Five Keys to a Fit Thanksgiving

Hi Vibrant Lady!

It's Thanksgiving season! A time for joy, love, and... usually indulgence. The average person gains 1-2 pounds during the holidays. Actually not as much as I thought. I must be above average... because I'd gain more than that. Now that I've lost 96 pounds... I'm determined to keep that extra weight off. I've had to relearn some habits.

There is an important balance of being mindful of the food we are consuming and not being mentally consumed by the food. We should enjoy our favorite foods with our loved ones guilt-free. Here are some tips to stay on track during the holidays with your friends and family.

Key #1: Plan Ahead
Know what the serving size of your favorite dishes are. My absolute favorite dish is turkey stuffing. The serving size of stuffing is between 1/2-3/4 of a cup depending on the brand. Either visualize what that serving size looks like or... better yet, know how much your serving utensils can hold. You don't have to stop at 1 serving. I will most likely take 2 servings of stuffing. But I will be mindful of what I'm eating as a whole.

We mostly know what foods will be served on Thanksgiving. Plan ahead on which foods you'll eat and thoroughly enjoy it!

Key #2: Eat without Guilt
When I plan to indulge in my favorite foods, I can eat them without feeling guilty. I coach others, especially beginners, to still track their food. The food apps today are amazing and only take a minute or two. It is a good way to train our brains what healthy servings are and when to stop. We are reprogramming our brains for lifestyle change not only temporary weight loss.

Key #3: Keep Active
Go for a walk at some point of the day. Better yet... bring your family and friends! I find that electronics usually get tucked into pockets. We then have deeper conversations while being outside on a simple walk.

Due to work schedules, our family is celebrating Thanksgiving on Friday. So I decided to look for a 5k Turkey Trot in our area. Some of the race slogans are hilarious... "Hobble till You Gobble" or "Burning Thighs Before Pies". I love the creativity! FYI... You don't need to enter a race. Just be active doing something you enjoy.

*Thanksgiving Update... I did run the Turkey Trot 5k. It was amazing and the most challenging race with the snow-covered road. I would do it again!

Key #4: Drink Water
It is easy to forget to drink water. Dehydration does cause cravings... which could lead us to overeating later in the day. For optimum benefit, Women need 10-12 cups of water a day.

On a busy day like Thanksgiving... You could set an alarm on your phone or watch to remind you to drink water at different intervals.

Key #5: Be Kind to Yourself

Eat more than you planned? Don't beat yourself up about it. In the past, I'd be so disappointed in myself and say "forget it!" Then I'd eat anything I wanted and set aside my dream of fitting into my favorite dress from college.

Instead of being regretful on Thanksgiving... say, "That was an amazing meal!" and be grateful for what you did right that day and the blessings that surround you. Don't let a little negativity ruin a whole bunch of positives. Make a choice to learn and grow from the experience. You will have many other holiday parties and meals in the next 6 weeks to improve.

Winston Churchill wisely said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Keep going and don't give up!

By following these tips, you can enjoy the holiday season with your friends and family while still maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. Remember to be kind to yourself, stay active, and focus on balance and moderation.

Happy Thanksgiving!