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litestarTHINspiration April 2000

Special Easter/Passover Edition

© 2000 Scott "Q" Marcus, THINspirational Speaker

 

Main Article: 5 Things to Stay On Track During Holidays
How Many Points Do Those Easter Candies Cost?
Why are 1/2 price candies (the day after Easter) the most expensive you can buy? Click here to find out.
This Month's Links

Happy Passover!5 Things You Can Do to Stay on Track During Easter & Passover

To Download A Graphic That Shows Ten Things to Do Instead of Eat, Click Here.

1. Tell your family what they can do to help you in your quest for better health.

Don't turn them into "food cops." They don't want that job and you don't want them watching what you eat like a hungry hawk. Instead, ask them to support you when you do a positive behavior. It gives them something to do and builds support for you. (Also prevents you from sneaking chocolate eggs...)

2. Make low fat versions of your favorite foods and eat smaller portions.

Use non-fat or low-fat substitutes. Leave something on your plate. Use a smaller plate for the same size portions, it seems like more and we are triggered by visual cues.

Remember, If you really do get hungry later, you can come back for more. (Has there ever been a holiday celebration where there wasn't anything left? Really?)

3. Focus on the real celebration of the holidays, your friends and family.

If you're getting together for the holidays, you're not really there for the food (hard to remember at times, isn't it?). Learn a little about your aunts and uncles as they won't be here forever and someday it will be too late. Play with the kids and find out what life is like from their perspective.

The food will be there forever, the family changes and grows. Appreciate them while you can.

4. Stay out of the "food room" when you're not eating.

Don't stand around the leftovers waiting for everyone to look the other way. Remove yourself from the temptation. If cleaning up is a problem for you; make a deal with someone else. You'll set the table, they'll clear. Cover the leftovers if they're sitting in front of you on the table.

When there is food left over, try and send it home with others. Don't take it to your house. If you do have to keep food, wrap it in foil, not clear wrap. Put it in back of the refrigerator, pantry, or freezer - not in front. Tell someone else to eat it.

5. Drink a huge glass of water before you eat anything - everytime.

The more water you drink, the more full you'll feel. Before you sit down to eat, wiggle back and forth like you're doing hoola-hoop. If you don't hear the water swishing around inside like some small lake, drink more.

Water is essential to good health and to losing weight. You might spend a decent amount of time in the restroom - but you won't be eating. (Besides, how do you think the weight you're losing comes off you anyway?)
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Why is half price candy is the most expensive candy in the world?

There are "Candy" holidays each year (Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Easter). You know them, they're the ones where Walgreens orRite Aid sell their leftover candy at 50-75% off the day after. That's when the idea to pick up a few savings crosses our mind. In reality, remember those are the most expensive candies you can buy.

Let me explain. You find a bag of chocolate eggs normally for $2.99. The day after Easter, it's on sale for $1.49. "Wow! Great deal!," you say to yourself. "I'll buy a few bags (for my kids of course)."

Of course, during a week moment, you eat the whole bag, triggering a three pound weight gain next week at the scale. (This doesn't even consider the "I blew it" syndrome which now triggers you to eat all the ham, cake, cereal, cheese, and chips in the house too…)

Assuming it's only a three pound gain - and you're diligent enough to come back to your meeting, here's what it'll cost.

Original bag of Candy:

$3.00

Less 50% savings

-$1.50

PRICE OF CANDY:

$1.50

(you save $1.50)

Number of pounds you gain (example)

3

Average weight loss per week for you (usually 1-2 pounds)

1.5

Number of weeks you need to come to meetings just to make up for the candy:

2

(3 weeks divided by 1.5 pounds)

Cost per week for Weight Watchers

$10.95

x Number of weeks (from above)

x2

Additional amount you'll pay to Weight Watchers

$21.90

Less savings on candy (from above)

-$1.50

COST OF CANDY:

$20.40
Is it worth it?

to download an Excel spreadsheet you can use to calculate the costs of your "savings" click here.

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Easter Points!

Which One?

How Much?

Points

 
Brach's Marshmallow Rabbits (total weight 1.5 oz.)
 
4 rabbits (8 in box)
 
4 points
 
Cadbury Creme Egg
 
1 egg (1.3 oz.)
 
4 points
 
Cadbury Great Bunny (5.6 oz.)
 
1/4 of bunny
 
5 points
 
Dove Solid Milk Chocolate Bunny (6 oz)
 
1/4 of bunny
 
6 points
 
Hershey's Easter Egg (7 oz)
 
1/5 of egg
 
5 points
 
Jelly Belly jelly beans
 
35 pieces
 
3 points
 
Marshmallow Peeps
 
5 peeps
 
3 points
 
Mound's Dark Chocolate Coconut Eggs
 
1 egg (1.2 oz.)
 
4 points
 
M & M's pastel version
 
1/3 c. (1.5 oz)
 
5 points
 
Nestle White Crunch Solid Bunny (3.3oz total weight
 
1/2 bunny
 
6 points
 
Robin Eggs malted milk candies
 
8 pieces
 
4 points
 
Snicker's Eggs
 
1 egg (1.2 oz)
 
4 points
 
Starburst Jelly Beans
 
1/4 c. (1.5oz)
 
3 points
 
Ham, glazed, w/pineapple
 
4 oz ham, 1/2 pineapple slice
 
7 points
 
Ham (honey cured, spiral sliced)
 
3 oz.
 
4 points
 
Scalloped Potatoes
 
1/2 cup
 
3 points
 
Potatoes Au Gratin
 
1/2 cup
 
6 points
 
Potato Salad
 
1/2 cup
 
6 points
 
Mashed Potatoes
 
1/2 cup
 
2 points
 
MJ's Banana Creme Pie
 
1/8 of pie
 
17 points
 
Carrot Cake, with cream cheese topping
 
3" square
 
16 points
 
Old-fashion
 
2 fl. ounces
 
3 points

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Find out how much activity you need to do to work off your favorite easter candies. http://www.cyberdiet.com/holidays/easter/CandyCounter/candyCounter.cgi

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