Orlando doctor, dietitian discuss ‘holiday derailment’ and how to stay on track
Orlando Health experts join WESH 2 to share how people can keep their health on track despite temptation to overindulge and a change in the season.
ARE A LOT OF SWEET THINGS ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR, EXPERTS WARN THAT IT COULD TRIGGER A DOWNWARD SPIRAL FOR OUR HEALTH. IT’S CALLED HOLIDAY DERAILMENT, AND WE’VE GOT SOME EXPERTS NOW TO TALK ALL ABOUT IT AND HELP US NAVIGATE THIS SEASON AND OUR OVERALL WELLNESS. SO WITH US, ORLANDO HEALTH DIETITIAN GAYLE SMITH, AND WE HAVE SURGEON DOCTOR HANY TAHLEQUAH. GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH. NICE TO SEE YOU AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN. HAPPY HALLOWEEN. ALL RIGHT. SO LET’S TALK HERE. DOCTOR. THERE’S THIS THING THAT YOU GUYS ARE LETTING US IN ON. IT’S HOLIDAY DERAILMENT. WHAT IS THIS? IT’S KIND OF AN INTERESTING CONCEPT. I LIKE TO CALL IT THE DOMINOES EFFECT. SO BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU START WITH HALLOWEEN AND YOU KIND OF INDULGE YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT OF SWEETS, AND THEN YOU’RE LIKE, WELL, THE CHRISTMAS IS HERE. SO I GOT TO GO OUT AND I GOT TO EAT MORE SWEETS. AND AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THANKSGIVING AND THE WEATHER IS COLD AND I’M NOT GOING TO GO FOR MY RUN. AND THESE, THESE THINGS HAPPEN TO ME TOO. SO THAT’S KIND OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE EFFECT OF THE HOLIDAYS, I GUESS. AND IF WE LET THAT SPIRAL OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, ALL OF A SUDDEN, JANUARY, WE WAKE UP AND WE GO, OH, WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM. WE’RE WE’RE PACKING ON A FEW EXTRA POUNDS. CORRECT. YEAH. SO YOU’RE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR NOW. YOU’RE LIKE, AGAIN, SOME POUNDS THAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THROUGH YOUR METABOLISM OFF A LITTLE BIT AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CHANGE YOUR SET POINT TO SOME DEGREE AND SUCH. SO THAT KIND OF GETS YOU IN THAT EFFECT OF HOW TO GET OVER THAT. THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. AND WE’RE HEARING AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS. IF SOMEONE’S ON THAT, THIS IS A REAL UNHEALTHY PATTERN FOR THEM, FOR ALL OF US. BUT MAYBE ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE ON ONE OF THOSE THOSE WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS, CORRECT. THE WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS OR THE WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS. REDUCE THE EMPTYING OF THE STOMACH. SO USUALLY THESE SWEETS OR THESE SUGARS STAY LONGER IN YOUR STOMACH. SO IT CAUSES A LOT OF UNPLEASANT FEELINGS. BUT ALSO KIND OF CHANGES YOUR METABOLISM A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE SUGAR STAYS IN YOUR STOMACH FOR LONGER. OKAY. SO THAT’S WHY WE HAVE A DIETICIAN HERE. SO GAIL YOU BROUGHT SOME OPTIONS HERE. THESE ARE HEALTHIER SUGGESTIONS FOR HALLOWEEN TREATS. AND SOME OF THESE WE CAN’T NECESSARILY PUT IN THE KIDDOS BAGS, BUT SOME CAN. YEAH, YEAH DEFINITELY. YOU WANT TO TRY TO STAY ON YOUR PLAN, EAT YOUR FOOD EAT YOUR MEALS. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SNACKING, TRY TO THINK PROTEIN WITH YOUR SNACK IF YOU CAN. SO I’VE CHOSEN SOME NUTS LIKE CHICKPEAS ARE HIGHER IN PROTEIN. THEY CAN BE MADE INTO HUMMUS, OR YOU CAN BUY HUMMUS. I’VE ALSO GOT SOME TRAIL MIX WITH EDAMAME AND CASHEWS. I LIKE THAT LIKE SO IT’S DRIED EDAMAME. YEAH. SO THE SOYBEAN, THEY’RE KIND OF LIKE CHICKPEAS. THEY’RE BOTH ROASTED. AND I’VE GOT SOME CHOCOLATE IN THERE BECAUSE WE ALL NEED A LITTLE BIT OF CHOCOLATE. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. BUT MAYBE THESE ARE SOME SOMETHING COVERED IN CHOCOLATE. YOU’VE GOT THE CHERRIES WITH DARK CHOCOLATE. SO WE’RE GETTING OUR FRUIT TOO. I LOVE THIS. YES. KEEP THE FIBER UP A LITTLE BIT. HELP YOU. YEAH. AND THE APPLES? YES. THE APPLES ARE GREAT TOO. YOU BROUGHT APPLES? YOU BROUGHT AN ORANGE HERE JUST TO REMIND THAT. YES. THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD GIVE OUT ON OUR FRONT DOORS TODAY. INSTEAD OF CARAMEL ON THE APPLE CARAMEL APPLES, YOU COULD. OR CANDY APPLES, YOU COULD DO SOME PEANUT BUTTER. MAKE IT JUST A TAD SWEET WITH A LITTLE MAPLE SIRUP. OR YOU COULD ALSO DO SOME PRETZELS, WHICH ARE BAKED AND DIPPED IN A LITTLE BIT OF CHOCOLATE TOO. YEAH, I LIKE THE PEANUT BUTTER. ADD A LITTLE CACAO TO IT. THAT’S ONE OF MY HACKS. SO THE APPLE, THE PEANUT BUTTER CACAO, THAT’S KIND OF LIKE A CHOCOLATE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. AND LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS. JUST THOSE ARE A FEW. BUT DOCTOR, SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS LIKE THIS REALLY WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE BY THE TIME WE GET INTO THE NEW YEAR. YEAH FOR SURE I AGREE WITH GAIL. I THINK, YOU KNOW, ADDING PROTEIN, FIBER WITH THE WITH THE SWEETS AND ALSO HAVING A PLAN. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO, YOU KNOW, SHOPPING FOR THESE CANDIES, YOU KNOW PEOPLE HAVE KIDS AND SUCH DON’T YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET ALL TYPES OF CANDIES ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SAY, I’M GOING TO WALK INTO THIS AISLE. I’M GOING TO BUY TWO THINGS AND THAT’S IT. RIGHT. SO I HAVE A PLAN. PLAN IT RIGHT. IF YOU’RE, YOU KNOW, YOU LIKE CERTAIN TYPES OF CANDIES AND SUCH. THEY SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS HALLOWEEN I’M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, EAT THOSE TWO THINGS AND THAT’S IT. ALL RIGHT. GREAT ADVICE. THANK YOU BOTH. DOCTOR GAIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. AND WE’RE GOING TO PUT THIS UP ON WESH.COM FOR YOU.
Orlando doctor, dietitian discuss ‘holiday derailment’ and how to stay on track
Orlando Health experts join WESH 2 to share how people can keep their health on track despite temptation to overindulge and a change in the season.
Updated: 9:40 AM EDT Oct 31, 2025
Orlando Health experts, Dr. Hany Takla and Gayle Smith, join WESH 2 to share how people can keep their health on track despite temptation to overindulge and a change in the season.Smith shares healthy suggestions and Takla discusses the potential short and long-term effects of poor dietary habits. Click here to learn more.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Orlando Health experts, Dr. Hany Takla and Gayle Smith, join WESH 2 to share how people can keep their health on track despite temptation to overindulge and a change in the season.
Smith shares healthy suggestions and Takla discusses the potential short and long-term effects of poor dietary habits.
Click here to learn more.