Take holiday temptations by storm with these surefire fitness tips circa Nov. 1-7, 2012; Seminole Chronicle

     As early as September the end caps of the stores are filled with bags of my favorite cone-shaped, sugar-loaded, white tipped candy corn in a variety of flavors - autumn mix, chocolate caramel, Indian mix. Candy corn may not be your choice; there are plenty other super-size bags of candy tempting us the second we step foot in the stores. 
     How does Oviedo's Fitness Fanatic survive the holiday candy, feasts and parties without sacrificing her diet the next couple of months?
     I maintain my exercise schedule, planning my workouts week by week so I'm more likely to follow through with them, while not getting overwhelmed by planning a month in advance. I decide which days are best for cardio and weight training, what time of day and how much time out of my busy schedule I have to train. I also have to keep in mind weight training takes more time than cardio training. I write it down on my calendar and execute that plan. If you don't already have an exercise plan in motion, I suggest beginning one today by either joining a gym, signing up for an exercise class or boot camp. Don't wait for the new year. 
     When I get uncontrollable cravings, I'll stop whatever I'm doing, head to the gym or get up and get moving right where I am - even if it's for 15 minutes. That craving I had before my workout most likely isn't there when I've finished. 
    This one I can't stress enough - prepare your meals ahead of time. With the holidays, we are constantly on the go, running short on time, rushing from one activity to the next causing us to make poor food choices. It only takes a couple of hours to prepare meals to last three to five days. It's worth a couple of hours spent in the kitchen for a few days of healthy meals ready in an instant.
      When it comes to parties, I'll eat often through-out the day - skipping a meal will only cause me to overindulge. I drink water or a diet soda to keep me full. I'll choose a smaller plate for fruit, vegetables and shrimp or lean meat. I won't waste calories on foods I don't absolutely love. I will, however, splurge with one special treat. I've learned to say no, thank you, to those who insist on me having more. And I stay away from the buffet table to avoid nibbling. 
     Preparing for the holidays brings with it a busy schedule causing us to stay up late getting the cooking, baking and shopping complete. I don't know about you, but if I don't get enough sleep, feeling fatigued and irritable, I tend to make unhealthy food choices all day and skip my workouts. I need at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night. 
     I don't expect to lose weight during the holiday season. However, I plan on maintaining my current weight. 

Tips Summarized:
* Maintain your current exercise routine or start one.
* Defeat cravings by taking a few minutes to exercise.
* Precooked meals give you an instant healthy choice.
*Control party binging by eating often during the day.
* Lack of sleep can lead to unhealthy food choices.