Do you ever feel like you’re on a roll with exercise and weight loss, then the holidays come around only to sabotage your efforts? Me too. I feel like it’s a never-ending cycle of holidays…Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s…is there any occasion that doesn’t consist of fattening foods, third helpings and cocktails made with heavy cream?
Well, we can’t do anything about the holidays, and we certainly wouldn’t have a fun time eating “health food” snacks and protein shakes while everyone else is enjoying pecan pie. So as the old saying goes, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”, which is exactly what I’ll show you how to do without gaining weight!
So, here’s 3 simple steps to have fun on Thanksgiving without having to undo the top button on your pants!
Step 1: Know EXACTLY what you’re in for…you need to be vigilant of a couple things. First, know exactly what you’ll be eating all day. As in, what time are you eating with your family – at dinner? Then make a plan of exactly what you’ll be eating for breakfast, mid-morning, lunch and before dinner. Make the meals small, make them healthy. The worst thing you could do is skip a meal because you forgot or didn’t have time to eat. Skipping meals only to binge eat at Thanksgiving dinner is counterproductive and will actually make you GAIN weight and STORE fat. Don’t do it.
Second, know exactly what will be served at Thanksgiving. I am constantly aware or assuming that there won’t be things for me to eat at most get-togethers, so I make sure I’m not super hungry when I show up to an event. If you do happen to know or have an idea of what will be served, make a plan in your head of what you will and won’t be eating.
P.S. This one little trick (eating SUPER healthy throughout the day (around holiday meals) will make you feel fantastic the next day – no guilt, very little bloating.
Step 3: Eat as slow as possible and savor EVERY bite. You’ve heard this one before, but it’s so often the neglected step. Eating slowly allows your brain to signal the hormone Leptin, which says, HELLO, I’m full, stop eating!”
Eating slowly will also keep you from experiencing cravings. If you’re eating a small slice of pie, and really enjoying it, you won’t feel the need to stuff your face later! Does this only happen to me? Please, do yourself a favor and (slowly) enjoy the food you’re eating.
Take care this Thanksgiving, and have a wonderful time with your family!
Credits:
Thanksgiving plate: http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/ / CC BY-NC 2.0
Tiramisu: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wicho/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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