Burning Off the Bunny

There is no way the Easter Bunny left candy only for the kids this year.

And when chocolate temptations lie there in an Easter basket on the counter in front of us (or even stashed in the back of the cupboard) — they can be difficult to resist. 

The Easter weekend (particularly Sunday brunch, with hot cross buns and mimosas) often revolves around food, as with so many holidays during the year. But just how many calories are we packing away when we nibble on those sweet sensations? 

For those working hard to stay fit, lose weight, and look good this upcoming summer season, take some healthy advice. “Don’t deprive yourself,” certified fitness instructor Ali McWilliams of Madison, Wisconsin, told LifeZette. 

“To be totally honest, I overdo it at holidays. Just ask my family. I eat almost every dessert and I overeat, feel awful, don’t sleep well, have a sugar rush and crash — but I only do that a few times a year. I have treats throughout the year, but they are portioned and more controlled.”

[lz_ndn video =3052227]

McWilliams said that one chocolate bunny will not derail us. “In fact, one day of overeating won’t set you back as long as you get right back into your healthy eating and workout routine the next day.”

But just how much will it take to burn off some of the calories you’re consuming? 

Here’s a general rule of thumb — 500 calories takes at least an hour of jogging at 5 mph to burn off.

If something is roughly 120 calories, such as 4 marshmallow peeps, it will take a 30-minute walk to burn off, McWilliams said. But this all depends on what you weigh and how fast you walk.

Fourteen jelly beans are around 150 calories and will take just over 40 minutes to walk off.

A medium chocolate bunny is around 240 calories and will take over an hour to walk off.

[lz_related_box id=”104710″]

Calories, by the way, aren’t the only things you need watch for. The sugar and carb content in any of these treats have some fitness experts advising avoidance at all costs.

McWilliams, on the other hand said, “You have to live, but make it count! Make it worth it, really love it, don’t just eat treats to eat treats.” It only becomes dangerous when splurging for a holiday turns into a daily habit, she said. Give it away, she said. Bring it to work — or throw it away.

“Know exactly what you want to eat, and only have that — and only one. Like, one hot cross bun or one mimosa. Then get away from it. If you are in a room where the jelly bean jar is, you’re more likely to keep going back for another handful. It’s too tempting.”

Be mindful. Chew slowly. Taste it and just enjoy it. That is McWilliams’ best advice.

“Our thinking is harder on our bodies than the chocolate bunny is. Negative thinking creates negative chemistry in the body. Enjoy. Be grateful — and don’t beat yourself up about it. Live life.”