extra level of accountability?
Join my Halloween Candy Detox Challenge Group to help you get focused after Halloween and make it to Thanksgiving with a whole new box of tools to use!