Happy Thursday and Happy Halloween! In my past, Halloween was the beginning of an all-out food fest that didn't end until I was in a sugar-induced stupor on January 2. Between Halloween and New Year's, it wasn't unusual for me to pick up at least 10 pounds - yikes!
I have a terrible sweet tooth that I inherited from my dad (he's the only person I know who will put PB&J on his grilled cheese sandwiches, and I've seen him put it on hamburgers once or twice). When my children were young, I would sort through their trick-or-treat bags and take out all of the "yucky" candy bars (I know, I'm bad . . . the kids eventually figured out what I was doing and I was busted).
Six years ago, being on 5&1 and staying on plan meant keeping my hands out of my grandchildren's trick or treat bags (a sugar-aholic is shameless . . . ), but it wasn't easy. Halloween was the first big test of my commitment to stay on plan, so I approached the day with a bit of trepidation. When the moment finally arrived and I stared down all that candy, I realized that once I started eating it I probably wouldn't be able to stop, and I knew that once I DID stop, I'd feel awful - physically and mentally. That was one of the first times on plan that I can remember sensing a serious threat looming to my weight loss journey, and my response was to think ahead and not get caught up in the moment.
I'm writing about this now because I'm guessing that some of you will be facing down a lot of candy and chocolate today. I'm encouraging you to anticipate the temptations and decide what you're going to do and how you're going to respond.
Planning ahead is critical on this plan. So many of us are impulsive eaters, and I know that there were many times when I found myself eating almost before I realized it. That was always followed by regret, but it was too late to undo what had been done. When we take the time to anticipate temptation and plan how we're going to respond, we're more likely to be successful.
Eating my Medifast meals on time was key to keeping me on plan, even when faced with some of my favorite sweets. Because I was eating my meals at regular intervals, my blood sugar stayed stable and my cravings didn't get out of hand. Because I wasn't hungry, it was much easier to walk away. Keeping a crunch bar handy can also be helpful if the craving continues - they really satisfy my sweet tooth!
The most important thing you can do ahead of time is to spend some time thinking about what you really want. When you're not facing a temptation, it's much easier to focus on what you really want (and what you REALLY want isn't the Halloween candy . . . ). Get a clear picture in your mind now of what you want - think about how you'll look and feel at your goal. If you get that picture in your mind, you'll be in a better position to make choices that will support your goal.
Getting through this sugar-infused day will position you for success as we move closer to those OTHER holidays! It's all about making choices to support what we really want. Choose wisely :-)
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