TRICK OR TREAT!

Tricks:

• high fructose corn syrup is metabolized at a slower rate than an equal calorie amount of cane sugar
• deceptive packaging - when I was growing we got our soda in 12 oz. cans. No way to put a lid back on and we were told to not to waste food. Even back then we were doomed. Now, sodas come in 20 oz bottles, at least now you screw the lid back on and save it for later. But who does that? A practical serving of soda is 8oz. for us obese adults. 
• hidden ingredients- yesterday I bought a rotisserie chicken from our local super market. I weighed out 4 oz and ate it. It was the first time since I started this plan that I had one of these. I usually cook my own meals. After I ate it, instead of the full feeling I normally get after eating 4 oz of chicken, I got wild cravings. This is the first time since I started this plan that I've had wild cravings. So my wife checked the package and we found that listed in the seasonings was sugar. Who uses sugar to season chicken? 
• Tricking our bodies into thinking we are cavemen and women - My theory for us metabolically challenged is that we still have primitive metabolisms. Think about early humans, they had to hunt and gather for their foods. So sometimes, after a big score they would have high calorie days. Then some days, pickings were slim so they they had very low calorie days but they had built in defense systems to help them survive. So, when we have big calorie days everyday, our metabolisms are overwhelmed and thus we gain weight. I know this is a major stretch, but hear me out. By setting our goals to "average out" a certain calorie amount say for a month, we can fluctuate our calories on a daily basis like our early ancestors. Some days we have higher than our targeted calorie amount, some days a lot less. Believe me this works. Trick your body, it's fun.

Treats:

• some food companies are jumping on the calorie bandwagon. They are making 100 calorie packs of our favorite foods. Not diet versions, but the real deal.
• Some bread companies are now offering thin versions of buns, they are half the calories of a  regular bun, not made with high fructose corn syrup and satisfy just the same as regular buns. Give 'em a try. Oh yeah, my wife pointed out this morning that they are now making thin versions of bagels also.
• Finally, eating a whole pizza is not treating yourself, it's a punishment. We now have to think of eating really high calories foods as allowing ourselves to be bad after being good for a long time and meeting our goals. It's not a "treat" or "reward". It's a bad thing to do. But it is OK to be bad once in awhile. Want to treat yourself, go for a walk in the woods on a crisp fall day when the leaves are turning, go for a run on snowy winter day, go dancing with friends, add 10 extra minutes to your "cardio" routine. Now, those are treats.

Have a fun and safe Halloween- Melting Man