How Halloween Bitch-Slapped My Healthy Lifestyle

Photograph: They're coming to get youoooooooo... by Crystl

Today marks the 1st anniversary of my downward slide into healthy-diet demise. Yes, on Halloween 2006, I fell off the CR wagon for the first time, and it's been very difficult staying consistently on ever since.

How did I let it get so bad?!
From the beginning on February 8, 2006 until that point, I was so good, unwavering. I was a paragon of CRON in all ways, eating only 1500 calories max of good nutritious food each day, walking every afternoon down Corydon Avenue with its hot cafes and friendly people, and bouncing back to healthy habits quickly after binge events like Easter dinners and the kids' birthdays.

But Halloween was different. I really should've known that I was heading into dangerous territory, but no, I'd underestimated the evil sweetness and the destructive forces that were lying-in-wait to strike at the first moment of weakness.

And strike it did... and here's how...

My sweet tooth made me weak. Been the case since I was a little girl. That's why my family called me Candy, and why I named my blog Life Candy.
I can turn down a bag of salty chips or cheezies, but chocolate bars and cake, I just can't resist. It's an addiction not the best for little ol' insulin resistant me.
I was able to kick it last year but like all addictions, just a taste can suck you back in... and of course, you can't just stop at one.

A chain of high-cal events? Try bouncing back after that! One day of hi-cal eating barely registered a blip on my CRON radar... until Halloween. Why?
Well, right after Halloween, my roomie celebrated his birthday. Then 3 days later, my birthday hit. After that, just as I was climbing back onto the wagon, Christmas season started with many parties and their sweets-laden tables. Turkey, honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, chocolate confections, candy cane, Christmas pudding, and of course, egg nog.
Honestly, I had difficulty remember HOW to eat healthy after all that!

"Winter Hibernation" is the only name I have for it. You know, the minute the cold weather hits, we start reaching for the warm, stick-to-your-ribs, rich foods like stews, roasts and cream soups that help us add on that extra layer for winter. Like squirrels. Or bears.
I did just that... about the same time that I stopped going for my walks down Corydon. It was just too cold for this island girl. And I couldn't find a replacement activity that wouldn't incite my little ones to interrupt every 10 seconds.

What's the point? No one's going to see anyway. This was probably the lamest of all of my excuses. When I saw my body changing, I just covered up with sweaters and the ever-sexy parka. Did I look fat? Oh, no, that's just my long underwear! I stopped caring because no one was going to see me anyway. We women stop shaving our legs and getting pedicures for the winter because it's all covered up anyway. This is the same thing. Gah, how vain, eh?!
Health should've been the #1 priority, but it wasn't... Disgusting. I must've been drunk.

Anyway, here I am, a year later, faced with the same challenges. But now, I'm more aware. I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Maybe this time, good healthy habits will prevail. Wish me luck.