Derail. You know the word. Let's face it, most of us working toward good health through diet and exercise have an intimate relationship with the word. Diet derailers are everywhere -- in your house, in the grocery store, at work, at play, in your head even. Here, we'll address the very things that throw us off course. Together, we'll learn how to avoid our diet traps -- and how to get back on track when we can't.


Holy Halloween. It's that time of year again. Beware of donuts, cider, graveyard brownies, spider cupcakes, and candy as this terrifying holiday approaches, say the folks at Suite 101, because these sweet treats have diet derailer written all over them.

What's worse than temptation staring us down during this holiday season is the fact that it faces us wherever we go -- school functions, office parties, virtually any event that takes place in the month of October. Clearly, we've got to be armed -- with a whole lot of willpower and a truckload of tips for surviving the horrors of Halloween.

• Bev shares seven tricks to avoid the treats.
• Maggie tells us how to not steal from our kids' candy buckets.
• Here, some suggestions for staying strong in candy aisles and at Halloween parties.
• How about some seasonal diet tricks and healthy recipe options too?
• Check out this healthy pumpkin post. And this one, if you're in the mood to indulge just a bit.
• Ready for a healthy Halloween? Check out this post for five steps you ought to take.
• Want permission to have your candy and eat it too? Then read this one.

When it comes down to it, here's the deal: Halloween doesn't last forever. It's temporary, fleeting, a potential small bump in the road. It may be scary for those who have a hard time sticking with a clean diet, but it's doable. You either fight with all of your might and get through it without incident. Or you cave, have some candy, and get back on the horse when the candy runs out. Either way, I suspect you'll survive.

How will you handle Halloween? Will you let loose and enjoy? Give in just a bit? Or hold off altogether? Regardless, we wish you a happy time at it.