The Halloween Diet …
I used to participate in this diet every year.
You know the one I’m talking about …
It’s where you swear not to buy too much candy because you don’t want it in the house, but you also don’t want the trick or treaters to be disappointed.
So, you inevitably end up buying too much anyway.
Then, you decide on Halloween that you’ll ONLY have your favorite piece of candy.
Just one.
The obvious choice is Reese’s Peanut Butter cups because it’s definitively the GOAT.
But is one cup ever enough?
That’s when the Halloween Diet kicks in.
You decide to over indulge on candy for the next 17 days.
Which then rolls over into the Thanksgiving Diet …
And eventually, you wake up from your coma and somehow find yourself enrolled in some ridiculous New Year New You weight loss program.
Or, was that just me every year?
Well, fortunately, it’s no longer my reality.
You know who does really well during Halloween?
People who don’t restrict themselves all the time.
Individuals who eat candy when they want candy.
Individuals who don’t starve themselves.
Individuals who don’t live in a calorie deficit 24/7/365.
Like clockwork, every single year I get inundated with messages from people who tell me about their candy mishaps.
“Coach Mike … help!! I just ate 37 mini snickers. Why do I do this to myself?! What’s wrong with me?!”
Hmmm, let’s see …
Well, I’m not so much concerned about the 37 snickers.
But, I’d love to know what your nutrition looked like before the 37 snickers.
“Well, I really try to eat clean and make good choices.”
Do you ever allow yourself a treat or would you even consider eating something like a piece of candy or a cookie on a normal day?
“I try not to.”
Got it. And how much are you eating overall?
“Well, I’ve been trying to lose these last 10 pounds for the last 17 years and I know I need to be in a calorie deficit so I’ve been keeping my calories around 12-1400 per day.”
Mmm hmmm … and do you think that has anything to do with the candy situation?
“……..”
Right.
The sad part about that theoretical conversation is that it’s not far from reality.
Every single year.
The residual effect is that most people blame themselves and then proceed to punish themselves.
It wouldn’t be the Halloween Diet if you didn’t binge on candy and then vow to deprive yourself for the next 7 days only to have that cycle repeat itself many times over for the next couple of months.
So, maybe we should do something different this time?
Maybe we should start by understanding that restricting foods you love will always come back to bite you in the ass.
Then, we can stop dieting all the damn time and actually start fueling appropriately to support all kinds of fun things like activity, training, recovery, stress, and just basic human needs.
Maybe we can actually make this a lifestyle approach instead of something you’re “on or off.”
Then, maybe we can play the long game and we won’t have to join the next New Year New You drop 10 pounds in 10 minutes program.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
I can at least go to sleep at night with the comfort of knowing our 1:1 clients won’t be participating in the Halloween Diet.
They will very likely be enjoying some candy.
And they won’t feel guilty about it.
And if old thoughts start to creep in, or they do find themselves feeling out of control …
They’ve got their coach in their corner to help them reframe and regain perspective.
It’s a beautiful thing.
Simply because they made the decision, the commitment, and the investment in themselves.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
If you’re still sitting on the sidelines …
Well, I hope things are going well for you.
If you ever decide that you want to make a sustainable change …
You know where to find me.
I’m one “reply” away.
