BOO’er Mail. The Fright Night edition.

by

Miz, I know you were joking when you said that part about halloween candy and fright in your poem, but I am afraid!! Every year I actually do ok until the night of halloween and then I almost eat as much candy as I pass out. HELP ME. What do you do!?

Ahhh. Halloween.

And, because I know you dont come here for the try knitting, drawing, or any other activity which keeps your hands occupied so you cant snack! type of suggestions Im gonna level with you.

My suggestion? Indulge.

Let me back up first (& give you an Ive so been there, Sister story).

Once upon a time MizFit was working to lose some weight.

Whilst hammering out a tween manuscript she’d gained what she referred to as the Writer’s Fifteen Twenty and, much to her dismay, nothing fit over her newly acquired saddlebags.

(In a rant for a different day Ill share how the aforementioned ‘bags were the result of ‘healthy’ foods. Pretzels, popcorn etc. My first real introduction into the cold hard world of portion control.)

She decided to eat very very clean. Always. For the ever foreseeable future and, when the s-bags were gone, perhaps she would add in a treat day.

Maybe.

And then Halloween arrived.

Miz was awesome in that she purchased bags of candy & ripped into not a one before 10.31.

But then, after the first goblins & ballerinas arrived on her doorstep, it grew ugly.

U-G-L-Y.

In a one for you, tiny girl dressed as a witch and three for MizFit kind of way. This was also the night she learned that dogs shouldnt have chocolate and felt HORRIBLE even though the dog seemed no worse for wear. who knew? obviously not MizFit.

Sugar high. Sugar crash. Woke up the next morning feeling bloatedcrappyterrible (the technical term).

My point here is nothing new (we’ve all been there, huh?) but it’s the years after, when I applied my lesson learned, that makes me almost urge you to do some planned indulging.

Everything with fitness/health, in my opinion, is about setting ourselves up for success & living in a fashion you can maintain for the long haul.

Which brings me every circuitously back to my suggestion of indulging (because our emailer did inquire as to what *I* do, right?).

Now, I plan in my transgressions.

I know that I enjoy snacking on candy as I distribute it to the dressed up masses—-so I set myself up for success and *acknowledge* it’s going to happen before hand.

That’s my treat time for the week and it’s one which I thoroughly enjoy because, for me, it has become less about the candy & more about the entire festive experience.

For me, when I ‘allow’ myself to have candy as I pass it out, Ive found I eat less & enjoy it more (mildly annoying sentence I realize. but true.).

I figure Halloween is only once a year and, as much as I adore rub on tattoos, Im not going to pass that out in lieu of candy just so *I* wont eat any.

But that’s me.

If you’d asked me for tips/suggestions *in general* with regards to not indulging on Halloween night I’d have bestowed upon you something like this:

*Never buy your candy ahead of time. Purchase it ON Halloween morning so youre not tempted to rip into the bags early.

*Hand out nonfood products. Everything from temporary tattoos to toothbrushes (I kid. I kid.) are guaranteed to be enjoyed by children of all ages.

*Purchase candy you do not like so you’re not tempted to consume any (I always rolled my sweet-toothed eyes at that one. Candy I dont like?! I do not comprehend.).

* Brush your teeth before the doorbell starts ringing as a mental reminder that you are finished eating for the night.

*Prepare yourself a healthy treat to eat as you hand out the candy. That way you have your indulgence and arent lured to the candy bowl.

*Take out a few pieces before the night begins and decide this is *all* you shall indulge in that evening. (MizFit note: OK, I like this one and would actually do it.).

*Wear a costume or don constricting/form fitting attire. Anything which makes you a smidge more aware of your body can act as a deterrent for overindulging.

There you go. What I do. What I’d tell you to do. In one long rambling post.

Now you. What’s your plan for this friday night?

Treat fright? Know it’s gonna be alright? Do you put up a fight? Or embrace the night?

Please to hit us up on the comments.

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Comments

  3. Wow! I love your answer. PLANNED indulgences. I’m familiar with this term and I have been trying to add these into my life. It’s not something someone like me can get on the first try. I have been all about deprivation which leads me to sneak eating and loads of other unhealthy behavior. As my husband asks me “Honey, why are you eating your dessert in the closet?” 🙂 It’s so important that whatever I do to take this weight off it is something that I can do for life! 🙂 Light bulb ON!! The more I try to run away from the Halloween candy, the more important it becomes.

    Is this making any sense?

    Love this post!!

  4. Such good ideas! My dog once broke into my bag of candy. She succeeded in eating most of it and was perfectly fine. Dogs have amazing stomachs at times!

    I shall be at a party on Friday evening so I have no idea what the food situation will be like- but I’ve already bought myself a couple mini bottles of wine to indulge in:) I will treat myself to some stuff and just try not to go overboard!

  5. I’m in agreement- if you plan to deprive yourself, you will end up going overboard! Indulge a little. I love the tips- my favorite is the brush your teeth (who wants to mix toothpaste and chocolate? yuck!) What is the tornado going to be for halloween?

  6. I think it’s a good plan for life in general, not just Halloween. “Plan” to let yourself enjoy some sweets, some “junk” – that way you’re not in a state of “out of control” when you do slip up (and my experience is that you DO slip up — speaking from personal experience).

    We have a neighbor who is a dentist – it IS toothbrushes given out there (with a piece of candy).

  7. ok, Erica, REALLY?

    my favorite is the brush your teeth.

    That never worked/works for me. at all!
    I just shove sweet after wintergreen!fluoride!taste! and rebrush later

    Tornado? she’s going to be a cow. or a girly skully. or a steelers cheerleader. (depends on the moment youre asking)

    M., who is TOTALLY skipping Lance’s neighbor’s house this year.

  8. I like the tips about brushing your teeth before hand and wearing constricting clothing. I hadn’t thought of those, and I will definitely be doing them! Thanks!

  9. great tips! We are getting ours on the day this year. We always used to buy what we loved…………chocolate……..hello……we did this because we wanted to eat all the leftovers! We did this very aware of what we were doing.

    This year it will be things we don’t care for! The extras will be sent to the school for teacher award stashes 😉

    Thank God Halloween isn’t about cookies or I’d be in BIG trouble!

  10. annette, this made me laugh.

    Thank God Halloween isn’t about cookies or I’d be in BIG trouble!

    Id not thought about that before…in that, for me, Im now THANKFUL Halloween isnt about big buckets of movie popcorn drizzled with butter.

    M.

  11. I received a Weight Watchers points breakdown of almost every Halloween mini num-num out there. I like that I can know the points in advance and can really plan ahead. Typically, I buy candy I won’t eat. If I buy chocolate I’m on it like a fat girl with PMS on a donut case.

  12. Heck, I’m gonna eat that candy. But, we have a good, filling dinner beforehand, so I’m usually not hungry enough to pig out on the candy. After the kids have come home and traded and sorted, we IMMEDIATELY freeze half for later. No deterrent, because frozen Snickers ROCK!

  13. HEY! The Bag Lady’s father was a dentist and we used to give out toothbrushes! And sugar-free gum!
    The year we gave out something else, we had several little kids who told us they were disappointed they didn’t get a toothbrush! (Weirdos!)

    Great tips, Miz. I like the brush your teeth tip, too. That’s always a signal to me that I’m finished eating. (Now, if I could just learn to obey the signals…..)

  14. I’ll be handing out Sour Gummy Worms since that’s the only candy in the universe I actually don’t like 🙂 My trouble begins about 3 days later when my kids bucket of candy begins taunting me.

  15. I had no idea you guys had such a thing about Halloween! I mean, I did, but I didn’t realise the whole thing was built on a Candy Menace. It’s funny to read you talking about it as an outsider, it sounds like your worlds are about to be turned upside-down. Phew for being a Brit.

    ALTHOUGH I am going away for my birthday this weekend and the holiday will basically revolve around eating, so I’m with you all the way on the fear. I’m SO down with the planned indulgences though, I feel much less guilty and generally eat less if I know what’s coming and allow myself the choice. Birthday is a good excuse for me. I’ll melt off the extra tub between now and Christmas just by getting back to my usual plan (thank HEAVENS we don’t have Thanksgiving here…)

    TA x

  16. oh Juiceboxmom I know of what you speak.

    From my youth.

    I’d sneak in to my sisters’ rooms, demolish their candy, leave wrappers in my wake and DENY till the end (if by END you mean GROUNDING which I do) that I did it.

    My parents would always ask:

    —–
    So you’re saying someone broke in the house, stole nothing, ate your sisters’ halloween candy , left the wrappers and left??
    —–
    And year after year, hopped up on sugar & with chocolate still smeared around the mouth, I’d nod.

    And they say sugar isn’t an addiction…..

    Miz.

  17. PS. Please to know I realize ya’ll aren’t my personal computer peeps but here’s my curiousity.
    New laptop.

    FREEEEEEZES on any and all blogger sites.

    Only blogger.

    That said this morning I’m actually excited to call on MOMs for help.

    Computer geeks (their word) all women stands for Mentors On Move.
    Love it.

    M.

  18. I totally plan my treats too. I already have it written on my calendar that Friday is my TREAT DAY. I know. Lame that I have to write it down, but I’m a visual person and if I see that it’s coming, I can calmly plan and avoid any out of control, lunatic like binges when I’m surrounded by my kids Reeses Peanut Butter cups.

  19. Less of a problem this year, as we apparently don’t get trick or treaters where we are.

    But my approach is pretty much the same as yours. It’s a holiday! A few “fun sized” candy bars aren’t gonna kill me.

  20. A few “fun sized” candy bars aren’t gonna kill me.

    Ill see you that and raise you:

    that which does not kill us makes us stronger!

    in a serious vein.
    my lifts are, sadly, KICK ASS when I have all that extra sugar going on.

    Id not PLAN to do that on a regular basis, but….

    M.

  21. I used to make my brother give me all the good chocolate after we trick or treated. To this day (and he just turned 40), if we are together he gives me first pick of any candy that is presented to us! Our mom still thinks he prefers tootsie rolls and dum dums…

  22. I’m planning on making another treat to munch on Halloween night…. Maybe Linda/Hughsmom has seen this recipe–since I got it from a former roommate who was always on WW. Air-popped popcorn, (very) lightly misted with cooking spray, sprinkled with ground cinnamon, allspice, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, ginger and Splenda. It’s a tad messy, which forces me to eat a little more slowly, and it’s delish! Plus, I can nosh a candy or two without going overboard if I still feel like indulging.

  23. My biggest problem? Not the candy we hand out (I buy those nasty Milk Duds and lollipops) but THE INSANELY DELICIOUS VARIETY of treats that Victoria brings back home…..

    I had my hubby hide them last year after I selected a portion-controlled taste of EACH of them….

    🙂

  24. These are great! I am going to do a little linky-linky to you so that I can pass along this info! I like the idea of making a snack to eat while passing out candy. I don’t know if it will work for everyone but if I were eating a bowl of popcorn it might keep my hand out of the candy bowl!

  25. I love that popcorn mixtureidea!

    That said, I also love misting my ‘corn with water and tossing with chocolate protein powder….

    M.

  26. It’s not the candy…it’s the chips, salsa, and queso. Cinco de Mayo is when I indulge.

  27. Halloween is my very favorite holiday. I love the time of year, I love the dressing up (well, I don’t do it anymore but I love seeing others do it), I love the whole idea of wandering house-to-house begging for sugar. All of it.

    We never ever have trick-or-treaters though, as we live on a rural road and the houses are set pretty far away from the road. I love the privacy but miss the handing out candy. However, it does mean I only have to contend with the candy the girls bring home. For that, I do exactly what you recommend, Miz – set aside a few pieces and plan to consume those and only those. Sometimes it works. 🙂

    We do TOT on the night before, which is stupid, but it’s a Charleston thing. Something to do with vandalism. But we’ll be at a party on the actual night, so that could be a challenge. Or it would be except I’m giving myself that night “off”. I’m not worrying about what I take in – I’m like you, in that I’ve found if I don’t limit myself, I tend to be “self-limiting” and don’t go nuts. I’m actually MORE concerned about missing my workout that night, to be honest.

    V.

  28. I am with you on candy I don’t like…so I got something I didn’t like as MUCH. Smarties, Double Bubble gum, all that stuff. And I’m more of a chocolate gal. I purchased it on Monday BUT it’s in the trunk of my car so I’m not tempted to break into every 10 seconds.

    Ha – I LOVE the tight-fitting outfit idea! I tried to do that at Thanksgiving one year with tight(er) jeans. But then I ended up spending the 2nd part of dinner with my jeans unbuttoned….slightly uncomfortable in front of grandpa.

  29. I buy chocolate bars that I like in case of leftovers. I have suckers from last year still.
    I don’t allow myself to indulge beforehand in any dedicated Halloween candy, but I do have a fridge well-stocked with writing chocolate.

  30. V? I love the fact that everyone else dresses up WITH ME on halloween. oh that I were kidding. I get all kinds of ‘proper’ when I do the videos.

    Holly? thats entirely why I think Id rather MINDFULLY eat than have my belly cut in half by denim.

    I cant stand tight clothing (as evidence by my loose FaceTime shorts).

    Im a comfort gurl.

    and leah?

    I do have a fridge well-stocked with writing chocolate.

    Crap, Woman! You have just created a new category of reeces cup allocation for me.

    writing chocolate. who knew?

    M.

  31. it’s not to much the candy that gets me… it’s the witches “brew”
    after a few drinks, and you surround me with bags of candy, all sense of portion control/healthy eating goes out the window.
    my plan is to only have 1-2 drinks and hopefully remember that i don’t want my belly hanging over my tutu.

  32. I think if you don’t eat so much candy all year round, you wont crave it so much on Halloween! We were talking about this yesterday. Most of us hoarded our treats and spread them out during the days after the holiday. Now, it’s a constant candy-fest regardless of holiday or not. Stop that behavior and you’ll end the problem. OK that’s my rare rant 🙂 Beep-Beep!!

  33. DO NOT MESS WITH ME GINA. I am tutuserious about my tutus/
    really?! will you be donning one?

    (and thats reason number 2746278 why I rarely drink. although reason number one is simply because it keeps me up at night now that Im a geriatric)

    and Dr J? I agree and disagree. I eat a lot less sugar than the stealingMiz O’My Youth but I still love it the same passionate way.

    Im just older. and more aware of what it does to my MOOD.

    M.

  34. I’m going with the planned indulgences. I bought a bag of assorted mini-chocolate bars. Out of the 5 different flavors, I’ve picked my two favs and I will enjoy them. I am allowed to live and 2 pieces of chocolate is not going to flush all of my hard work down the tube. Talk to me two years ago and I would have failed to mention the bag of chocolates I bought for myself aside from the trick or treaters. This is progress,lol.

  36. wow you’ve tried to lose weight?? lol sorry for such an ignorant comment, its just surprising as to how *fit* you are!!

    i’m not too worried, but maybe i should be. i looove candy corn though and since i don’t think i’ll be buying a bag, i’ll be on the lookout for those! =P

  38. I’m with Annette in that it’s a good thing Halloween isn’t about (in my case) salty snacks — then I’d really be in trouble (when I was a kid I would revisit over and over the houses that handed out popcorn balls … unfortunately kids today are missing out on that with safety concerns). Candy not so much (THANKFULLY). A couple of years ago, I got (at Costco) small containers of play-doh to pass out (just to be different). The kids all squeal when they get it — even the bigger kids. So I did that again this year.

  39. I agree. We have yet to buy our halloween candy so I haven’t had that problem- but I’ve made a habit out of buying it on the day.

    Honestly, prolly will be too busy keeping massive quantities out of my kids mouths on that night..and I only get excited about dark chocolate anyway!

  40. actually i’m very lucky this year (or so i am telling myself lol)..my 12 year old daughter will be spending halloween with her BFF doing a bit of trick or treating but mostly watching scary movies. All at the BFF’s house. She’s even getting dressed up there!! I’m proud of her show of independance..but..sniff sniff..

    So, DH and i are going to try a restorative yoga class, go to a non-halloween-esque dinner and movie:) i’ve asked to go to a fairly point friendly fav place of mine, and am saving up the flex points for a small popcorn (no butter of course!)

    im not buying or serving candy this year. Sniff..Its a good thing!! Sniff *chin quiver*!

  41. madison?

    You’re not alone judging from the fact it isn’t yet 8a where I am & I have received more than a few OK I WANT MORE. YOU HAD SADDLEBAGS?? DETAILS PLEASE emails.

    Oh that I were an illustrator and not a writer—-Id paint you a lovely picture.

    But yes.
    I guess.
    At yer behest.
    A post shall come.
    ’bout how I shed my bum.

    M.

  42. brushing my teeth never works for me, either! but there are some good tips here 🙂 i have no idea what i’ll be doing friday, but i will not be in my own home, so that should help with the mindlessness that is my eating!

  43. I’ve got a workout scheduled for Friday night, so I won’t be home until the little ones are home, and I’m not working on Friday so I’ll miss the office trick or treat. I’ve indulged in a couple or three (but not more than that) of bite-sized candy bars that people have out at the office. That seems to be enough, surprisingly.

    I’ve still got an October Splurge Meal coming, so if I feel like diving head first into the candy bowl, so be it.

  45. Going to my mom’s house. She typically has candy I don’t love so not too worried about it. When I do indulge it’s usually on something of quality, Hershey’s just does not do it for me.

    Happy Halloween…a few days early.

  46. It’s not the candy that gets me…it’s the Halloween partying that does…in NYC fashion, the Village Halloween Parade is a big, fun spectacle that must be celebrated, and that generally includes costumes, a revelry at the parade and drinking before and after…so hard to be a social butterfly in the City without indulging in the sauce…and then I’ve found that once you’ve been drinking you get the f#%k it mentality and end up eating whatever you want too…Vicious Vicious Cycle.

  47. Another excellent post- thank you!

    Lucky for me (or not so lucky for me) my weakness is the salty stuff and not the sweet stuff so Halloween isn’t my problem…stuffing at Thanksgiving, that is another story.

  48. Halloween is more than just a single day of Candy Menace… it is a symbol of the next two-plus months of potential holiday gorging. Which is why it looms large in the fears of some weight-watchers.

    My sister already went out and bought three ginormous bags of candy. They are lurking in our pantry. I will definitely be answering the door in a purple spandex unitard this year. To, you know, keep me honest.

  49. and BeckStein what does it say that your comment merely served to make me WANT to experience Halloween in the Village (caloriesbedamned).

    And Debra? Was that an offer to do a salty thanksgiving guest post??

    M

  50. Ooooh Mz! That popcorn mix sounds fantastic! (and sans additional oil, which I love)
    Curious: Are you brand-loyal to a particular protein powder??

    I’m with BeckStein, though, too. Living in a city where happy hour culture meets holidays in a BIG way, I think that the Halloween “after party” might be the biggest struggle this year….. Candy = plan in place. Libations = still not sure.

  52. i have a similar post today! I need to buy candy that I don’t like because I just don’t have the willpower to avoid it. (Once i open a bag, I treat it like it is a single serving size!)

  53. quickie re: brand loyalty:

    Not at all for my popcorn.

    I look for flavor (flava? ;)) and the fewest carbs possible (as the corn hath carbs so I’m set there) usually 2-5g a serving.

    And any kind from whey to soy.

    M.

  54. We’re going out with friends. I’ll be a biker of the leather variety (and have agreed to be the designated driver) and BK will be going as a spandex biker. So I’ll be rocking the restricting clothes, and the no alcohol-ness.

    Not anticipating any slip ups. I am anticipating lots of fun (really).

  55. I agree with the “planned indulgence” idea. I DO eat more when it’s “forbidden” and “not planned” and “sneaky.”

    (See also – the cookies I ate when baking and decorating Halloween treats with my daughter last night, as part of our “Great Pumpkin” viewing. It’s just once a year!)

  56. Love this. I indulge the night of, give myself a break for being human and enjoying the holiday with my kids. If I don’t make a big deal out of it, if I take out the guilt, I eat less because I am not obsessed with said candy. It is usually the following days that are harder. I like to let my 4 year old eat to her hearts content the next day then the candy disappears to work with the man.

    Buying candy I don’t like…ha! The only candy I don’t like is black licorice- and what kid wants that?!?! And yeah, I have no qualms with brushing my teeth twice. Apparently I have a strong will- that goes the other way!

    We (the man and me) are being light brights this year, not so form fitting.

  57. I kind of do the opposite of the “buy candy you don’t like” rule. I buy a few pieces of candy I LOVELOVELOVE (mmm… dark chocolate mint truffles) and then eat that while I hand out the waxy hershey bars and Styrofoam candy corn to the kidlets. Like you said, it’s an indulgence but it’s only one day. And if I’m going to “spend” the calories on chocolate, then it’s going to be on stuff I like.

  58. All I can say is thank the candy gods for NOT blessing me. I hate candy (yick, bleck, uck) and really only like dark, dark chocolate. But don’t worry, I have plenty of other things I’d eat a plate and a half of (donuts, anyone?).

    I do have one “planned indulgence” Halloween. My neighbor makes THE BEST chocolate martinis. We set up lawn chairs side by side outside, candy bowls in our laps, and sip our concoctions. We get lots of longing looks from the parent while we oooh and ahhh at the kids (the oohing and ahhing gets louder as the night goes on for some reason, hmm).

    And writing chocolate is a must for the programmer. I buy him a bag of chocolate a week (and he’s already tried to sneak into the Halloween candy twice). Book production comes to a grinding halt if he runs out…and then he mopes, LOL.

  60. I *usually* buy the candies I don’t like, but this year I broke down and quickly threw a bag of mini Reese’s peanut butter cups in the basket before my responsible self noticed. (ssshh don’t tell her. I hate that girl.)

    However, usually on Halloween we sit outside with some friends and sip our treats, if you know what I mean, so I don’t eat too much candy.

    shelley

  61. You know, I am one to kind of eat what I want and then deal with the long term ramifications as needed. BUT – one thing that struck me was your comment about waking up feeling…what was the term?…bloatedcrappyterrible. I need to focus more on what I eat and what it does to me SHORT term – like that. I really think that if I remind myself that I’m probably going to feel like crap the NEXT DAY if I eat another reeses cup it would work a lot better than thinking about potential weight gain – because I always feel like I can cancel that out later. It’s kind of like drinking too much – I don’t worry about calories, but the hangovers can really ruin a good day – and that keeps me in check (usually ;)).

  62. define HORRIBLY AWRY.

    now Im craving chocolate martinis & other sipping treats (that made me laugh, Stuperb!) & writing chocolate & dark dark chocolate & salty snacks & popcorn stuff & Double Bubble Gum and….

    good thing I planned all this shit CHICKENBUS in—right?

    Miz., who is now toying with an elastic band for her tutu

  63. Carla,

    I am laughing my ass off at the last one. Pretty much “Dress like a slut”

    Maybe I’ll wear a latex dress, so that even one little peanut butter cup will cause a bulge.

    SO FUNNY.

    BTW, initially, I laughed with you about not finding a candy I don’t like, but I think I could hand out those stupid nut chews and not indulge, or I could hand out Rain-Blo; which I do like, but would never pig out on. Because who pigs out on gum?

  64. “Candy I don’t like? I do not comprehend.” I loved that!
    I’m going to wear my SPANX. I’ll start putting it on around 6:30 when the kids start arriving and by the time it’s actually pulled up and in place trick or treating will be over.

  65. I too go with the “fine, if you want it, you can have it” attitude. That, combined with the inevitable stomachache, takes all the fun out of eating too much candy, so I don’t do it.

    My “danger” food is holiday meal fare. I DEVOUR swiss vegetable medley. And seven layer salad. And twice-baked potatoes. DEVOUR. As in several days worth of meals’ worth. Because I only get those dishes three times a year. So my trick the last couple of holidays has been to tell myself that I will be eating leftovers for days if I don’t over-indulge. And that if I really want, I can make those dishes for myself another (non-holiday) day. Shockingly, it works. I don’t make myself sick, and I seldom end up finishing the leftovers.

    Oh, and I have made a few non-holiday turkey dinners for my family. It’s delicious, and I do everything from scratch to incorporate the whole foods/lots of plants part.

  66. I’m actually not giving out candy so no temptations. 🙂 I’m not anti-Halloween, I just rather use that money to buy workout clothes. I’m lame, I know!

  68. Miz, you need to embellish on the dog with chocolate issue. Our poor boxer a few years back got into our kids booty (to add to the night, I think they collected it in one of my wife’s good pillow case) that they just happened to leave on the floor. This had to go down as one of the worst November 1st I ever remember.

    We were thinking back to the days past about treats we would receive and remember those little old ladies that would hand out unwrapped popcorn balls, apples (how silly that these people would just weigh our bags down with these), pennies, homemade fudge (again unwrapped) and I seem to remember one person gave us cigarettes that my folks when crazy over.

  69. lordy lordy. ok. by means of full disclosure HEATHER is a member of the Bumbling Band Ive been HONORED to meet in person.

    that said, this:

    I DEVOUR swiss vegetable medley. And seven layer salad. And twice-baked potatoes.

    oh, Girlfriend, we nothing alike. Id starve rather than eat a bite of ONE of the seven layers. (which all leads me to think that you & I should collaborate on a BEST SELLING DIET BOOK. Please to ponder…)

    and the bottled willpower? YES.

    Methinks Suzanne Somers might hawk that on QVC.

    No? Dr. Robert Rey perhaps?

    Miz.

  70. Great tips! The best thing that works for me to survive Halloween is to live in my apartment building. I bought candy the first year and had NO trick-or-treaters, even those rascals in the building who love to play with the fire alarm! Never had any last year either. My fiance asked if we were going to buy any candy this year (because he enjoyed all the leftovers the other years) and I told him there was no point!

    Thanksgiving and Christmas will be the rough holidays for me.

  72. I stick to the rule of only buying the stuff I don’t like. I don’t like candies like Sweet Tarts or Tootsie Pops for me it has to be all about the chocolate, especially Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. So I don’t buy any of those. The problem comes when I take my kids trick or treating and they bring it all home!

  73. I don’t really looooove candy (I generally need some white flour and fat with my sugar) but on Halloween I always end up eating way too many Mr Goodbars anyway. Because they’re there. In fact, I eat MORE because I don’t looooove and savor them and so they aren’t as treatish, they’re just snacky. So I think the trick of getting candy I really just plain don’t like at all might just work for me. I need to be LESS than ho-hum about it. I need to actively be grossed out by it.

    Hey, have grown-ups always done this? Is this why my Halloween bag always had a disproportionate number of Smarties and Tootsie Rolls?

  74. I’ve lived in my once-quiet little suburb for over 10 years and all the cute little kids from back then have now turned into obnoxious teenagers. Thus, I’m completely anti-Halloween!!

    Last year the little asshats(sweethearts) were still ringing bells after 9:00p.m. Several homes, including mine, stopped answering the door. We all got broken windows for “tricks”.

    So this year I’m turning out all the lights and “treating” myself to a movie and a big box of Junior Mints. I’m not anti-candy, just anti-Halloween.

  75. Ok. I love Day of the Dead, but I do not participate in Halloween. The spouse, if he chooses, will deal with children at the door (or not) and dogs.

    But this year Halloween falls on Friday, our traditional night to go out for supper. So, gee, we’ll be sitting in a Thai restaurant enjoying something yummy and healthy. Being tempted by fried bananas and coconut ice cream instead of tiny clark bars. (if indulged, we will split one serving).

    I am beyond happy.

  76. I *definitely* agree about the constricting, revealing clothes. I was also thinking (because I have SO been there!) that the mini size/fun size candy bars are a toughest trigger. I can eat a whole bag of them (in fact I have, seriously!)…but I’m not at all interested in regular sized candy bar. So, I might try buying all regular-sized candy bars…not only would I not be tempted to open *just one more,* I would be freaking out about the expense, which would slow me down from running out for a ME treat. Plus you’d be really popular with the neighborhood kids from now on:)

  78. Rosie O’Donnell lives about 4 blocks away and I hear her house is really popular on Halloween because she passes out big candy bars. I haven’t gone over there yet–I stick to a tiny radius with my little guys.

    Last year I totally overdid it with the candy post-Halloween (too many leftovers as I’m the over-prepared type). This year I went with the “candy I don’t like” route and got stuff I’m not that interested in plus some stuff I would be interested in if it weren’t for my braces. Braces are sometimes good weight loss aids (except when you discover ice cream is pretty darn great even right after an adjustment).

  79. Well, since i’ve already eaten my weight in Kit Kat bars this month (I never eat them except at Halloween time), I’m no help at all. The scale is not budging one way or the other, though, so I’m not worried. Yet.

  80. I have a half marathon on Sunday morning, and fear of eating too much sugar and thus destroying the most important night of sleep (Friday) and thus destroying my race will keep me from indulging too much. But, gotta have a little 😉

  82. I only buy candy that I do not eat for Halloween. I bring the else to work and leave it in the break room the next work day. As for indulging myself, I do that most of the time anyway. No need to add another excuse to my existing long list.

  83. Planned indulgence! Sounds like a plan!!! Will be extra extra good this week so I can indulge a bit. My faves are peanut butter cups and M&M dark chocolate. mmm…

  84. Gosh the comments were funny in this post. Yah, I was gonna suggest that moving to a rural road where only yourself and 7 other old couples live is definitely a solution to the Halloween candy problem.

    I loved your suggestions, though, Miz. You are so right on in constantly telling people they need to be realistic and do what they can really do for the rest of their lives.

    I am really in awe of how kind and encouraging you are to SO MANY people! Thank you.

  85. I love the last suggestion. I was planning on wearing a boring ole kitty mask that I bought for $1 at Target and that be my whole costume.

    But now—that flapper dress that is buried in my closet is going on (if I can still fit in it.) There is about 0% chance I will be snacking on candy in that restricting thing.

    sweets&sweats

  86. Right there with ya, Mizfit! I have tried the eating clean forever thing…impossible. And *know* all the *right* ways to avoid eating the candy. I can even do it, but it’s NO FUN! So, I look forward to the yumminess, remembering that it is ‘what we do most of the time’ that creates who we are and not ‘what we do some of the time.’

  87. Im with Debby!!
    I love the suggestions and wanted to say THANK YOU TOO.

    I like the freebies (although I havent won yet :() but I come here every single day to get pumped up to live my life in a healthy way.

    SO THANK YOU FOR THAT MORE THAN THE FREEBIES.

  88. Love the suggestions…I’m going to try to get a good run in before doling out the candy, so that when I “indulge” I’ve already countered the effect. I too, live in a semi-rural area, which means that we don’t get too many T or Ter’s, but that usually just means there’s more leftover candy.

  90. And now, for something truly scary…y’all have inspired me to rhyme…

    (Cue the rap music track…)
    Yo! It’s my first Halloween with diabetes
    So for this bloggie there’ll be no “treaties”*
    But hey, I’m down with bein’ sugar-free
    If there’s no sugar in my chocolate mar-ti-ni!
    (wiki wiki wiki…)

    Maybe I can dangle my blood glucose monitor on a big gold chain or something? 😉 That might be taking Halloween weirdness a bit too far…

    * Actually, I could have some candy if I plan for it. I’ve gotten way more picky about my indulgences these days, though…no one I know will be handing out Ghirardelli chocolates, thank goodness! I like the idea of sipping on a Halloween cocktail. (Like others here, I’m more worried about Thanksgiving and all the salty carbs! Mmmm, stuffing!)

  91. How about I ran out of candy, kids (you won’t have any either) 🙂 Oops… You can see their sad little faces start to show..
    Fruity

  93. There was one year at Halloween when I had so many treaters, that I ran out of candy! I was giving away cans of soup, etc before it was all said and done! I wish I had seen the look on their parent’s faces when they came home with that stuff 🙂

  94. hmm. cans of soup. INDIVIDUAL PACKETS OF FLAX. containers of high protein pudding.

    perhaps I SHOULD rethink the Reeces!

    M.

  95. I actually have 2 1/2 bars of *good* dark chocolate up in my cabinet right now. When I crave a dessert now, that’s usually what I go for. My plan for Halloween is to think do I want the not-so-quality fun sized bar, or a piece of my really stash?

    My second line of defense is that I haven’t gotten around to buying candy so I haven’t been tempted yet.

    Finally, I will do the trick that my mom used to do with my sis and I. Every day she would take a few pieces of candy out of our stash. So, combined with the few pieces we were allowed every day, it would dissapear faster. Now mind you, she took the Necco wafers and other stuff we wouldnt’ touch…but I think it’s a great way to reduce the amount of crap that the girls eat.

  97. I always plan a costume that has to fit in a certain way so I don’t over due candy before Hallowe’en. That being said, I rush out the morning after to buy the 50% of hallowe’en candy and reward myself for WEEKS with a lil pack of swedish berries or sour patch kids. It doesnt mean I eat less candy, just less on Hallowe’en night and the days leading up to it.

  98. BeckStein? Pre-Tornado/economic freefall I did SO many things.

    (Cue memory montage)

    😉

    Again soon though. For sure.

    M.

  99. i’m with you MizFit, I never met a candy i didn’t love 🙂 and yes, chocolate goes very well with wintergreen toothpaste! thanks for all the great tips.

  100. good catch, SeaBreeze!!

    I totally failed to address this:

    That being said, I rush out the morning after to buy the 50% of hallowe’en candy

    the (ominous music) DREADED DAY AFTER SALE.

    did I forget?
    was I hoarding for a post ‘ween BooHoo’er Mail?

    who can say…

    Miz.

  102. I don’t plan for specific amounts of candy, or specific types of candy. Frankly, I find that if I plan for 4 fun-size Snickers, and then I eat 5, I feel like I failed, so what’s the point? And then I eat the BAG.

    So instead, I have a general rule (instituted during the MizFit Matchups – thanks!) that if I meet 75% of my goal, I will say I’ve succeeded. So on Halloween, I don’t have to worry about what I eat or even really how much (well, within reason) – I just have to make sure that 75% of what I’ve eaten that DAY was good for me. That short-circuits the 4-Snickers-vs-5-Snickers obssession for me.

    Also, it helps to remember (as others have said) that I can have this anytime I want. I actually say that to myself, sometimes out loud. But it makes me remember that I don’t have to cram it all in (literally) NOWNOWNOW. I can have 2 pieces tomorrow. Or none. Or 10. I’m a grown up. It’s all good. Oddly, (again, as others have said), that usually means I end up eating LESS crap, because I don’t feel compulsed to GET IT WHILE I CAN.

  103. All I know is I do not like those circus peanut things.

    remember those? I could give those out.

    sadly Im not really joking.

  107. Oh I’ll indulge, along with my neighbours at the end of our driveway. Wine or martinis in a ghoul chalice with a few mini chocolates on the side and I’ll be happy.. hopefully. I love my neighbourhood!

  109. I do the ‘buy candy I don’t like’. Luckily, there is some candy that I really don’t want, like gummy stuff.

    This year we are giving snack packs of pretzels – those don’t tempt me, so I’m okay this year.

    Other times I have to have DH hide the candy, literally, so I won’t eat it.

  110. I saw those snack packs of pretzels.

    I kept walking.

    For some reason I just couldn’t bring myself to buy them.

    Even in their cute orange outfits.

    Next year. Maybe 😉

    M.

  111. I love Halloween but don’t buy candy (have learned from past experience who I am *really* buying it for) and unfortunately (or fortunately), I live in the boonies and no one comes out here for tricks or treats. It’s cheaper, easier, closer to home to go to a store in town.

  112. I’m allowed nowhere near the candy bowl. I stand back at a distance and admire all the cute costumes while the bf hands out candy and every once in a while throws one at me out of pity. Also the candy is kept on tall shelves I can’t reach without asking for help. That’s my strategy.

  113. I’m new here…this is really, really good advice, especially don’t buy candy till Halloween morn. How many times have I bought candy a week in advance only to have to re-buy candy again?!?! The Shame!

    No more. Not this year. I’ll be buying it Friday morn. And celebrating a little treat that day as well!

  114. WELCOME SPRING!

    How many times have I bought candy a week in advance only to have to re-buy candy again?!?!

    FOR SHAME is right, Missy!

    Id never have done that.

    Manymanyyearsinarow.

    never.

    and if my husband anyone says so they’d be lyin’

    M.

  115. I will not be handing out candy this year, and instead, will be party hopping (?) or sleeping on my couch watching “What Not To Wear”

    Halloween for me the last 6 years has been a drinking holiday. This year I am far too tired/have work at regular job + preggo girl house on Saturday.

  116. I drink wine while I hand out candy. tootsie rolls do not go well with a merlot…..

    although when the kids get back home from trick or treating it is all over when I steal their stash. ha!

  117. Such a timely post. You have a gift MizFit, I’m always a week or two behind on these things . . . but I digress . . .

    I’m guilty of getting the candy I know I like but only like a little. One or two boxes of Nerds is really all I can handle – BUT, I know that they were a fav when I was a kid, so we’re saved from being “THAT house” that hands out the yucky stuff. I know that if I get chocolate that my son can’t eat it (food allergies) and that my husband WILL eat it (I’m trying to encourage healthy eating for this guy!). Everything I bought is “tradeable” for my son – he can give his dad and me the chocolate and we’ll trade him for the candy he can safely eat (skittles, Nerds, smarties, etc.). That should help with some balance around our place.

    It helps at our house that we eat a big birthday dinner and have a carrot cake for my husband, the Halloween baby at our house before the trick or treating begins. Our demise into the sugar highs and lows starts the day after!

  118. So I bought the candy yesterday, including TWO bags of the little Hershey chocolate bars. Why? I’m sure to torture myself. I put said chocolates in a glass pumpkin in the living room so as to torture my children. Today they asked for a candy and i said yes. And then I said yes to myself (Except i pulled out 4). But here’s the victory. I ate 3 and put the last one back!!!! Can you freakin’ believe me? Maybe I can make it to Halloween in moderation!

  119. hmmm, Kara, this might just make you Miz. Halloween 2008 up in herre:

    I ate 3 and put the last one back!!!!

    BUT we shall have to wait till all the results are in.

    after friday night.

    when we are all honest and out ourselves (or toot our own horns 😉 which ever is appropriate).

    I expect details, People.

    M.

  120. i am not having trick or treaters because i’m going to a halloween party. i don’t really know what i’m going to do about the candy / halloween insanity business. it’s hard to plan out a “splurge” because i have already splurged earlier in the week. but i think i’m going to try to get an extra run in, or maybe a harder run than usual, this weekend.

    oh, and something funny. i was at the drugstore this weekend picking up a few things and i picked up a thing of candy to look at the nutrition information, and the guy standing behind me was like, “don’t get it! it’s consumerism!” … haha. it was the most awesome reinforcement ever.

  121. I’m a mostly “planned” treat person. Especially because I’ve found that if I allow myself, I don’t overindulge. The “over” part comes when I don’t plan it all out. That’s a different story. But the planned thing really works for me.

  122. Ps. I scraped my knee once in a panicky jump up/slash/fall down freakoutfest trying to grab a Hershey’s Kiss from a puppy who’d gotten into my Christmas stocking. I thwarted said puppy’s efforts but only barely before he’d ripped into the chocolate whilst hiding under my parents’ bed. Lucky lucky me. Unlucky knee.

  124. I love planned indulgence nights, and I like to build one into my week. Sometimes they are small treats, sometimes it’s a night out for dinner. Whatever it is, knowing I have planned treats keeps me on track for the week! You gave some great tips for Halloween night though, thanks for the ideas!! 🙂

  125. i’ve been snacking on candy corn the past month and a half or so, so i’m not too worried. i’m also working that night and won’t have to worry about that, either.

    that, and i don’t like a lot of candy in the first place. brandon on the other hand … 😉

  126. For me, it’s not the night itself that’s an issue. It’s the days after. I can practice good portion control on Halloween, but my kids bring home so much candy that it lasts for weeks. And since I work from home, it’s there, taunting me, day after day.

    Sigh…maybe indulge in one mini bar a day?

  127. Yummy candycorn…can’t resist! I made the mistake of buying my candy too early and now will have to buy more 🙁 Thanks for the tips for tomorrow, I’ll have to do some planning!

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