It’s that time of year again! The time when we look forward to seeing friends, family and loved ones we haven’t seen in a while. The time of year when turkey carving becomes an art form and all we think about is how good everything looks and how good it will all taste. It’s Thanksgiving. The holidays are one of my favorite times of year but for some it could be a very stressful time and we all know stress either makes us eat too much or not at all. This Thanksgiving my best advice is to take it easy, relax and enjoy your time with your loved ones. Eat what you shall, drink as you will and be merry. This is all possible if we remember to eat small portions. Choosing a smaller portion at the dinner table this Thanksgiving will leave room for the foods that really make our mouths water. There is no need to suffer yourself and eat only the salad or the vegetables enjoy everything you desire on the table by not overdoing it.
The majority of the foods we eat this Thanksgiving will be loaded with calories, candied yams, apple and pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberry sauce, I could go on but we all know what a Thanksgiving feast looks like. Don’t take away from your holiday experience by stressing over calories and putting on a few extra pounds because of all the foods you will eat. This is not the time to count calories a process that could prove to be very stressful at this point, practice restraint instead. There will be lots of leftover for seconds so don’t try to eat everything at the first sitting. Another great way to not be consumed with guilt after a Thanksgiving meal is to take a walk. Gather the loved ones or the children after everyone is done eating and go for a stroll. This time of year is beautiful. Weather is brisk and perfect for a short walk. I know most of us will plop on the chair in front of the television but challenge yourself to do something different with your family this year. It could be as simple as turning on the music and dancing together.
Remember change starts with us, and the more we get use to the idea of challenging and changing the norm the better we become at managing our daily lifestyles and habits.
If all else fails and none of this advice seems logical with a 20lb roasted turkey in front of you, remember you have 5 weeks to prepare for the Christmas holiday where this scene may be repeated again, so hit the tracks or the treadmill running. Start a workout regiment to take you through the holidays and continue to practice healthy eating habits by eating smaller portions, eating rich, sugary and fatty foods in moderation and keep a positive attitude.
