I love Halloween. To me, it starts of the busiest time of the year with some fun! It is a time you can become someone or something else for a day! It is a time to be silly and just let loose. My kids are still young, but no so young that Halloween is a headache. We are having a blast getting the costumes ready, deciding whose coming over to go out with us and how will we EVER eat that much candy!! Oh yeah, there's candy involved........... For some people, that can be a real stresser OR it can be the PERFECT excuse to go off your plan for the next 2 months.

Here's what happened to me last weekend and I'll add my advice to follow. Last weekend my husband and I were at our weekly  couples Bible Study group through our amazing church.
We rotate houses and food etc each week. This particular friend had out a large bowl of Candy Corns. Candy Corns are my absolute weakness. I LOVE THEM!! BUT, I CAN'T buy them because I can't (or won't) stop eating them. I'm sure you can guess what happened. I had so many, I couldn't sleep that night   I talked with my friend the next day and I said "Why didn't you stop me?" He said "Sandy, it was so much fun watching you eat that entire bowl, none of us wanted to." and he proceeded to laugh hysterically.

So what do you do on Halloween as well as the rest of the holidays? First, you want to allow yourself some variances in your program. Don't beat yourself up if you completely blow it. It happens, just move on. Second, get a reliable friend (not like mine , who can help to keep you on track when you are faced with those situations, Third, get a workout partner, commit to a class at your gym, or sign up for a Turkey Trott so you'll have to keep training. Lastly, Plan, Plan, Plan!!!!!  If you know that you go out to eat more during this time of year or will be attending lots of parties, get menus ahead of time and plan out what you'll enjoy without feeling too guilty or getting out of control.

The looming holidays can be daunting. Try to remember that they are not really about the food as it is about taking time to spend with your family and re-connect with friends. Enjoy this special time.