You’ve probably been up and down with your New Year’s Resolution, and now you’re really ready to roll and here comes Valentine’s Day.
Now’s the time to suggest to your loved ones to hold off on buying those chocolates. We’re beyond the days of a few here and there won’t hurt. Candy and food with high sugar and fat content is all around us. Here are a few suggestions that might get you through the next few days.
First of all, at the risk of ruining the surprise, set expectations and have a talk first. This doesn’t have to be a sit down talk, but perhaps just a reminder that "I had such a good walk today" or "I really worked hard at the gym today." Gentle, but consistent, reminders of how much you are working on your healthy lifestyle or how much you want to be healthy might curb purchases of big boxes of candy.
There are plenty of options that aren’t all chocolate, such as chocolate fruit baskets or chocolate-covered fruit. Balloons can be different, and enjoyed. Flowers, or even a single flower, are a great choice. You could suggest you make a dessert together or just relax with a glass of wine and watch a movie. You could agree to go out to dinner together ahead of time as a mutual agreement.
If you do receive a huge amount of unwanted chocolates, then do not feel you need to eat them all. If others are interested, then share. You do not have to do this though. While this may be hard to do, or even say, it is okay to throw sweets out (granted not in front of the original gifter). Just enjoy a few, then when you’ve had enough, put it away for a day. Throw a few away at a time if you live with the person. You have to do what you have to do for you. Some people cannot have them in the house, so these people must throw them out or get rid of them somehow (other than by their own mouth!). It is okay. For those that can handle it, then stick them in a long lost cabinet or freezer until they are forgotten about. For those that can’t, they have to take control of their own desires. By hanging onto undesired sweets, it tempts you later and causes you to eat more.
Picture this scenario: You allow the Valentine’s Day treats to go on for a week or two, then it’s another week or two before you’re really motivated again. Shortly after that comes Passover and Easter, then you have to start all over again. Right after these holidays is Memorial Day, then bathing suit weather. There’s never a good time to choose to be healthy. Many times being healthy is just about making small, but good choices, every day.
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