All too often, we find ourselves overeating when it comes to Thanksgiving. The enormous meal seduces us to pile on the calories, and we find our normal 2000 calorie diet pushed to upwards of 3000 and 4000 calories. How do we curb this desire to taste everything that is placed before us? These 7 tips should help, not only eat a reasonable amount, but also have little or no net gain for the holidays.
These tips pertains to all ages, but I find it more difficult to lose the weight as we age. Here are the 7 tips to stop you from binge eating your Thanksgiving Feast:
- Exercise the morning of Thanksgiving
- Fix a moderate size plate and do not go for seconds
- Sip water between bites
- Choose your favorite 2 desserts and have a normal portion
- Consider replacing your mashed potatoes with cauliflower or just have a tiny portion
- One cocktail is enough
- Have an activity after the meal that makes you move
- Exercise the morning of Thanksgiving
Start with a vigorous regimen that will allow you to burn upwards of 600 calories. Dance workouts are great for this and my recommendation is Kukuwa Fitness. By burning that many calories, you allow for a little indulgence without the consequence.
- Fix a moderate size plate
Fixing a moderate size plate allows you to eat and still have room for dessert and it ensures your caloric intake stays closer to the average daily allowance.
- Sip water between bites
Sipping water between bites will help fill you up quicker. Have you noticed you’re able to eat a lot of food if you withhold water until after a meal. This practice has helped considerably in keeping extra weight at bay. My mother had instilled this in us when growing up and I didn’t realize the benefit until my adult life.
- Choose your favorite 2 desserts and stick with them
You will be around numerous desserts and the normal reaction would be to taste everything. By limiting yourself to two of your favorite and getting normal protions, you wouldn’t feel you were denied the joy of those sweet while keeping the caloric intake down.
- Consider replacing your mashed potatoes with cauliflower or just eating a tiny portion.
Because cauliflower has more fiber and doesn’t contribute near the amount of sugar white potatoes do, this would be a great substitute. If this is in no way negotiable, eat a small portion to minimize the amount of sugar released in your system.
- One cocktail is enough
Cocktails, alcoholic drinks, add clories to a meal. In order to minimize this, limit yourselve to one cocktail. This way, you have satisfied the desire to have one without sacrificing added weight.
- Have an activity after the Thanksgiving Feast that causes you to move.
By choosing an activity, you can be sure to start burning the calories right away and having fun. For our family, it’s dancing after the meal. I have a video below for you to see that. It doesn’t have to be dancing, if that’s not your thing. It could be musical chairs, twister, pictionary etc. Any form of activity that forces you to move and burn calories.
I hope this helps you enjoy Thanksgiving and the holidays without gaining unnecessary weight. Feel free to leave any other suggestions you have below. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
