Witches’ Brew
Skeletons and candy are my faves. But I don’t like waking up on November 1st feeling weighted down, off kilter and in a fight to get back to baseline or as has happened in the past, letting the reigns stay off because it is “almost Christmas” afterall.
How do you avoid gaining 5-10 pounds between now and JAN 1 2023? It is a classic challenge. I am writing this post for me as much as anyone who might be reading. Staying on the path I want does not come easy. I want the abs and the candy but in my case anyway, I can’t have them both on a regular basis. Fall and Winter. Holiday cheer and short, dark nights, beg for comfort foods and a warm, cozy couch, not a workout and well balanced meal. Sometimes you have to fight tooth and nail to keep going.
What is a person to do? Give in or fight back? Here are a few steps to take to end the year on a high note. Win the battle friends!
Commit. Do not eat a pile of Halloween candy. Refuse. 5 bars eaten in a fell swoop is 500 calories and if you are like me, you will lose count and gobble up 3000 or more calories in candy alone that night. Eat a really good dinner, go to bed early. If going to a friends for an event, bring your own drinks and a stick to the real food, munch on the protein rich sources as much as you can i.e. eat the ribs skip the garlic bread.
Stock the fridge on October 30th with November 1st in mind. Have meals ready for the 1st as you may be too tired from Halloween and the fatigue will cause you to reach for left over candy, preventing a quick return to healthy action. Have a healthy stew, sauce, chili or something along those lines that you like on hand. We want something you can heat and serve up quickly to nourish yourself. Go to bed early.
Sign up for something new for last two months of the year and then see it through. Provided enough people take me up on this suggestion, I’ll be coaching a Ski Fit class at Empower on Friday mornings November 4th to December 23rd. It is a 45 minute circuit style training class focused on improving stamina, strength, power and balance for Winter activities. It will be a good addition to any fitness program a person may already be engaged in. One year, I added a spin class to my regime for 8 weeks. Went without fail and that weekly class of focused, intense cycling, bought me leaner, more fit legs. It was a new hit to the body and it paid dividends. Ski Fit class will do the same for participants. If you want to go for walk in the deep snow, snowshoeing or take ski lessons you will feel prepared! If nothing else, coming to it will ensure a stretch of rainy days doesn’t lead to total inactivity.
I’m in the gym coaching classes as a witch on Halloween night. It will buy me some time away from the candy bowl!
