With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving upon us, we are officially into the Holiday Season. Usually, this is enough to strike fear and trepidation in the hearts of many dieters and those of us who’ve made great strides over the past year with our health and fitness. Why? ‘Tis the season for overeating, skimping on exercise, excessive temptations, numerous social events … and the dreaded accompanying weight gain. But, this year can be different. Let’s get our Thanksgiving eating strategy handled.
What can you do this year to keep yourself from putting on the pounds, but still allowing yourself some family and holiday fun? Here are my top 5 strategies:
- Workout all week including Thanksgiving Day. Unless you’re traveling a long distance, get your workout in on Thanksgiving morning, too. A few extra workout sessions can’t hurt and the pre-emptive calorie-burning and metabolism boost you get from a week’s worth of exercise will help keep you lean.
- Keep your portions reasonable. There’s no reason to go crazy by overloading your plate. Usually, your “eyes are bigger than your stomach” anyway, so if you supersize your portions, you’ll find yourself continuing to eat long after you’re actually full. Tell yourself if there’s a certain dish you absolutely love, you can have more of it when you’re done.
- Stay hydrated. Sipping water all day will help you feel more full and will keep your energy levels elevated. You’ll eat less, you’ll have a drink in your hand and you’ll feel refreshed.
- Enjoy more than just the food. Thanksgiving is about, well, giving thanks. It’s also about enjoying the company of family and friends, many of whom you rarely see. So, take this golden opportunity to visit and focus on all your blessings.
- Realize that you can enjoy food and celebrations without guilt. Everyone needs a good old-fashioned cheat meal once in a while, and as long as you’re not overeating on a regular basis, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy.
Just employing these simple tips can go a long way when it comes to staying on track throughout the season. And, guess what? Sticking to your plan will give you one more thing to be thankful for!