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We're trying to decide what to do for Thanksgiving. We don't have an extended large family so it is the four of us. I'm NO Martha Stewart and we've done different things in the past for Thanksgiving. We've went over to friends' houses, cooked at our home, went out to a restaurant and even went to a caterer to bring in a few items.

I can't decide what to do for this year. We only have four people so there will be leftovers which are nice yet can be problematic having food hang around. I want my children to have wonderful Thanksgiving memories. As a child, I had a large extended family with the long tables and the "kids' table" where the little kids sat.

In thinking about all of this I decided to take my own coaching. It isn't about the food, it is about family. What we eat, what we cook or don't cook isn't what matters. It is the memories and time we have together as a family. The family time on the day of Thanksgiving is what matters.

I don't know if I'll cook or go to a restaurant. What does matter is that we are all together.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator

I don't like New Year's resolutions. It is as though when we create resolutions for ourselves, it is a set up for failure. I can't tell you how many resolutions have sputtered out and become a memory within a week after the magic January 1st date.

I have made a promise to myself though starting NOW. It won't take effect until mid-February but I've made the decision now. I am way too overly committed. I'm taking two classes, I'm co-instructing two more classes along with coaching clients, my full-time plus job with OH, family, friends and somewhere in there "me" time.

I LOVE coaching. I love taking coaching classes for my own personal development and to be the best coach that I can be. I've taken up to seven classes a week for the past year and a half and I need to slow down and enjoy some down time. I still love my classes but I need to take a little breather.

I listened to myself and while my coaching classes have become a hobby for my own personal development which are so rewarding and fun. Even the best of something needs balance.

Moderation and balance apply to food choices and also our time. Funny thing is that now that I've made the decision to take a break and some down time, I don't feel quite so overwhelmed.

Now, I'll enjoy each of my classes without feeling so overwhelmed and look forward to the balance that is ahead. Good things happen when you check inside and find the answers that are within each of us.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator

How about a roll call, so that we can all see whos here.....

Hi! I am Crece from Georgia. I go by *Georgia Girl* on the boards. Holla back to play.

Edited because I still can't spell...

Here we are - Halloween! Have you ever purchased your Halloween candy and the bags are empty by October 31? Have you raided your kids' bags of candy after they've gone to bed? You can have your own set of tricks to avoid the buffet of Halloween treats. Develop your own bag of WLS tricks for a lifetime of long-lasting treats.

PLAN OF WLS TRICKS:

1. What are some of your favorite candies? Those are the ones that you don't buy. When you purchase your Halloween candy, select the ones that are not your favorites. Get candies that are not triggers for you. Another option is to purchase sugar free gum.

2. Procrastination can be a great tool when it comes to Halloween candy. Purchase your candy on October 31st so it isn't available until the evening kids are ringing your doorbell.

3. Would you like to avoid the issue of gum or candy entirely? Give small toys, stickers, mini boxes of raisins, fruit roll ups, mini juice boxes, or cracker and cheese packs. Halloween doesn't have to be a free for all of the consumption of sugar and fat.

4. Get rolls of coins and give coins as treats.

5. Host your own form of Halloween trick-or-treating by having a party. Rather than chance the introduction of sugary treats in your house, invite your own trick-or-treat guests to partake of healthy party treats that you provide.

6. Get in some extra steps of exercise by taking the kids out for trick-or-treating. Enjoy the excitement and fun that kids have going from house to house.

7. In years past, has your tradition been to raid the kids' trick-or-treat bags after the kids have gone to bed? Solve that problem by allowing the kids to select their favorite candy and giving away the rest of their stash. If necessary, put the kids' treat bags in the trunk of your car!

8. Do you want to avoid waking up the day after Halloween to bags full of candy? Package up the candy to take to work for co-workers to enjoy or drop off in the teachers' workroom at the kids' school.

9. Set a date for a Halloween candy-free zone for your home. Store the candy in a airtight container that you put out of sight...out of mind....and do not enter! You could also establish a date from a few days to a week that any Halloween candy will be thrown out. Remember, throwing out excess candy isn't necessarily considered waste since it isn't put on your waist.

10. Are the Halloween treats too much to navigate? A treat for you might be to eliminate the problem by going out. Go out to a nice healthy dinner and a movie.

11. Put the freeze on candy. Place candy in airtight bags and store in the freezer. Allow the kids to take out servings directly from the freezer to enjoy. This strategy can minimize consuming multiple servings.

12. Don't deprive yourself. Indulging in candy is depriving yourself of weight loss and maintaining your health. Don't practice deprivation of your healthy lifestyle in exchange for digging into bags of Halloween candy. It truly isn't worth it!

13. Do not fool yourself that those little candy bars don't count. They do! Let's count what is in those little sugar and fat, calorie-laden bombs. Keep in mind that all these calories add up to virtually nothing nutritionally, and mostly sugar and fat:

Butterfinger (1 snack size): 100 calories

Milky Way (1 snack size): 90 calories

Almond Joy (1 snack size): 90 calories

Three Musketeers (2 fun size): 140 calories

Hershey Kisses (quantity of 8): 190 calories

Hershey Almond bar (1 snack size): 100 calories

M&M (plain, fun size 1 pack): 100 calories

Snickers (1 fun size): 85 calories

Whoppers (1 snack size): 100 calories

Kit Kat (1 snack size): 120 calories

Halloween can be a preview of coming attractions - the holidays of November and December. Start your holiday season off healthfully. Create the precedent for the holidays by making healthy choices and habits starting with Halloween. Kick off your holidays with Halloween treats of healthy choices by following your own set of WLS tricks.

Have a Happy Healthy Halloween!

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach

Certified Back On Track Facilitator

This is a very interesting link from the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, Allied Health Sciences Section Ad Hoc Nutrition Committee. It is a good resource for information for any weight loss surgery patient.

http://www.asbs.org/Newsite07/resources/bgs_final.pdf

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator