Holiday Tips & Treats That Wont Play Tricks On Your Waistline

Halloween ? so starts the Holiday Season. The average American gains 7-12 pounds between Halloween and New Year's . The next series of articles will help you ensure that you won't be among them. First, Halloween. As Halloween rears it's head, so does the plethora of wonderful smelling chocolates and other treats that tempt us as we walk through the aisles of our favorite stores. I will cover some tips, tricks and nutrition information for many of the popular candies to help you make the best choices . The moral is - if you can count it and limit it to a single serving , you can work it into your food plan and enjoy the Holiday festivities without sacrificing your fitness goals.

1. Keep your goals firmly planted in your mind. We all get "caught up" from time to time. While in "the moment", it is quite easy to lose sight of your ultimate vision and why you began your fitness or nutrition program in the first place. I always spend time, prior to the beginning of the Holiday season, reinforcing our client's "Why's". How will your life be better when you are living at your goal weight? What will you be wearing? How will you be feeling? Where will you feel more confident or energetic? How will your weight loss benefit your family? How are you feeling in your current condition? Why the heck do you want to lose this weight anyway? I suggest that people make a "why card" and keep it visible for those times when the going gets tough. You can also pick out a favorite outfit which no longer fits , find a picture of an outfit that you would love to be able to wear, find a picture of yourself or someone else that represents your goal or find a "before" picture that represents something that you never want to go back to. Keep them handy for a constant reminder of why you do want to make the choices that will lead you to your goal .

2. Keep an eye on serving sizes and portions ? Any food (even not so healthy ones) can be worked into your food plan, it's just a matter of awareness and balance. Many people label foods "good" or bad. In reality, it is all about portions and serving sizes.

3. Make a plan - If you are like most people, you grab a "treat" or two every time you walk past the bowl. This can add up to hundreds of calories before you know it. Plan ahead and count a few treats into your food plan ahead of time. Count them out in advance and place them in a separate bowl or dish. This will keep you from feeling "deprived" and still allow you to stay on track towards your goals.

4. Avoid the "All or nothing" mentality. Let's face it, no one's perfect. Chances are, there will be a time or two when you go overboard. Don't let this lead into an "I already blew it" binge that lasts until January 1st. No one or two days is going to make or break your fat loss efforts. The key is to get right back on track the next day and consider adding some extra cardio in to work off the extra calories.

5. What is in YOUR candy bowl ? This can make a significant difference in how you manage your weight throughout the Holiday. Be aware, however, that "healthier" does not necessarily mean "fewer calories" , that "low fat" does not mean that you can eat twice as much, and that "lo carb" usually means more calories.

6. Choose candy you don't like: You will be less apt to eat out of habit and "take a piece or two" if you are not surrounded by your favorites

7. Choose alternatives to candy: Give out dried fruits, nuts, raisins, cheese and cracker packets, pretzels, popcorn , or fruit roll-ups for a more healthful "treats"

8. Choose low-calorie treats: Things like Licorice, popcorn, gummy bears, mints and marshmallows are all lower calorie alternatives

9. Choose small portions: Buy fun-sized chocolates instead of their full sized counterparts. Don't forget to count out in advance your allotted servings for the day.

10. Choose non-food alternatives: You can still enjoy the holiday festivities and keep the trick or treaters happy. Many stores and holiday shops carry a multitude of Halloween miniature toys, cars, glow-in-the-dark necklaces and other fun little goodies.

11. Be informed and prepared: Many people see the holidays as a time where nutrition labels don't matter because all "treats" are bad. During this time of year it is even more important to look at and compare nutrition labels and to be aware of SERVING SIZES. This will allow you to enjoy the holidays without sabotaging your weight loss efforts. Here is some nutrition information for you to consider. Nutrition information may vary from company to company and may vary from this list, please check your individual food labels.

FOOD SERVING SIZE CAL CARBS FAT Fun Sized StarBurst 1 pkg 40 8 1 Marshmallows ½ c 45 12 0 Fruit rollups 1 roll 50 12 0 Junior Mints 1 sml box 55 12 1 Raisins 2 tsp 60 14 0 Fun Sized 3 Musketeers 1 bar 70 12 2.5 Fun Sized Milky Way 1 bar 90 14 3.5 Hershey's Kisses 4 100 12 6 Fun Sized Butter Finger 1 bar 100 15 4 Fun Sized Kit Kat 1 bar 100 12 5 Pretzels 22 pieces 110 22 2 Dried Apricots ¼ c 130 30 0 Fun Sized baby Ruth 1 bar 130 17 7 Goldfish 55 pieces 150 25 5 Nuts ¼ c 160 6 15 Cheese & Crackers 1 Pkg 220 44 5 M & M's 1 sml bag 220 50 5

About The Author

Article written by Dianne Villano, President of Custom Bodies Personal Training and Weight Loss Programs. Dianne is a personal fitness instructor certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine with over 16 years of experience who specializes in weight loss programs and programs for beginners. For more articles or free fitness tools visit www.custombodiestampabay.com.

---

Making the Holidays More Meaningful

Have the holidays become too commercial for you? Are you... Read More

Low On Cash For Christmas? Try Gifts in a Jar

Time is money, and right now you don't have either... Read More

Memorial Day Flowers

Monday, May 30th is Memorial Day. Your local florist can... Read More

10 Steps to a Relaxing Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! Family, friends, good food ?... Read More

Are You Going To Survive The Holidays?

Admit it! You promised this year was not going to... Read More

15 Ways to Create Some Extra Holiday Money

Originally this was going to be a list for my... Read More

A Mothers Keepsake

A mother's bracelet is a personalized bracelet that celebrates the... Read More

The Origins of Mothers Day

Most people mistakenly believe that Mother's Day is an invention... Read More

7 Tips on Giving Chocolates to Your Valentine

Every year millions of people exchange chocolates on February 14th... Read More

New Years Resolutions

Ah, the start of another year! In a groggy haze... Read More

Spend More Time With Your Family This Holiday Season: Host A Caroling Party

Too often we forgo entertaining because of the mere thought... Read More

The Holiday Army

Here it comes again - the Holiday Army - in... Read More

7 Tips For Defusing Holiday Stress

KNOW THYSELFThe first key to creating a peaceful holiday season... Read More

Tropical Christmas

I can recall from my days in England, watching television... Read More

Saint Nick to Santa, the MOST extreme makeover?

It's the holiday season, and the first thing that comes... Read More

Christmas Matters

Every year I vow to make Christmas easier, simpler -... Read More

Easy Gift Ideas For Dad On Fathers Day

Father's Day is just around the corner. If you're looking... Read More

Home For The Holidays: Heirloom Stories Are A Perfect Gift

Selecting the right gift for a special someone is sometimes... Read More

Ideas For Toddler Halloween Costumes

Depending on the age of your little ones, you may... Read More

Holiday Survival Guide

The Holiday season has officially begun and Christmas is almost... Read More

Home Made Gifts, The Best Way To Teach Your Kids The Value Of The Holiday

To a large extent the holidays have come to be... Read More

Choosing Childrens Birthday Party Supplies and Decorations

Birthday party supplies and decorations can bring that necessary magic... Read More

Unique Gift Ideas for the 21st Century

As a personal growth specialist, I like to think I'm... Read More

Keeping Christmas Spirit Alive: Christmas Just Isn?t The Same Without Santa Claus!

Holidays may come and go but some holidays, like Christmas,... Read More

What to Do When You Are Alone for the Holidays

Being alone for the holidays is a major challenge for... Read More

Country Christmas Idea: Milkweek Pod Poinsettia Ornaments

Country Christmas Idea: Milkweed Pod Poinsettia OrnamentsAt first glance, milkweed... Read More

Tips For Singles on Surviving (And Enjoying) The Holidays

Here you are, facing the holiday season alone. Have you... Read More

Easter Flowers

Easter is Sunday, March 27th! Don't forget the flowers! Your... Read More

Taking Back Christmas

John Grisham wrote a book called SKIPPING CHRISTMAS. Amazon.com reports:... Read More

Ultimate Army Themed Games & Activities for Your Childs Birthday Party

Are you looking for the Ultimate Army Themed Party Games... Read More

Nicely Designed Pillows As Gifts

Many of us are probably squeezing out our brains to... Read More

Perfect Presents for Mom

Every year we search our brains for a unique, exciting... Read More

Birthday Journals

Last year, as I turned 50, (FIVE-OOOH!!!), I decided to... Read More