This is the 4th year in a row I have posted this blog, but very important to read as we head into the holiday season!
It’s hard to believe it’s that time again, but here we are at the annual starting line for weight gain for most Americans.
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the most dangerous time of year for people who are striving to get and stay fit! The average weight gain for most Americans is between 1 & 2 lbs a year, but 1/2 of that occurs between Thanksgiving and New Years. If we kept up that pace all year we would put on about ten to twelve lbs a year and the obesity rate would skyrocket. I will list a few tips to avoid this ahead, but first let’s address what so many of us do on Thanksgiving.
1. We gorge ourselves on 6 helpings of turkey and trimmings and then stuff ourselves with unhealthy desserts because, “it’s Thanksgiving”.
2. We wake up the next morning with the intent of getting back on track but….look at all that yummy leftover turkey and those delicious desserts – what the hell, one more day of binging won’t hurt.
3. We wake up two days later feeling like we ate the turkey whole and say we will get it going again after New Year’s Day.
That is the mindset that invades so many Americans every Thanksgiving week. Do not fall into the trap. So here are a few innocent tips to keep you on track:
1. Do some cardio (or a barfusion™ class) on Thanksgiving morning! It will not only elevate your heart rate and make you feel less hungry, it will release those natural opiates that will remind you of how good you feel now that you are in shape and moving towards your goal.
2. Eat a big salad before the main course so you are not ravenous when the bird crawls out of the oven.
3. Concentrate on the activity of eating and savor every bite of food. Do not treat the meal like it is a race and the person who eats the most wins. Appreciate the experience.
4. Do not succumb to the pressure from your in-laws or family when they try to drive food down your throat. People are threatened by anyone who is trying to lose weight and get fit, and they will do anything to sabotage your efforts! Comments like “you look fine the way you are,” and “you are losing too much weight,” might be all it takes for you to let your guard down and start munching like the famine just ended….
5. And most importantly, give gratitude for the food you have been blessed with, and all of the blessings that are surrounding you on this wonderful Thanksgiving day!
