This time of year is tough! It seems like no matter how hard I try sweets will inevitably find its way into my kitchen. It could be a well-meaning neighbor that baked some holiday cookies for me, or maybe it’s my client’s daughter who is having a bake sale to raise money for her school.
Sweets always try to find a way into my home – and then into my belly.
I’m the one who preaches “no sugar ever – under any circumstances!” to my weight loss clients because I do know how horrible those little white crystals are for your health.
I totally get enjoying an occasional cookie or having a piece of cake here and there for a celebration… but this time of year it feels like from Thanksgiving to the New Year is one long party.
A few years ago I really struggled with balance.
How can I support the bake sale without stuffing my face with frosted sugar cookies? How can I say “thank you” to my well-meaning neighbor but find the motivation to not eat her sugary snacks?
Being a health coach/fitness professional I’ve learned a few things over time. I thought I’d share them with you in hopes that they’d help you out during this festive time of year.
Trick #1) When money is an option… opt for that.
I could buy cookies to support my client’s daughter, but one time I asked my client if I could simply give her $20 instead. She could add that to the school money or if needed, she could purchase $20 worth of cookies for herself and do whatever she wanted with them.
Often times there are simple solutions like this. It’s a win-win because I don’t have to bring sweets into the house and I still get to support the local school.
Trick #2) Just say thank you and find the trash.
This one is sometimes hard for people because it seems so… well… not nice. These days I have my routine down to a science. I know when I can splurge and when I can’t. So when sugary snacks find their way into my kitchen – even if they’re from my lovely neighbor… they find their way to the trash.
I’ve also passed them along to other friends, but I felt weird about giving sugar to others I care about. I’ve also tried donating them to a local food pantry, but they can only accept canned goods and unopened boxes of food for safety reasons.
And I already knew from my past that if I let cookies sit in my kitchen, or if I try to come up with a rule like only 1 cookie after dinner… well… I knew it wouldn’t work.
So for my own health… I had to trash them.
I should mention that I became pretty good friends with my neighbor and eventually told her I don’t eat any sugar. I brought it up naturally in conversation (not when she is handing me her precious backed goods!) and since that conversation I haven’t gotten cookies. I’ve gotten a card with a lotto ticket instead.
A chance to hit the lotto is much better for my belly than a cookie any day.
If you are having trouble battling the cookies around the holiday you can visit mikeduffyspt.com to schedule your free 30-minute consultation with me. We’ll work out a plan to reach your goals and ensure that you’re focusing on leaving those cookies out of your kitchen (and belly!).
About the Author:
Mike Duffy, BS, HLC, CPT is a certified personal trainer, holistic health coach, post re-hab specialist and owner of Mike Duffy’s Personal Training Studios. Mike has been training clients for over 30 years. He is currently celebrating his 19th anniversary at his Oakhurst location. You can learn more about what he does by calling 732-263-0202 or visiting his website mikeduffyspt.com to view testimonials as well as many amazing before and after pictures.
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