Halloween

candy is such a temptation for me. I love everything about it except that it makes me more hungry, triggers cravings and hunger, messes with my head and moves the scale in the wrong direction. Lol. Sounds like a bad boyfriend. I can tolerate small amounts post surgery but my goal is full abstinence this year. What do others do to avoid temptations during the food holidays?

I know what you mean. I was at Walmart yesterday talking to myself as I passed the Halloween aisles. People must have thought I was crazy as I was saying, "OMG, chips, not chips! No, not chocolate! Caramels, OMG, caramels! Not caramels!"

I have berries with whipped cream if I'm craving something sweet, or a Quest protein bar if I've skipped a meal and need to up my calories and protein, and it satisfies my sweet tooth. I tried the Atkins sugar free chocolate covered peanuts once and they were just OK, not great (to me).

If I'm craving chocolate I'll have a chocolate protein shake, or else make a hot cocoa using Fry's and a tbsp of chocolate espresso skinny syrup. I also use the flavored skinny syrups in my coffee. Winners is the only place I can find them and they go fast. I wish more places in town carried them.

Every time I'm at a check out counter, I pick up a Kitkat, read the stats, and put it down again. Every time, lol. Mangos and pears are too sweet for me to even eat half of them, so I'm assuming the sugar content in a Kitkat would make me sick, but man, do I miss them. I buy a pack of sugar free gum instead. I really like the cinnamon flavor, and it's a real treat. I also like the constant chewing, lol. I can't chew too many though, or they send me running to find a washroom.

In the evenings, I crochet or stitch plastic canvas or do jigsaw puzzles as I watch netflix...it keeps my hands busy and my mind occupied.

Are you able to eat gum? I thought that was one of those lifetime ban items?

I asked about that and was told as long as I don't swallow the gum, it will be fine to chew sugar free gum. I chew gum about once a week and have no problem as long as I don't chew too many pieces...just 2-4 pieces and I'm fine but more that that and it acts like a laxative, lol.

I had also heard gum was banned, but at my one month f/u recently at TWH, the dietitian told us sugar free gum was a-ok. :)

You are so right about reading the nut value. I've done the exact same thing! Makes me put it right back on the shelf. I love my gum too. Never had a problem with it.

Luckily my cravings have changed to savory since surgery. What we do in the house is to store it high. The husband is a giant and I am barely 5' so it works out well for us.

I buy it the day of and ask my neighbour to hand it out and then go for dinner. Way too easy to justify a small bar. One leads to two then 5! I love chocolate so cant have it around. Well I should clarify my bf takes a snickers every day to work but I would never eat a full size one so I'm good. Small one? Bring them on lol.

I just dream about giant gummy bears... I miss candy ... sours, jelly bellies, gummies, red lace licorice and gum drops..,they actually have 5lb gummy bears. :(

Whatever you do, don't buy it or don't bring it in the house. You might be like me and convince myself at the store that this is for the kids, for the trick-treaters, for guests etc.

I have yet to buy any halloween treats yet (chocolate and chips are my downfall) and I plan to purchase them on October 31st, leave them in the trunk of my car until the evening. Leftovers will go back in my trunk and I will pass them onto my colleagues and students. This is the plan!!!!

Good luck.