Waisting Time

Happy Halloween!  And happy candy eating.  Or abstaining.  Or moderating.  Whatever your approach:)

Am I the only one who thought October flew by even faster than the months preceding?  I had a lot going on: travel, social events, unexpected life stressors, more travel.  In the blink of an eye I’ll be lamenting that it is already the end of the year!  Or maybe, given that the holiday season is so often the “eating season,” I’ll be glad to start the new year.  Time will tell.

My eating matched the weather this month:  up and down and often unpredictable.  I need to work on consistency.  I’m very consistent in my INconsistency:)  My biggest “healthy living” success this month was probably, IMO, the week leading up to a cocktail party.  Not one single pre-cheat, even the day of the event.  My biggest struggle was, ironically, the week following that same event.  I won’t bore you with the gory details, but my eating was not good both in quality and quantity.  So, ups and downs with my eating, as you would expect, translated to ups and downs on the scale.

This time last year I was sliding ever faster down the slippery slope of weight regain.  I refuse to go there again.  I have many challenges coming up:  dinner out with friends, a slew of holiday celebrations, time spent with my boys which translates to food in the house that is not now in the house and cookie baking.  But, I also have much to look forward to, including most of the list I just mentioned.  And I have a fabulous trip coming up in December that I’ll share more about as it gets closer.  But let me just say that it provides great motivation for NOT gaining weight between now and then.

Honestly, I haven’t really given much thought to how I’ll handle the whole long season of holiday eating.  Kind of unlike me, considering I seem rather food obsessed and am a self-proclaimed over-planner.  I actually feel a sense of calm, in this moment, and have no idea where that is coming from.  But I’ll take it!  And try my darndest to hang on to it.

For now, I’m just focused on getting through tonight.  Not worried, mind you.  Just… focused.  There’s no candy in my house.  We expect no trick-or-treaters to ring the bell.  So the one big obstacle I face is my neighborhood party.  Last year I went and ate nothing.  That’s the plan again this year.  I know, I know, some of you are screaming at me, “moderation!”  But sometimes it’s easier to just say no.  Or, if I can think of an excuse, just not go.  I like my neighbors, but I’m not much for small talk around the buffet table with a plethora of dogs darting between our legs, scrounging for droppings.  Call me Scrooge.  Or, call me the word that goes with the broomstick on the top of this post:)

I’ll leave you today with a little Halloween humor.  Keeping in the spirit, bad pun intended.

What did one witch say to the other when she asked for a lift?  “There’s always broom for one more.”

Do zombies eat popcorn with their fingers?  “No, they eat the fingers separately.”

Why do demons and ghouls hang out together?  “Because demons are a ghouls best friend.”

October is the month we traditional associate with fright.  Goblins and ghouls and ghosts and … yes… the dreaded Halloween candy.  For me, this October is particularly scary – my calendar is unusually filled with travel and social eating events, much scarier to me than rattling skeleton bones or witches.  Much scarier than mere candy.

First up, a road trip.  A short one.  One that I am looking forward to eagerly because it will be fun!  Not the driving part, of course, but the time spent at my destination and the people I’ll be spending it with.  But my last road trip did me in.  Not only did I eat horribly while away from home, but before and after as well.  So, my goal for this upcoming adventure is to stay on plan with my eating during the drive and any meals that I pack and bring to eat alone.  For the few meals out with others, I’ll be careful but allow myself some leeway.  Moderation.  Eek.

Then after I’m home for barely long enough to catch up with my google reader and unpack, bam – book club.  I’ve shared in the past that book club for me is never actually about the book.  We talk about everything else and sometimes don’t even read the book!  And, there will be food.  Likely lots of food.  Surely tempting, “off plan” food.   So there will undoubtedly be debates in my mind as I think about what to eat and what not to eat.  But I think I’ll be okay this time (fingers and toes and eyes crossed) because just a few days later I have to fit into a pair of pants that will not allow for over-indulgence.

Which leads to a “creative cocktail” event with open bar and catering provided by someone who makes the most fabulous food.  The drinking part is not an issue for me; I’d much rather eat my calories.  The eating part… I’m just gonna say it now… I plan to enjoy the food and can only hope to do that with some modicum of moderation.  (There’s that scary “M” word again.)  I will not make a mad dash to the buffet table; I will not body slam the waitress to get to her serving tray; I will not run over other party goers to beat them to dessert.  I WILL keep a glass of water in one hand as much as possible.  I will enjoy myself.  I will remember that my cholesterol is high and that overdoing fatty foods will not help and that my doctor will make me get my numbers rechecked soon.

Then it’s off to LA to visit my son for Parent’s Weekend.  This time hubby and I are flying.  The good news:  less travel time means no long hours in the car to fill with nibbling.  The bad news:  no cooler filled with my healthy breakfast and snacks, and, several meals with menus that are out of my control.  (Yes, I’ll be tailgating with a taco truck and frat boys.)  I didn’t do well the last time I was in LA.  My goal is to not let history repeat itself.  I am going to college and college equals knowledge and knowledge equals power.  I am going to apply what I learned on my last trip west.  There will be no candy purchased.  There will be no visits to the fro-yo store that lies in wait on the walk between my hotel and campus.  There will be healthy, “on plan” packable snacks with me at all times.  There will be hope and optimism.

And then, home again, Halloween hits.  Which, ironically, I’m the least worried about!  We had no trick or treaters last year.  I bought candy just in case and so my teen could have the leftovers.  This year, no teen.  So, other than the care packages I will send off to both boys in college, no candy.  Last year I didn’t eat ANY.  This year I won’t either.  That’s my least scary goal:)  Now if I can just keep my husband from buying any (more).

So there you have it.  My frightful October.  My goals.

Do you have plans for Halloween?  What’s your favorite costume from years past?  Are you dressing up this year?