Tricks aren't really treats!!

5 ways into treating yourself to a healthy holiday -

It can be a trick more than a treat to avoid temptation during the upcoming holidays. One of the best ways to avoid getting into trouble is to take each holiday one at a time. October brings Halloween and with Halloween , candy and temptations difficult for anyone struggling with a healthy lifestyle or not. The common trick we fall for at Halloween is the “small size” candy and the perception that one or two “won’t hurt” finding after a week of picking small pieces we have finished much of the bag we planned for our trick or treat buckets. So what are some ways to avoid being tricked into making less desirable choices?

1) buy the candy on the day of Halloween- many times we think buying  ahead of time will be a good plan, only to find temptation and an empty bag of candy

2) buy your least favorite candy (if you must buy candy) If you love a certain type of chocolate candy buy a tart candy or hard candy instead.

3) give something other than candy- popping up more and more are play-dough in small size gift containers, pretzels, popcorn in small ready-pop bags

4) When children bring home candy - there are two options- take out the few favorites and offer two options with the rest- Some dentist offices are offering cash for candy and children like cash-  send it to a solider overseas, lots of sites are offering ways to ship candy- take it to the local retirement community- everyone loves candy.

5) Throw away candy in the middle of November. If it lingers in the drawer or pantry it only becomes a greater threat.

Holidays come every year and each year instead of enjoying them we worry about the set backs with eating too much sugar or not being able to say no to the temptations. However, viewing each holiday as an opportunity to form better habits and make better choices you can create and pass on the skills to the next generation of children. As childhood obesity and obesity in America grows holidays can focus more on family and fun and less on food. So don’t be tricked this holiday and monitor the treats and you can have a successful holiday.

Almost Impossible

Has someone ever told you this? Which word did you focus on the "almost" or the "impossible"?

 Having a walk with a great client we talked about the words her doctor used when talking to her about losing weight-" due to your medical condition- it will be almost impossible to lose weight" she said for a while she didn't try and then when she wanted to try she didn't have the confidence to do it. Today she has lost over 30 lbs and looks completely different. She feels good about herself and is making very important life changes so it will be forever.  Which word have you picked to focus on? I like to work from the almost and never from impossible!!!

Here's more from her story:

As I saw the scales slowly inch up and up until I had topped out at 218lbs, I realized that I had begun to isolate, withdraw from church and friends, and make all kinds of excuses on why I could not lose weight. All it took was for the Dr to say it would be "almost" impossible for me to lose weight because of the meds I was on and type 2 diabetes. I completely missed the word "almost". I had grown out of all my clothes. I could wear my husbands sweats, and most days stayed in lounge clothes because I couldn't fit in my jeans any more. I would offer to keep the grandchildren overnight on the weekends so I would have an excuse not to go to church and face people that had watched me get bigger. All of my Sunday clothes were tight! I felt ugly and sloppy. I could not look at myself in the mirror because of how fat my face looked. I couldn't get enough bangs to hide my face! My blood sugar was out of control because I was cycling with sweets and carbs. I would not undress in front of my husband because in my mind I knew I was not a pretty site, even tho he had NEVER said that. I looked at myself in the mirror that was on the closet door, and saw all the dimples and bulges in my legs and thighs, and I just kept eating the wrong foods! My diabetic Dr wrote a note after one of our office visits and said, "If Mrs Allen would only eat right, she could cure her diabetes". When I read this, it was like a stab in my gut because it was as if he had given up on me, but I had given up on myself. I thought I was ready to commit to a healthy way of eating, but at the first stressful situation, I would relapse into old habits. I was desperate in February because I had lost all hope of ever losing weight. My liver Dr  had said that if I don't lose the weight I will have to have a liver transplant. The feelings of guilt were taking over that I was failing my family and friends and myself by not being committed. A friend told me about The Telephone Fitness Trainer and how she had helped him. I had started feeling that I could not do it by myself any longer and reached out for help. I wondered if she could actually help me but went ahead, took a deep breath and wrote that e-mail with all my "stuff" going on and I was so thankful when I saw those words "Call Me!"!! The next 8 months have changed and saved my life! Thank you for having me look back at where I have come from becasue I never want to go back to that feeling of hopeless and helplessness, isolating and withdrawn and miserably unhappy!

What you may not know!!!

I love what I do. I am sure that is no surprise, at least I hope it's not. I am so blessed to wake up everyday and think that "today- I get to help someone have a better, more successful day" I stumbled into this position in life because I couldn't find work when my husband and I were living in Germany. I didn't know it would be my passion and I didn't know a dead end in one place would lead to a yellow brick road in another. I have for the past seventeen years of this life- giggled that in my soul laid this deep desire to help people be stronger and live life well. I never looked back at the B.S. in Law Enforcement - the M.A. in Human Resources and wondered if I waisted time, but I am so relieved I never gave up on my dreams. I didn't know fitness and my position in it would lead to so much success. I don't know if you know this either but fitness is a little like being a teacher - it won't make you rich - but the payoff is the purpose that drives the spirit. What you may not know is there are a few things I don't like- It's hard---- -Watching people lose years and give in to the temporary fix that leads them right back to the same place- I see so many lose love, profession and protection of self esteem over food, isolation and an unwillingness to do some very hard work. I watch marriages fall apart, lives lived broken and the sad faces of some very lonely people who need a strength that can be introduced by having the will to be well. I talk to people over and over and think "do they know  what wonderful things lie inside them? do they know this flesh hides more than their love of self but their sole's purpose?" Today more than ever it's struggle and I think it might be easier to get into real estate with my family make a lot of money or do something less meaningful but more consistent and the truth remains when you love what you do - it picks you. I hope you'll consider sending this on. I can help and would love to help but I am only seeking those who are ready to do the hard work, find the right place to go and do it for the right reasons. Those unwilling, unmotivated need not apply this work I do is n