Preparing for Thanksgiving

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Replies

  • CariJean64
    CariJean64 Posts: 297 Member
    randomtai wrote: »
    Learning early on that it's not what you eat during the holidays, it's what you eat the other months between.

    ^So much THIS.
  • LettingTheSmallStuffGo
    LettingTheSmallStuffGo Posts: 72 Member
    I once heard that people who are naturally thin tend to eat whatever they want on special occasions but go right back to eating how they normally do the very next day. My plan is to track all day, exercise that morning which will buy me a 200-300 calories extra, and to eat every type of food I want to eat but in normal portions. Since there will be a wide variety of foods that probably means I will go over my calories for the day. Next day, not use it as an excuse to over eat all weekend and get right back on track at the correct calories.
  • jmido
    jmido Posts: 18
    Try doing some good exercise an hour or 2 before you eat. Itll give you some extra calories to eat for the day and get your metabolism all rev'ed up so youll digest everything you eat faster.

    Also, pickout a nice plate of food but try to stay away from going back for seconds and you should be fine.
  • uconnwinsnc1
    uconnwinsnc1 Posts: 902 Member
    By my calculations, I should be able to recover from my Thanksgiving calorie surplus over the next 18 years of my life. :|
  • Fit147
    Fit147 Posts: 209 Member
    My husband and I have been modifying our intake together. We are both down 20 pounds but want to celebrate Thanksgiving right. The biggest problem I see is not the one day celebration, but the dang leftovers that will be sitting in the fridge for days after. My plan to prepare reduced sizes of everything to help solve this. It will be a Half Batch Thanksgiving. Our turkey is a small one and I plan to half everything: MIL's recipes for cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, pumpkin and apple pies made in smaller 6" pie plates. I am doubling the McCormick gravy though. High in sodium but low in calories. You can never have too much gravy. ;)
  • missjones513
    missjones513 Posts: 345 Member
    Calories will not be counted that day. I'll just try to do some cardio that night. I would say I would go lighter on calories the next day but that's my birthday and calories will not be counted that day either. Oh well, it's just 2 days.

    I might do a Fitbit challenge the Saturday after.
  • RoseyDgirl
    RoseyDgirl Posts: 306 Member
    I'm really excited about thanksgiving this year. I've found a few choices of healthier dessert recipes of which I'll choose one to make... debating between a type of pumpkin custard or a blueberry crisp. and, I'll make a vegetable dish - also, now deciding the recipe. I'm thinking perhaps a winter squash casserole ... It's going to be a beautiful day. :)
  • LeelooX2014
    LeelooX2014 Posts: 157 Member
    My sister and I are planning an epic hike while turkey cooks to burn as many calories as possible. We're doing a practice run this weekend as well to bak some up early. I'll log, but taste everything in moderation if I can.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    It's one day. Skip one of the following: Appetizers, alcohol or dessert. Enjoy all the rest of the meal. Remember it's only one day. B)
  • erichegwer
    erichegwer Posts: 34 Member
    eeks - I forogt about leftovers! Time to re-assess my plan
  • dunnodunno
    dunnodunno Posts: 2,290 Member
    Just eat what you enjoy in moderation & skip the foods you don't really like. One day won't derail your previous progress (might have temporary weight gain from sodium), but if you continue to eat over your calories then it could.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    LettingTheSmallStuffGo wrote: »
    I once heard that people who are naturally thin tend to eat whatever they want on special occasions but go right back to eating how they normally do the very next day..

    :huh:

  • Jacqadactle
    Jacqadactle Posts: 62 Member
    I don't track at all on the actual holiday. My main focus is getting right back on track the following day and sticking to it until my next cheat day, Christmas! I am planning how I'm going to pack my leftovers, though. Turkey is awesome protein, so I'm going to make sure I pack that separate (no gravy on it etc.) so I can make badass protein packed soups and wraps out of it for the week. My parents have always had steamed broccoli and roasted asparagus on Thanksgiving so I'm going to load up on that, too. I'll probably pack two dinner-sized containers of a little of everything, then put them in the freezer. Freezing leftovers means you'll have to cook them, so you can't pick at them in the fridge. I'll pull out the dinner for one cheat meal after a few weeks of solid tracking. I also have a recipe for tofu-pumpkin pie. It tastes exactly like pumpkin pie, but it's like a third of the calories and high protein, if you want it. It's really easy to make, too.

    Good luck :smiley:
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Jacqadactle wrote: »
    I don't track at all on the actual holiday. My main focus is getting right back on track the following day and sticking to it until my next cheat day, Christmas! I am planning how I'm going to pack my leftovers, though. Turkey is awesome protein, so I'm going to make sure I pack that separate (no gravy on it etc.) so I can make badass protein packed soups and wraps out of it for the week. My parents have always had steamed broccoli and roasted asparagus on Thanksgiving so I'm going to load up on that, too. I'll probably pack two dinner-sized containers of a little of everything, then put them in the freezer. Freezing leftovers means you'll have to cook them, so you can't pick at them in the fridge. I'll pull out the dinner for one cheat meal after a few weeks of solid tracking. I also have a recipe for tofu-pumpkin pie. It tastes exactly like pumpkin pie, but it's like a third of the calories and high protein, if you want it. It's really easy to make, too.

    Good luck :smiley:

    This is actually a damn good plan... :drinker:
  • ddarpel
    ddarpel Posts: 14 Member
    I like the idea of freezing the leftovers. For my part I plan to track the day of. I don't enjoy myself if I feel out of control on what I am eating - I'm still trying to lose and I get more angry about any gain than bothered by tracking.

    Here is what I am going to do. Maybe one or two of the ideas will help someone else...

    1. I have already built my meal plan out for the day so I know I can cover everything I love to eat and only be slightly over my calorie goal. A workout or long walk in the moring whould give me the extra calories I need to cover the gap and any extra tasting and picking that is always a part of the holiday for me. If I go overboard with anything I'll clean up my food log and adjust as I go.
    By logging ahead I at least have an idea of how much I can eat of what. I've thrown out a few things that don't top my list - so I stick to the "good stuff" that I want. I typically keep a total in my head and log after. On a holiday like this knowing my plan ahead helps me to keep from digging a hole during one meal that I will later regret.

    2. My wife will know my plan too - She will be on the "ignore calories and go for it" plan, but she knows that doesn't work for me and will help me along the way. We have been in this together and that helps a lot.

    3. The tradition for my brothers and our families is a day long paintball event on the day after! So there will be lots of exercise to come.

    4. I have also thrown the macros out the window. I'm staying at only a calorie count and focusing on the foods I love - despite the balance for the day.

    This approach has worked through a year of holidays so far. I do not dread Thanksgiving because I have a plan. It will not be perfect, but it will be close. In the end the food will not get in my way of enjoying so free time with my family.
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