Oh boy. This is the time of year when the "treats" really start piling up in the break room.

I live in a Northern/Alpine climate; nothing like a few frosts to get the body saying "Stoke that furnace!" So, here's how I cope:

• I bring my legal treats. Some, like the Paleo mini cheesecakes, others like too. This lets me share!
• If something is really calling me, I make a low carb version.
• My craving can be fixed with a cup of coffee and some coconut oil.

This is also the time of year my co-workers marvel at my willpower. But no matter how many times I tell them the truth, they don't believe me.

But the key to it is: this stuff is off the table. Literally.

If we think about it, we realize the struggle comes from debating with ourself over eating it. That's the tormenting part!

If we simply decide we don't eat that any more, the struggle is gone. We've said goodbye, we realize it's not worth it.

Once we have the void, we can fill it. Pretending we can still have it... that's the struggle part.

This.

I was fortunate to reach that stage around this time last year. I actually had a bowl of Halloween treats sitting on my desk for people to take, and I wasn't even interested in them. Now people bring in treats and put them on the counter in the kitchen and I'm not tempted at all. Once I made the decision in my heart that I DON'T eat that stuff, suddenly it because much easier.

Thanks, great post.

Great post!!

For me, it was accepting that the rationalization of "just one bite" doesn't work! I don't kid myself anymore.

WereBear, another wonderful post and exactly what I needed to read tonight...as I sip my tea with coconut oil, trying NOT to think about what I would normally be eating right now.

Great post. One bite doesn't work because I need more and I'm not going there. I'm still not going to have the stuff sitting around haunting. I don't like having ghosts from the past, especialy recent ones.

BF has a box that he locks all the holloween candy in. He divies it out to the kids on a nightly basis till they start forgetting about it. Then its his and after a while, he forgets its in the closet too

I am not going to eat candy at Holloween. I am not eating desserts at Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is no exceptions to this, I'm not talking myself out of anything. I simply am not doing it, the stuff is harmful to me, like antifreese to a dog. Not pretty!

Werebear, thanks for the post. You expressed my attitude to a 't'. I'm not as tempted because I just don't eat that anymore. Sometimes have to get firm with people who will suggest they cut a small piece of cake for me, etc. But it gets easier to say no the more times I say no. If that makes sense, lol!

Great post!

Werebear: Totally agree with all you said. I've had 18 glorious months of freedom from that particular struggle.

Here's the thing, though: this week the struggle reared it's ugly head again and I've been craving BREAD. Bread was crack to me my whole life, so wanting it again has scared the sh** out of me. In the past I've said that I'm not interested in substituting low carb versions of high carb foods, mostly because I fear I'd use them as an excuse to inch my way towards the real thing eventually. However, this bread craving has me so worried that I'm going over to the recipe section today to look for bread substitutes I can make. I don't know what's causing the craving. The change in weather, maybe?

Anyway, thanks for your post. It was particularly appropriate for me to read it today.

Great post, Werebear! My family can't understand why I cannot eat that junk "just today" or "only around the holidays" but for me it is just as you said: that stuff is totally off the table. Thanks, we really need this going into the holiday season!

I wish I had read this a few days ago. I got through Halloween okay. I didn't really crave the candy, but someone made homemade pumpkin pie and that was very hard to resist. I deeply appreciate homemade foods made from fresh ingredients.

I'm a baker and I love seeing people eat my treats, but I haven't managed to figure out LC baking at all. It all tastes weird and I would never, ever serve it. Baking is such a big part of my identify too. I don't cook well so I never make meals for people, but I can bake well.

LC baking can be tricky, and bread and biscuity things seem to be a matter of individual taste, but sweet treats can excellent.

Three of my favorite blogs are All Day I Dream About Food, Healthy Indulgences, and Maria's Nutritious and Delicious Journal.

Cakes, for example:

http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/20...bundt-cake.html

http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/201...with-cream.html

http://healthyindulgences.net/2009/...ith-a-secret-2/

I especially like these 3 bloggers because they match my preference in sweeteners but there are a lot more people out there sharing recipes and tips including here in the kitchen section.

What has tasted weird about what you've tried? Sometimes it is a matter of brands or other choices making a big difference.

I've tried some of the cheese cake recipes and chocolate mousse made from tofu and a chocolate muffin made from almonds. I used Stevia and I couldn't stand the aftertaste. So then I tried not using any Stevia (for the cheese cakes) and then they were just eggy. The chocolate mousse was fairly disgusting too. I've gone over to the recipe area and I'll try playing around with some of those. I have yet to find a non-sugar sweetener that suits me however. I always taste it, always.

Do any of you remember those horrendous Atkin's chocolate bars from the 1990s? They were brittle and had the grossest aftertaste! That's what baked Stevia tastes like to me. And all the others. I've experimented with Nutrisweet too and Splenda.

Swerve is my favorite sweetener. Ever tried that one? Before I discovered Swerve, it was Zsweet. Swerve seems easier to work with, as it dissolves better and bakes better. It also comes in confectioner's style.

Thank you for this post!