Supermarket shelves are brimming with Easter eggs and hot cross buns at this time of year. The fact is that loving friends and family have probably acknowledged the occasion by showering us with tempting treats. The odd indulgence won’t stop you losing weight or becoming unhealthy (although it WILL slow weight loss down), however too much indulgence will see the number on the scales creeping up, and our sugar consumption rising, undoing some of the hard work you have put in.

Some people find that once they indulge, the cycle of indulgence or cravings re-establishes and they find it difficult to get back on track. Negative self-talk and feelings of failure follow, making it harder to make the right choices.

When temptation is there, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I really need it now?
2. Can I live without it for the time being?
3. How will I feel after eating it?
4. Will eating it be the �start of the end’ for my motivation and confidence?

The answers to these questions may be enough to put the brakes on making an impulsive choice that you’ll regret. If you choose to give in to temptation – and remember it is your choice to make- consider the following:

• A hot cross bun has around 230 calories and 8 teaspoons of sugar will be absorbed into your bloodstream. It will take about 40 minutes of extra exercise to burn off.
• A Bakers Delight choc chip hot cross bun has around 265 calories and yields 8 teaspoons of sugar so you would need 44 minutes of exercise in addition to what you are already doing.
• Four mini solid eggs have 144 calories and 3 teaspoons of sugar, so you’ll need an extra 24 minutes of exercise.
• A Lindt milk chocolate bunny has around 523 calories and 11 teaspoons of sugar and will take around 1 & a half hours of extra exercise to burn off.

So what does this all mean?

You’re already going for a 30 minute walk in the morning and generally trying to be more active. You’re busy with family, work and social commitments and it’s often hard to fit in extras like phoning a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. We all seem to lead very busy lives.

Think about how much spare time you actually have and ask yourself if you’d be happy spending that time exercising, just to burn off the Easter treats you chose to eat. Most people would rather spend that time watching a favourite tv program, playing a game with the kids or reading a book.

In addition to the problem of being time-poor, the sugar content of these extra treats will dramatically elevate your blood glucose and insulin. This promotes fat storage and regardless of the exercise you do, your body will simply find it almost impossible to release stored fat.

Whatever you decide to do over the Easter break, remember that your food and treats are completely your choice. You will decide to indulge in treats or to keep your weight loss goals as top priority. You will decide if the treat is worth slowing your weight loss. You’ll decide how much time you have available to devote to exercise. As the old saying goes “if it is to be, it’s up to me.”

Article by Mel Gilchrist from Dietflex