Everywhere you go, the Halloween candy displays are front and center! For those of us who struggle with our weight, it’s what makes Halloween so darn scary!
Halloween is getting out of control. The fancy-wrapped candy keeps showing up earlier and earlier on the store shelves. That means it’s up-front and in our faces until we finally realize we’re too weak to fight it. Just like we invite the vampires into our homes, we let in the scary candy too!
It’s a total Halloween candyrama!
What does that mean to total, out-of-control candy lovers? It means you could be in for a whole lot of out-of-control candy eating, a whole lot of guilt, maybe more candy-eating and probably followed by a severe self-beat up session.
When the episode is over you aren’t stronger. You’re mad at yourself and fearing the next “eating holiday” that happens to be coming up fast – Thanksgiving! That pretty much predicts that Thanksgiving isn’t going to go well either. If Halloween and Thanksgiving are busts, the holiday season isn’t looking very slenderizing either. Chances are you’ll end up as another holiday weight gain statistic.
Face your Halloween candy fears and be victorious.
You can decide how much candy you want to have and how to fit it into your weight loss food plan and make it happen without losing control. The reality is you “don’t lose control,” you “give away your control.” Change your mindset. You’re not a victim. You’re a victor!
A victory puts you in a good position for future victories. Think of Halloween candy as training for a marathon. Thanksgiving will be another training session, and your training is progressive. Start slow (with Halloween) and build up your skills (with Thanksgiving) and stamina!
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Fear not the candy. It tastes good and it’s okay to enjoy a few pieces!
- Don’t eat it when you’re hungry or pick it up and put it into your mouth just because it’s there.
- Be selective. Choose when you will indulge, preferably for a sweet, little dessert treat after a good meal.
- Pick carefully and eat it slowly so that you get maximum enjoyment from it.
- Change your self-talk. Don’t say to yourself, “I never should have had the first piece because now I can’t stop,” or “I knew I was addicted to candy and I have to finish this bag because I’ve lost control.” Do say (and say it as though you mean it, because you really do mean it, “I ate enough to satisfy me. I’ve had all I want!”
- Have some alternate activities planned if you think you might not be able to resist eating more candy. Toothbrushing, brisk walk, putting the candy wayyyyy out of sight and reach, dancing, singing, etc.
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Feel the strength, power, and control you are building from eating a little candy within the context of your weight loss plan! Celebrate your success and keep practicing because like all skills, the more you practive, the better you get!