Hallowe’en is a favourite holiday for kids as it gives them permission to eat loads of candy. They also get to be anything or anybody they want.

Even adults get in on the action, although being bombarded with chocolate and goodies could be a bad thing for those of us trying to live a lean life.

If you are one of those people trying to keep your waistline from expanding during Hallowe’en, or anytime of year, here are a few tips:

1, Place a fruit bowl on your desk. It’s decorative and colourful and appealing. An apple is just as easy to reach for as a Dairy Milk.

2, Drink plenty of water! If you’re filling up on lots of water, you’re less likely to eat junk. Drinking about half your body weight in ounces is a good rule if you’re going for weight loss. A 200lb man, for example, would drink 100 ounces of water a day. Try to make sure your water bottle is stainless steel or glass to avoid the possibility of plastics and chemicals.

3, Eat your veggies FIRST. The order in which we eat our food is important. Fill up on the good stuff first. If you still feel like that candy is calling your name after, try brushing your teeth instead.

3, Plan an active Hallowe’en event. Perhaps a 5k walk/run with a friend, or make a pact with a buddy. For example, you can schedule your workouts together from now until Hallowe’en night, or agree on how many pieces of candy you’ll eat, or what days you’ll allow yourself to indulge in a couple of pieces.

4, Take your measurements TODAY. Take note of where you’re at right now in your progress and you’ll be less likely to stray from your goals. Take pictures of all your food before you eat it and send it to your buddy. Who wants to take a picture of a huge bag of candy corn?

5, Post your progress on social media such as Facebook or other webpages to stay on track. Keep yourself “out there” with open communication with those who love and support you.

6, Forgive yourself. Everybody loves candy. If you have a piece, just enjoy it and then let it go. Don’t start a downward spiral of self-loathing over a package of wine gums. Alleviating stress also reduces the stress hormone Cortisol, which can make you hold on to belly fat.

Take a deep breath, enjoy your day and B-Active For Life!

Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/B.ActiveForLife