What is the point of Thanksgiving? We might think it’s about counting our blessings, focusing on the things we’re grateful for, spending times with our loved ones…
No, really, it’s about eating!
Fortunately, there is no reason to resign yourself to gaining weight over the holidays. Here are five tips to help you survive and thrive.
Preparation
You won’t necessarily lose or gain weight because of what you do in a single day. Your habits over time ultimately determine your weight. There are 3500 calories in a pound (read more about weight loss math here), and your weight ultimately reflects what you’ve done over the week/month.
You can prepare for days you are going to eat a little more (like Thursday, Nov 25th) by eating a little less in the days before and after. I’m not talking about starving yourself or skipping meals! But you have more incentive, knowing Thanksgiving is coming, to be extra strict with your diet and hold on treats and desserts so you can enjoy them on the holiday.
Recipe Revision
There are some easy ways to make small substitutions to recipes and cooking methods to create healthier Thanksgiving dishes. Many times, you can’t taste a difference. Just google “healthy Thanksgiving recipe substitutions” and you will find many resources.
Traditionally, the Thanksgiving meal is not prepared in the healthiest way and is loaded with high-carb favorites like rolls, stuffing, and potatoes. Over time, you can incorporate more green foods and healthier dishes to create new meal traditions.
Stuff the turkey, not yourself
It’s not just about the calories you’ll save – stuffing yourself makes you feel awful in the end! During the holidays, we not only fail to eat proper portion sizes, but feel entitled to go back for seconds or thirds.
STOP EATING WHEN YOU’RE FULL. There is no reason to eat 4x the amount you normally would at dinner. There will be leftovers, and you will not die if you if don’t have a chance to eat every single food offered on the table.
Activity
Make time for physical activity over the week of Thanksgiving and the day itself. This will help to offset some of the extra calories you consume – but is not an excuse to pig out! Find time for a walk or some active fun throughout the day.
Read 5 Tips to Stay Fit over the Holidays.
Enjoy the moment
Finally, please enjoy the holiday. It really is about gratitude and spending time with loved ones. Don’t spoil the fun by obsessing over calories and what you’re eating. If you stay balanced, you can enjoy your holiday guilt-free.
It is one of my pet peeves when you’re eating with someone and they start talking about how “bad” the food is they’re eating, and how much they are going to “regret it when they get on the scale” and how hard they’re going to have to workout to “burn it off”…..So stop eating it! But don’t ruin everyone else’s meal with negativity.
Make wise choices, stay active, don’t stuff yourself, and then enjoy the wonderful food that is part of this holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!
P.S. What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner?
Mine is my mom’s stuffing, it’s absolutely delicious!
Filed under: Goals & Planning, Weight Loss Tagged: | calorie deficit, diet, healthy eating, holidays, Lighten up, Planning
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It was interesting to read.