Thanksgiving day blunder

brooklynemelia

Hi everyone,

I have a question for everyone out there. Thanksgiving is on Monday (Canada) and the holidays make me nervous. I don’t want to eat too many calories and I’m having a hard time deciding what to paid with my turkey dinner.

I got the veggies covered, but everything else is a huge mess


Help my fellow MFPs

malibu927

On holidays (American Thanksgiving and Christmas) I don't worry as much about the calories. I eat the foods I want to in reasonable portions, then the following day I get back on track. You have to think about not only getting through it now, but what you will do when you reach maintenance.

smh_cliff

I echo the previous post. One day isn't going to ruin everything. Just load the plate mostly with veggies and you will be fine.

You could cut back 100 per day for the rest of the week to give an extra cushion if it would make you feel more relaxed. Besides even if you go over still, you'll see a downward trend over the fortnight.

Be aware that if you are eating differently to normal you could see increased water retention showing on the scales - I personally would try and resist the urge to weigh myself the following morning but give it a day or two of being back to normal.

GrumpyHeadmistress

I agree with @malibu927 (as usual). Dont stress over one day. In the long run (weight management is a lifelong project) one day isn’t going to make a spot of difference.

Meghanebk

It's one day. Make what good choices you can, but don't stress about it. Just be careful not to let Thanksgiving stretch our for a week!

Tacklewasher

Ran a 10K race today so I've have the extra cals for all the turkey day stuff. But enjoy, log it and don't worry about it.

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Lynzdee18

I stick with extra fresh veg. Have sweet potatoes but avoid the mashed white. Only a tablespoon of gravy. No dressing, but yes to cranberry sauce. No skin, but extra turkey breast. Sadly no wing for me!

I bring a dessert. Pumpkin lasagna, made with low cal ingredients. A couple spoonfuls is enough.

But yes, it’s just one day......

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singingflutelady

Lynzdee18 wrote: »

I stick with extra fresh veg. Have sweet potatoes but avoid the mashed white. Only a tablespoon of gravy. No dressing, but yes to cranberry sauce. No skin, but extra turkey breast. Sadly no wing for me!

I bring a dessert. Pumpkin lasagna, made with low cal ingredients. A couple spoonfuls is enough.

But yes, it’s just one day......

There isn't much difference between what tee and sweet potatoes. Eat whichever you prefer

Evamutt

Personally I love thanksgiving and am planing to eat & enjoy. One day won't make a difference

kenyonhaff

I agree with everyone who emphasizes one day isn't going to ruin your whole diet plan. Plus, it's usually impossible to know what exactly is the fat content of Aunt Marta's cheesy mashed potatoes or whatever. Trying too hard when all the environment is working against you can lead to unnecessary frustration.

When I come across these days, I work on:
1) Enjoy the day. Don't get too perfectionistic, anxious, or whatever. Freakin' enjoy the food.
2) Keep portion sizes reasonable. OK, enjoy the food, but don't go for oversized portions, seconds (unless raw veggies), don't eat food you don't really like just to eat.
3) Focus on the company and experience, not the food. With all the hyper-focus on food, remember that what you're there to do is be together, not shove food in your face. Take your time, talk, go for walks... do not solely be there for the food.

VintageFeline

My closest friend is Canadian and she hosts a meal every year for her friends and British family. We had it yesterday, I didn't care. I ate what I want and also demolished my goody bag of leftovers she gave me (her pumpkin pie is out of this world). No biggie. I banked some calories earlier in the week but if I hadn't I'd still have done the same. It's one day. I enjoyed it. Up 3lbs of delicious food bloat this morning but it will pretty much be gone in the next couple of days.

Enjoy it. Don't let it derail you. Job done.

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PaytraB

On holidays, I up my calories to maintenance, try my best to be aware of the food I'm eating, choosing to sometimes say no to desserts and (more) wine, etc. I don't worry if I go over calories, or have to estimate amounts. I concentrate on being aware and being able to enjoy the day while trying to keep some sort of balance.
Not everything has to go in my mouth. Some things can be left aside and the day is still enjoyable.

Enjoy Thanksgiving. Focus on the turkey and veggies. Fill up more on them. Sample the gravy and desserts. Enjoy it all.

ADeCapua

I was worried about this too. I'm planning on measuring my food like always. Turkey, 1/2 cup stuffing, 1/2 cup white mashed potatoes, a few tablespoons of gravy, 1/2 cup of other veggies, 1/4 cup of cranberry sauce, no bread, probably no butter. And I will avoid the pre-meal snacks unless it's fruit or veg. I will eat a dessert too. I'll probably still end up between 600 and 1000 calories that way, but for me, it's a happy compromise. Good luck!

GottaBurnEmAll

The first time this came up, I had just started here on MFP two weeks before Thanksgiving and logged every morsel and came in at deficit on Thanksgiving.

The second time, I tracked everything and ate at maintenance, which started a month long diet break.

The third time, I ran a 5K that morning, didn't bother logging, and just ate sensibly while ejoying myself.

I liked my third time plan the best. It felt most like something resembling real life. It's been my go-to plan for vacations and holidays since. Stay active, enjoy myself, get back on track after the day/event.

This year, I will have completed 10K training. I think I'll run that Thanksgiving morning!

RoxieDawn

This will be my 4th holiday after losing my weight. Thanksgiving in America is always on Thursday and its already a planned exercise morning, so I have that covered.

I will cook the entire spread and enjoy a maintenance day or most likely a little over maintenance. Its one day I have with my family and while it is centered around having a large meal, being thankful and being together is what its all about; calorie counting can wait till the next day.

shaunshaikh

You'd have to eat 3,500 calories over maintenance in order to gain one pound of fat. Unless you're a professional eater one day isn't a big deal.

PaulaWallaDingDong

I take holidays off. I don't completely pig out, but I eat well and relax.

Iheartrunning36

You can eat everything at the table, set a meal calorie goal and just just focus on portion size, know what your eating and calorie content....weigh food if you have too....stop eating before you fill full. Cut out Soda and alcohol and stick to water and load up on the healthier things. Take a walk with family, go do something active sitting around gorging isn't a deserving splurge it's harmful and will undo everything you are trying to set out to do. Enjoy your meal in moderation, eat slowly.

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Iheartrunning36

What I mean by undoing everything is not physical, over eating is what got us into this situation to begin with so allowing yourself to go back to a habit that created the problem is not good. If we had control psychologically, none of us would be on this site needing advise on days we feel we may overrate. A healthy way of thinking drives biological change. Just a fact. Of course you wont undo physically the work, but the whole point of losing weight and keeping it off is to find healthier views on food, how we eat and how we feel. Binging is not healthy for people who struggle with weight who are learning new healthy ways to view food and nutrition in general. Binging will always be a set back that's a fact and binging can turn into an over eating disorder easily for someone who's eating is out of control. They can enjoy EVERYTHING on table in moderation.

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tiffdaski

I plan to not worry about calories too much today for Thanksgiving I banked a few calories this past week and I can make up a few more in the week to come if need be. As soon as I restrict too much, including worrying about holidays, I'll fall off the wagon completely.

wenrob

I’ve been at this close to eight years. There are a handful of days where I just relax and don’t worry about it, my birthday, my anniversary, Thanksgiving, Christmas and vacation. I don’t take it as a license to lose my mind and binge all day but where on a normal day I might choose stuffing OR mashed potatoes, on Thanksgiving I’ll have both with gravy, thankyouverymuch. And pie because, well, PIE. It’s one day and I’m in this for the long haul. It’s not what I do on that day but what I do on the days leading up and the days after. You can’t be perfect 100% of the time so on holiday/special days I choose not to be.

nowine4me

@wenrob I love your attitude! take the exact same position. This will be my 3rd Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYE on MFP. The first year I was a stressed out mess, last year I was a bit more relaxed and this year, I'm going to try to actually have some fun. And mashed potatoes. And pie. We needn't be perfect, just pretty good most the time.

bisky

I understand your concerns. You don't want this one day to be the day that causes a set back or the mentality of falling off the wagon and not being able to get back to healthy eating. I had this dilemma last week at a birthday party ...it was at a touristy southwestern restaurant and everyone was drinking. I have some goals I wanted to meet and did not want this one meal to set me back. I spent a lot of time visualizing saying yes to what ever type of salad or healthy food I could find and yes to club soda with limes and lemons. I love margaritas but I wanted to pass on them this night. When I got there I felt calm and in control and was able to stick to my game plan and had a great time talking with people. Try to have a game plan, visualize yourself sticking with it. Visualize yourself in a room full of all kinds of food and you eating want you planned on eating.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I am not Canadian but I grew up in western Canada.