I'm finding grocery shopping  to be quite the  challenge lately...maybe it's  because of the lavish Easter Chocolate displays taunting me from just about every nook and cranny of the store...I've been pretty strong so far but if I do happen to see my Easter favorite...The Mr Munchy Bunny...all bets are off!! Well...speaking of which... every dieters nightmare...Easter Weekend...is just about upon us  ...and that's why Uber Trainer Matt Malischuck chose it as his  topic today for our Hump Day Health Kick! Enjoy!

          THE EASTER BUNNY….FRIEND OR FOE?

Hey everyone, welcome back to week 4 of the Hump Day Health Kick!

So the Easter Bunny is coming to greet us all this weekend, and I thought I would help you guys out to avoid some of the bad habits that he has been allowing us to indulge in for years!

As far back as I can remember, cooking a nice glazed ham has been the tradition of many families as well as my own over the Easter holiday. It tastes so good, but the reason why its so mouth watering is because it is loaded with fat! There is a whopping 9 calories in 1 gram of fat. If you consume 2-3 slices of our little porky friend, that amounts to about 30-40g of fat which works out to be 300-350 calories just from your meat alone! Lets not forget about the other traditions like mashed potatoes with gravy and the irresistible chocolates that are calling your name every time you come across them. The calories will definitely add up which in turn will definitely make you loosen your belts a few notches. Try these tips to still enjoy your Easter without the guilty feeling of over indulging!

-      substitute ham for turkey breast. It has more protein, no fat, a quarter of the calories and is good fuel for your muscles!

-      Lose the starchy carbohydrates like potatoes, and replace them with as many vegetables as you can eat! There is next to no calories in veggies, and are much more filling not to mention packed with more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for your body.

-      Have 3-4 chocolate eggs….not 34! Self control is your mission this weekend! If you have a sweet tooth, go easy on pie and chocolate and substitute with some fresh fruit and low fat yogurt.

Following these simple tips will allow you to enjoy your Easter weekend without the guilty feeling of letting those hard fought workouts you did earlier in the week go to waste.

And remember, if the Easter Bunny has a problem with that….you tell him to talk to Matt over at Ultimate Fitness in Barrie!

Happy Easter Everyone! Be Safe, and Be Healthy!!

Train Hard Everyone!

Matt.