How I'm Staying Healthy Over Super Bowl Weekend

The Super Bowl has come to Dallas.

Not like we'd hoped, of course. It was supposed to be the Dallas Cowboys versus some other hopeless team, but it just wasn't to be. C'est la vie.

Not only has the Super Bowl come, but crazy, nasty weather has come, as well. I don't know if you know this or not, but it doesn't snow in this part of Texas. I mean, it may every 10 years or so but never like this. There is ice everywhere! Schools are closed. I had to take a day off work one day this week so I wouldn't have to drive on the ice.

I know, I know. You Northerners are probably laughing right now. Just a little bit of ice and the Texans forget how to drive. Yes, that's right. We don't do all that great in the ice and snow, and I will proudly admit it.

Staying at home is dangerous for me. Being stuck inside makes it hard when you're trying to eat healthy. While I went to the gym five days last week, I'm not going to be able to go at all this week. I've been struggling with the impulses to eat those "comfort foods" while I don't have work to distract me. But I did okay. A few slipups, but not too bad overall.

I played around on the Internet this week. One of the things that fascinates me is when people do some crazy things with food. You know those huge sandwiches or 16-patty burgers. Things like that. Steaks as big as a platter! Burritos as big as your head! It really cracks me up to see what people will create.

One of the radio shows I listen to, the Riot on RadioU, will often dedicate portions of its show to the crazy foods out there. That's where I find most of them. In fact, they talk about food a lot, not just the crazy stuff. They clued me in to Giordano's Pizza in Chicago, which is hands down the best pizza I've ever eaten. Of course, if I eat it now, the new me has to limit myself to only one slice. But it's a huge slice -- easily more than enough.

One of the crazy foods I've never tried is KFC's Double Down. It may not sound all that crazy to you, but it does to me. Two fried chicken patties instead of bread? Yeah, sounds tasty, but I don't want to get anywhere near it. I'm afraid I might like it too much.

The Riot also introduced me to birthday cake French toast. I don't know, but it actually sounds kind of good. But don't worry, I won't eat it. That website also has the Cadbury Creme Eggs Benedict, which looks like all kinds of nasty.

Or how about the pumpple cake? An apple pie and a pumpkin pie baked inside of a cake. Yikes -- 1,800 calories per slice? That's more than I should eat in a day! But then someone had to go and make it "better" and add a cherry pie giving us the cherpumpple cake! What's next? Dip it all in fudge and serve with ice cream and whipped cream?

With the Super Bowl this weekend, there will be lots of food available. Probably not crazy foods like these, but a high quantity of not-so-great foods. So instead of burgers, fries and nachos, I'll stay true to the plan. I'll try to eat only the healthy foods, but most importantly, I limit my portions and eat only when hungry. That's really been working for me, and I'm going to stick with it.

Weight Watchers Online for Men has some great tips for avoiding Super Bowl traps. They mention eating in moderation and using some leaner types of meat. I would add some veggies to that. Munching on carrots, celery, pickles and olives can really help satisfy that crunchy or salty craving I sometimes get. Add a little salsa or hummus and you've really got a nice snack!

How are you fighting off the Super Bowl party traps? What are some crazy foods you've encountered? Have a great weekend!

After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That's Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move toward a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes and challenges as they tip the scale.