Halloween

[Sateri]

How do you resist all the candy and junk that pops up everywhere around Halloween? I live at home (I'm 17), and my parents bought bags and bags of candy, which are disappearing at a terribly fast rate, largely because of yours truly. :-\

Generally we don't have many sweets around my house, so it's been relatively easy to watch what I eat, but now it's so accessible. Not only that, but I've always loved sweets in the past, and my parents expect - even encourage - me to eat it. Same with my friends. Any tips on how to resist the temptation? Or should I just give in and restart my weight loss thing after Halloween is over?

[orangina]

I am so sad to read your parents encourage your consumption of sweets. Are you sure about this?

Here is my tip. Since you love sweets buy yourself a real high quality chocolate bar..like 70% cocoa. Lindt makes one.
When you eat a bit of that it doesnt send you running back for more.
When you eat low quality sugary chocolate you want more.
If you start to eat the low quality stuff grab some protein like an egg so you can get back in control

I DEFINATELY WOULD NOT say oh what the heck I will get back on track after Halloween and give in. NO NO NO..that sugar will just set you up to want more.
AND you can feel good about yourself by staying on a healthy path or miserable eating sugar and drowing in junkola.
NOT to mention the fact that you can gain weight REALLY fast eating lots of junk and set yourself up to want more junk.

I woud ask my parents to remove the candy from my sight and tell them in future to not buy the type you like.
I love chocolate so I always buy lollipops to pass out at Halloween as I dont care for them.

I think you also need to sit down and chat with your parents..about your feelings. They need to help you meet your goals.

Ultimately you are responsible for what goes in your mouth ..so choose wisely and set your environment for success.

[julie]

This is my first time posting, so hi everybody...

I usually find that putting candy up in the highest kitchen cupboard is the way to go. If I want some candy, I have to go get a chair, climb up and take it out. I only take out one or two pieces at a time. That way, you'll think twice before going back for more. See if your parents wouldn't agree to something like that...

[Sateri]

My parents are strange ... one minute they're praising me for losing weight, the next they're encouraging me to eat more sweets so that THEY don't eat them instead and gain weight. Besides, in the past I've always overdone it with sweets, and they're sad about me growing up (I'm off to college next fall), and me overeating on the sweets somehow makes them feel like I haven't really changed and I'm still their darling girl. :: sigh :: Don't know if that makes any sense. But I don't think they really want me to lose weight for that reason. But my doctor said I should, and I want to, so I'm going to try, whether my parents like it or not.

I definitely see what you mean about gaining weight fast. In the last few days (since the candy showed up), I've already gained back 2 or 3 pounds of what I lost. Very discouraging. My stomach doesn't feel the greatest, either. Ugh.

But I'll do what I can now and cut back. Thanks for the suggestions, both of you.

[abrannan]

It can be really hard to lose weight in a household that isn't fully supportive, whether it's parents, kids, a spouse, roomates, whatever. The thing to remember is that you are in control of your own life. You make the decision to eat the candy, you make the decision to not eat the candy. Halloween is only a week away. You have the willpower to resist the candy for a week. After Halloween, you have no reason to keep candy around, so get rid of it. If it helps, whenever you want to eat a piece of candy, go get one. Hold it in your hands, and think about how you want to look, and how good you'll feel when you lose weight. Then, unwrap the candy and destroy it. Make it inedible, and then throw it away. Congratulations, you've just "had" a piece of candy. Satisfying isn't it?

[Sateri]

::evil laugh:: Indeed it is (satisfying). Did that with a Reese's earlier today. ;D

Thanks. I may get used to this. Kind of sad, how fun it is ...

[Sheeblars]

The thing that seems to work best for me is eating lots of low calorie fruits and/or vegetables or drinking a big glass of water before I think Im going to end up binging. It wont stop me from eating candy but it does significantly lower the amount i will eat. You may want to try that.

Be careful not to make yourself sick though. I ate a big thing of carrots and peas one time and I didnt feel very good afterwards =p Just eat like an apple or some stalks of celery if you feel the craving for candy. That way if you DO eat candy you'll be able to stuff yourself less with bad stuff.

[SSC]

How to resist candy? Simple. Go and play DDR. Or to a friends', to the gym, anything but thinking about candy. It's all in your head.

[sly rax]

Yeah, same with me. When I am busy, I have to remember to even eat my regular meals, let alone snacks!

[abrannan]

Sateri said:

Kind of sad, how fun it is ...

It's not that sad. Eating is a multi-sensory experience. Particularly with candy. Everyone has a ritual they undergo with different candies. For many people, that's what they crave about candy. The experience. All you need to do is alter one step of the ritual, and you still have a very satisfying experience.

What you need to do is find and create similar rituals and experiences with healthy food. The peeling of an orange, the slicing of an apple, shelling walnuts, they all can be just as satisfying and sensual as candy.

[Sateri]

What if your parents are incredibly annoying and refuse to go to the grocery store because they hate going, so you don't HAVE any fruits and vegetables for weeks at a time? Honestly ... my dad went to the store earlier, while I was asleep, and brought back dinner.

Onion rings, hamburgers, and chicken pot pies. Plus MORE candy. (I haven't, however, eaten any. And I ate the pot pie, which was the healthiest choice I had.)

I've told them I'm trying really hard to eat healthy, but they don't seem to care. ... Sigh. Well, I'll do what I can. Play DDR twice as much or something I guess.

It'll be so nice when I'm in college next year and actually have some say into what food is around. If I had it my way, I'd throw out all the candy and greasy fast food.

Thanks for the tips, though. Somehow I'm still managing to lose weight ... even if incredibly slowly.

[abrannan]

Sateri said:

What if your parents are incredibly annoying and refuse to go to the grocery store because they hate going, so you don't HAVE any fruits and vegetables for weeks at a time? Honestly ... my dad went to the store earlier, while I was asleep, and brought back dinner.

Volunteer to go to the grocery store for them. Or just go yourself. Cut a deal with a neighbor, yardwork for veggies. In the spring, plant a garden. You aren't entirely at your parent's mercy.

[orangina]

Are your parents overweight?

Perhaps if you gave them a list it would help or like A. says go yourself.

[Sateri]

::nods:: Wish I could drive. It'd make the shopping so much easier. I don't mind doing it--I just don't know how to get there and get home with bags of food.

And yes, my parents are overweight. My mom's quite a bit overweight, and my dad is a little. At least he's tried to diet, and it has worked somewhat--but he keeps going back to junk food.

Thanks for the suggestions, though. And I'm sorry for going on that slight rant. I was just kind of frustrated that day, and annoyed from quite a few things. Sorry if I sounded rude or whiny.

Everything's good now though. I ordered DDR Max, and just got it yesterday ;D so I've been playing it tons. w00t! I think I like it more than DDR Max 2, actually.

[Laura Moncur]

Ask your parents to buy frozen fruits and vegetables. I find that they last longer than fresh fruit, so if they only shop once every three weeks, you should have enough to last you the duration.

With the frozen fruit, I like to make smoothies in the blender. One cup of skim milk and a cup of frozen fruit. They come out thick and yummy (if they are berries, you might want to add a packet or two of Splenda to cut the tartness). That smoothie counts as one dairy and two fruits.

With the frozen veggies, it's easiest to just put a half cup of them in a bowl with a little bit of water and microwave them for about a minute or so. I use spray butter and salt on them to season them up a little bit.

Abrannan is right. YOU CONTROL YOUR LIFE. There are always options.