Thanksgiving Plan?

erjones11

What’s your meal / day plan for Thanksgiving? Are you going to log and keep to your calorie goals? Are you just going to take it as a day to eat whatever you want and not log? Will your plan or lack thereof carry in to the weekend? No judgement from me, just putting it out there.

There are so many things I enjoy eating on Thanksgiving and we are having a traditional meal. I am responsible for deep frying the turkey, which I in my family I am famous / notorious for.

Past holidays and special meal days I have been able to log the things I enjoy and keep to my goal. I am in maintenance and have had a 200 calorie deficit for the last few days coming in to Thanksgiving, part of my plan. This I way I know I have enough calorie head room be able to fit in turkey, stuffing, gravy and some green bean casserole. All of which are my favorites. Oh yes and whatever delicious dessert is offered!

I will still weigh my portions and log what I eat. I plan to have about 2,600 calories available and knowing me will be fully satisfied coming in less. I am not planning on any exercise calories for Thanksgiving as it is my lifting day and I will not likely do much if any cardio.

What’s your plan?

JustSomeEm

My plan is to relax, enjoy the day but not go overboard... And not to let it spill over into the weekend (much). And for exercise, hubby and I are doing a turkey trot in the morning before we head back home and cook.

BrettWithPKU

My daily routine is 2000 calories plus exercise. I don't plan to deviate on Thanksgiving. 400-calorie breakfast leaves me with 1600 calories the rest of the day--most of which will come from the 'big meal'.

Full disclosure: I'm 240 lb, so my routine drops me by 2 pounds/week. I understand it's not that easy for everyone.

ellie117

I'm going to log as best as I can, but it's so hard to stay accurate since everything is homemade by family members. I'm going to do my best to limit my portion sizes so I can have a little bit of everything without going overboard.

cmriverside

I stopped being rigid about holidays long ago. I do still log, but I have no illusions that holiday meals are accurately logged. I don't save calories, I can't do that. I just eat the delicious food on the day and call it life.

jessalittlemore

I'm a proponent of structured cheat days. I give myself 2-3 days (I say 3, but sometimes I'm just over "bad foods" by 2 and ready to get back on the horse) a month at the same time every month, and I personally feel like they keep me on track more than they hinder me. I can't eat as much as I used to after sticking with my calorie deficit for a year, so I don't indulge in binging. Usually I focus those days on one meal or treat I've been craving over the month, and it never lives up to expectations, which lessens the cravings for it significantly.

So my plan this Thanksgiving is to eat without guilt. I've been under my calorie goal most days this week and intend to get right back to it after the holiday, so I see no reason not to indulge in a once-a-year tradition.

eaglebob1960

I'm not going to worry about it. I've lost 50 pounds in the last five months, so one awful day won't ruin everything! Seriously, my appetite is less, and I don't crave sweets and fats as much as I used to. Other carbs though...

steveko89

I won't eat much, if anything before a 10K in the morning (There's one annually in Cincinnati that benefits the local food bank). Per tradition, we'll stop at Waffle House on the way home for a late breakfast. Then over to my in-laws for dinner. Sticking to two meals and the 10k makes calories much more navigable. Everything will be logged to the best of my ability, prioritizing protein but saving room for pumpkin pie and the appropriate amount of whipped cream. On days I exercise I shoot for about 2100 calories which should be appropriate for me to lose 1 lb/week.

pjwrt

Sunny, but cold here. I'll clean the gutters, stare at fallen leaves, and stay on the 2100 calorie mark without using my over-exercising-for-treats. Ham, potatoes, veggies are adequate.

This holiday isn't a family tradition here; hasn't been since 2001 because of the travel delays. We do the summer vacation for family reunions; much more relaxing and warm.

erjones11

ellie117 wrote: »

I'm going to log as best as I can, but it's so hard to stay accurate since everything is homemade by family members. I'm going to do my best to limit my portion sizes so I can have a little bit of everything without going overboard.

That's so true, you never know how those family recipes are prepared and what goes in them. I stopped asking and do the best I can.

tcunbeliever

I'm merging 2 of my high calorie days into Thanksgiving...I may or may not track...just depending on how much I eat/drink...we are actually having a late dinner this year, so I will not eat anything before dinner, but will probably have some drinks...all in all I have about 2600 calories set aside, and if I go easy on the sweets and booze, it's unlikely I could eat more than that in a day anyway.

RelCanonical

I eat what I want, just not to illness anymore. I watch my portions and don't waste my calories on things I'm "meh" about.

88olds

Pumpkin pie. It puts me over my number but it’s just how it is. It’s one day.

Worked on this every time it came around for about 3-4 years before I realized that going over my number one day didn’t matter to the scale.

The rest of it is just pass the turkey and the veggies. Kinda like every other day.

AnnPT77

We do evening dinner, which I'll eat ad libitum, with wine. Probably normal oatmeal breakfast, but just the two meals. C2 holiday challenge starts, so some rowing machine before I make salads, pack, drive 90 minutes to get there.

Not counting for that day, but expect to gross 5,000-6000 calories based on past experience, which is around 2 x TDEE in round numbers.

Expect we'll go out for breakfast Friday, so could end up a little over TDEE that day, too.

It'll sort out over the long haul. (I'm heading into year 5 of maintenance, and it has so far. ) I was more conservative while losing, but I enjoy these food-focused celebrations, and know that a few days a year is not what makes me fat or thin. It's that everyday stuff.

psychod787

Eat what I want... worry about it friday... lol Though, I am tracking today, just to keep myself honest.

Shortgirlrunning

I’m not planning on tracking at all. I’ll be mindful of my choices but I’m just going to enjoy the holiday.

shunggie

I will log as best I can but as many have said it's 1 day. I will try to get in a walk but it's supposed to rain with a high of 37. I will have good stuff like roasted veggies and turkey but I will also have a roll, broccoli casserole, dressing, and gravy. I will have pumpkin pie with cool whip and possibly a mincemeat bar. My goal is to stay under 2,000 (my normal is 1600) and closer to 1800. But if someone brings something new and delicious I will go over and not beat myself up.

vggb

Anymore desserts are the best thing about Thanksgiving for me. I cook a simple turkey dinner without all the lavish sides. But omg the pie! That's the kicker for me but I will have pie, apple crisp actually, my favorite.

Spencerport

I'll get up and go to the gym and throw down a monster workout. Then I'll let the Fat Man off the Chain and eat like the 300lb Fat Man I once was.

dechowj

I'm going to avoid the overload of appetizers by hiding in the living room away from the food doing arts and crafts with the 2-5 year olds. (I'm bringing lots of art supplies to avoid the boredom melt downs anyway.)

I know that some of the options at our thanksgiving dinner are a bit healthier than others (like the roasted veggie quinoa salad and asparagus with almonds and cranberries). So I am going to eat a plate of the healthier options first and if I have any room left I'll have a little spoonful of the other items. And I'm going to have fresh fruit and seltzer in my wine glass instead of the usual caramel apple sangria.

For dessert I'll eat one small slice of the things I really love and not even bother with the "just ok" or "I wonder how that tastes" stuff.

I'm also going to bring my own reasonably sized Tupperware container for my take home left overs. Because I know if I leave it to my mother-in-law to pack for me I'll be eating the same huge meal 4 days in a row.

I'm just going to try to walk more for the next week and not count how bad my calories are on Thanksgiving. I want to enjoy family time and not stress too much about how bad I'm eating for one day.

nighthawk584

Will discretely take a photo of what I eat and estimate. I am allowing myself to splurge a little since it is Thanksgiving and my birthday in the same weekend. It will be the 1st I have so called cheated. Staying at my sisters for 4 days and she is excellent cook! Main thing is enjoy food and family and am not worried about going over. AT ALL ....on Monday, it's business as usual.