I Don't Believe in Counting Calories on Thanksgiving

Rjperron

Hello all,

There have been a lot of posts regarding Thanksgiving calories and ways to make Thanksgiving items healthy. Honestly, I'm not sure that watching calories on Thanksgiving is healthy...mentally healthy.

I've seen way to many friends and family members cringe (and even cry, yell, or otherwise freak out) when they see that extra tablespoon of butter go into a VAT of mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, and maybe it's just me, but it ruins the holiday for the rest of us. It also scares me to know that these people whom I love are so worried about calories that they can't stomach inhaling anything that isn't carefully measured...which doesn't seem to be a healthy or balanced way to live life.

Not to say that I'll be going crazy. I'll be looking up some food items to give myself a general idea of what is good and what is bad, and I'll make sure not to eat if I'm not hungry and keep my portions to a sub-giant size. I also probably won't take leftovers home like I usually do.

My point is...it's one day. One day where we can celebrate fall, being with family, the beginning of the holiday season, and yes, food. Delicious, get-only-once-a-year food. My idea of a healthy lifestyle includes balance, the balance of allowing myself a favorite treat on a special day.

My advice is to allow yourself a little wiggle room, and don't hold yourself to impossible standards. Can you really live the rest of your life that way? Take care of your MENTAL self too and cut yourself a break.

PolkaDot88

I think this is great advice. I'm Canadian so I already had Thanksgiving, but this is what I did - I didn't take seconds because I knew I was full, but the first time around I took a little of every dish I wanted. I made sure to take bigger portions of the healthier ones and smaller portions of the not-so-healthy ones, but I tasted everything and had a great evening! That week I worked out for one extra day and still lost a pound. I tracked calories all week except for that meal. It worked out very well for me - I felt like it was a real indulgence but not over the top. I was proud for not taking seconds (and also grateful - I was so full after just the first one!). Good advice Rjperron!!!

udallmom101

AMEN!!! More of the healthy, less of the bad, but enjoy it! I can not wait for our Thanksgiving!

Kath712

I think this is great advice. I'm Canadian so I already had Thanksgiving, but this is what I did - I didn't take seconds because I knew I was full, but the first time around I took a little of every dish I wanted. I made sure to take bigger portions of the healthier ones and smaller portions of the not-so-healthy ones, but I tasted everything and had a great evening! That week I worked out for one extra day and still lost a pound. I tracked calories all week except for that meal. It worked out very well for me - I felt like it was a real indulgence but not over the top. I was proud for not taking seconds (and also grateful - I was so full after just the first one!). Good advice Rjperron!!!

Thanks for this post and PolkaDot's reply. I totally agree! My plan is to get a good workout that morning, and then eat what fancies me for dinner. I think one can have a great time with family (in our case, we will be with friends that are basically family) without getting so stressed out about the food. It can be done! Enjoy! :drinker: :flowerforyou:

jamie1888

Exactly! Enjoy the meal but, don't overdo it! Watch your portions but take a little bit of all the foods that you love! Life is too short to not eat gravy!! :drinker:

elainegsd

My take on Thanksgiving is a little different. The day is about being thankful for all we have, and spending time with people we care about.

The food in a typical Thanksgiving dinner is incredibly unhealthy, once you get past the roast turkey. There are healthy ways to make a traditional meal, and to me, the food prepared in a more healthy manner tastes SO much better. I don't want to feel butter coating the inside of my mouth when I eat mashed potatoes.

My food choices on Thanksgiving will largely be based on which of the foods being offered fit the most closely with my current eating habits.It could be that the menu is fairly healthy, it could also be that I eat mostly turkey. I also won't be worried about counting calories, but I also won't be eating all the unhealthy food that will make me feel cruddy later. That includes those potatoes that someone just HAD to stuff yet another tablespoon of butter into because even in that vat of potatoes, they thought that another tablespoon of butter would make a difference in the taste.

I like the changes I have made over the past year, I love being 80 pounds lighter and SO much healthier. I won't sabotage that for one single day of not paying attention to what I am eating. It simply isn't worth it!

lehuagirl

This seems really reasonable. If we do not watch our mental self, our physical self will not respond as quickly.

Rjperron

Good points...as always, smart to eat what makes you feel good. I just worry about people who are too stressed about the specifics. Congrats on your weight loss!

edorice

I plan to have an awesome cardio workout that morning. Seriously, I'm looking forward to the turkey. Everything else is secondary. I'll have one plate of food, not graze, and enjoy my friends.

FoamyRiver

Great advice! One of the reasons I love Thanksgiving so much is because, as you stated, a lot of the foods served I only eat once a year. I'm going to use a smaller plate this year, get smaller portions, and do my best not to have a second go at everything. The dishes I'm making will be altered to be healthier; I can't control what or how anyone else prepares their dishes. It's one day out of the year so I'm not going to stress over it and ruin my holiday.

By the way, I can remember one Thanksgiving I went out and bought a new pair of jeans a size too big because (1) all my other jeans were too tight and (2) I wanted to be able to eat my fill not not worry about my pants being so tight they cut me in half. This year I'm excited to be wearing a pair of jeans I haven't been comfortable wearing in several years. :happy:

tamheath

I agree. Get a good workout in first thing in the morning. Don't over-do it and be stupid! Also, a WW leader once told us, and this is very good advice for me: Remember: it's Thanksgiving DAY not Thanksgiving WEEK. So get rid of those unhealthy, fattening leftovers immediately. Send them with family or friends. If you have to, deliver them to a (skinny) neighbor! :happy:

MisdemeanorM

Amen! I'm not in this to never eat! And the amount that you have to eat in one day to actually gain weight from it is incredible. Even if you eat 3500 calories in one meal, that does not mean you gained a lb! (Not ALL those cals are going straight to fat!) And even if you did, the short zig zag in your diet is probably good for you.

I intend to eat what I want but not stuff myself until it hurts. It will be easier since I can't make it home for Thanksgiving and it will be just me, hubby, and the boy - so we don't go all out like when it's our family of 40 around the table!

But, I had the thought the other day about 2 dishes I will miss greatly not being home - sourcream oven baked mashed potatoes and pretzel jello salad. I had the fleeting idea to not make them myself because of the calorie count then thought - what the hell?? why not? It's Thanksgiving! So, I will be making them, but probably only 1/2 size so that the leftovers don't kill me. - though even at that, it's perfectly doable to eat leftovers in moderation!

Alita2011

I agree with the OP. I will not count calories this day but simply enjoy!. Everyday of my life is not thanksgiving or me eating a small piece of cake...

Also the one day of Thanksgiving did not get us here!!!! Days of Thanksgiving meals did!!!

buggaboo73

Hello all,

There have been a lot of posts regarding Thanksgiving calories and ways to make Thanksgiving items healthy. Honestly, I'm not sure that watching calories on Thanksgiving is healthy...mentally healthy.

I've seen way to many friends and family members cringe (and even cry, yell, or otherwise freak out) when they see that extra tablespoon of butter go into a VAT of mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, and maybe it's just me, but it ruins the holiday for the rest of us. It also scares me to know that these people whom I love are so worried about calories that they can't stomach inhaling anything that isn't carefully measured...which doesn't seem to be a healthy or balanced way to live life.

Not to say that I'll be going crazy. I'll be looking up some food items to give myself a general idea of what is good and what is bad, and I'll make sure not to eat if I'm not hungry and keep my portions to a sub-giant size. I also probably won't take leftovers home like I usually do.

My point is...it's one day. One day where we can celebrate fall, being with family, the beginning of the holiday season, and yes, food. Delicious, get-only-once-a-year food. My idea of a healthy lifestyle includes balance, the balance of allowing myself a favorite treat on a special day.

My advice is to allow yourself a little wiggle room, and don't hold yourself to impossible standards. Can you really live the rest of your life that way? Take care of your MENTAL self too and cut yourself a break.

I'm with ya. My goals for Thanksgiving day through black Friday are maintain, maintain, maintian. But that's it. Same goes for Dec 24 - Jan 2. If I have to drink diet egg nog and eat non fat stuffing I will slit my big fat, puffy wrists.

sbilyeu75

I pick one day a week where I don't worry about the calories. I still track them but I don't care when I go over my daily limit, and by going over, I mean doubling or more my allotted calories.

buggaboo73

And for goodness sakes, one day isn't going to "sabotage" anyone's weight loss.

lutzsher

Im one of those crazy people . . . Im also Canadian so already had Thanksgiving in October. I did not make stuffing or potatoes. I made a turkey but cooked it on a base of onions, carrots, and celery then cooled the liquid left over so I could scrape off the fat and make gravy from the good stuff left. I make mashed yams in place of potatoes, and a big salad.

I did make a pumpkin pie, but cooked down a pumpkin myself and used the flour that is whole wheat but "acts" like white because it has been refined.

We have decided that a holiday is about the celebration and NOT the food . . . it is another part of this journey, changing your attitudes toward food.

My husband and I celebrated a milestone anniversary a few months ago and had chicken breasts and steamed veggies at home for dinner. . . . because it was about being together and the celebration, not what we chose to eat.

megteg

Hello all,

There have been a lot of posts regarding Thanksgiving calories and ways to make Thanksgiving items healthy. Honestly, I'm not sure that watching calories on Thanksgiving is healthy...mentally healthy.

I've seen way to many friends and family members cringe (and even cry, yell, or otherwise freak out) when they see that extra tablespoon of butter go into a VAT of mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, and maybe it's just me, but it ruins the holiday for the rest of us. It also scares me to know that these people whom I love are so worried about calories that they can't stomach inhaling anything that isn't carefully measured...which doesn't seem to be a healthy or balanced way to live life.

Not to say that I'll be going crazy. I'll be looking up some food items to give myself a general idea of what is good and what is bad, and I'll make sure not to eat if I'm not hungry and keep my portions to a sub-giant size. I also probably won't take leftovers home like I usually do.

My point is...it's one day. One day where we can celebrate fall, being with family, the beginning of the holiday season, and yes, food. Delicious, get-only-once-a-year food. My idea of a healthy lifestyle includes balance, the balance of allowing myself a favorite treat on a special day.

My advice is to allow yourself a little wiggle room, and don't hold yourself to impossible standards. Can you really live the rest of your life that way? Take care of your MENTAL self too and cut yourself a break.

I totally agree with you! One of my favorite "diet" books is French Women Don't Get Fat, and the author emphasizes BALANCE and not skimping on a great meal with those you love. Just...make sure you keep it in mind the rest of your week. You don't have to be perfect everyday.

I'm going to TWO Thanksgiving meals this year, and I'm guessing I'll be eating double to triple what I normally do in calories, but I'll be planning for it by not indulging the rest of the week.

Loseittoo

I will do what I do at any event. Eat lighter during the day, get a good work out in and eat sensible. I will not go all out and eat what ever I like.

I have family over every week. I smoke some meat on the smoker and we have a big feast. I always stay with in my goals. Thanksgiving is no different.

I have made a lifestyle change. I am not on a diet. After being 400lbs and losing most of it you see food differently. And my holiday will not be about stuffing myself full of bad foods. It will be about sharing a day of thanks with those that mean so much to me.

And FOOTBALL!!!!!

MisdemeanorM

I agree too on the point about people who mentally cannot take a cheat day even one every couple months at a holiday. That is unhealthy. Though your body may be healthy, the mindset of freaking out and not being able to eat anything high cal without mental / emotional trauma is just as unhealthy a mindset as those who use food for comfort, think holidays are all about food, etc.

buggaboo73

Well, I have made a lifestyle change too, but at my heart my number one belief is in moderation. That means I am going to eat as healthy as I"m able to most of the time, and I am also going to treat myself at times. It's not good to go 100% off the deep end in either direction. That is what really disturbs me about this community, we seem to have a lot of people who are so "all or nothing" in mindset. Yeah, I have chosen to lead a healthier lifestyle, but I have also chosen to incorporate a few days out of the year when I'm going to indulge. Life goes on.....

Rjperron

I agree too on the point about people who mentally cannot take a cheat day even one every couple months at a holiday. That is unhealthy. Though your body may be healthy, the mindset of freaking out and not being able to eat anything high cal without mental / emotional trauma is just as unhealthy a mindset as those who use food for comfort, think holidays are all about food, etc.

That's exactly what I was getting at....all these responses about simply eating sensibly make so much sense. Yes, the holiday isn't about food...so we shouldn't be worried about it, whether that means eating a little more turkey or a little less gravy.

And watching FOOTBALL!

Loseittoo

Well, I have made a lifestyle change too, but at my heart my number one belief is in moderation. That means I am going to eat as healthy as I"m able to most of the time, and I am also going to treat myself at times. It's not good to go 100% off the deep end in either direction. That is what really disturbs me about this community, we seem to have a lot of people who are so "all or nothing" in mindset. Yeah, I have chosen to lead a healthier lifestyle, but I have also chosen to incorporate a few days out of the year when I'm going to indulge. Life goes on.....

When you get married you don't get to have cheat days do you? Thats what a lifestyle change is. it makes no sense to take a day off of this lifestyle either.

Sunday I had smoke bbq spare ribs and all kinds of good food. I stayed with in my calories goals. I will do the same on thanksgiving. I will enjoy the food and also stay with in my goals.

Sounds to me like alot of people feeling deprived of food needing a excuse to splurge. You can have a wonderful meal and still not blow your calorie goals.

Rjperron

Well, I have made a lifestyle change too, but at my heart my number one belief is in moderation. That means I am going to eat as healthy as I"m able to most of the time, and I am also going to treat myself at times. It's not good to go 100% off the deep end in either direction. That is what really disturbs me about this community, we seem to have a lot of people who are so "all or nothing" in mindset. Yeah, I have chosen to lead a healthier lifestyle, but I have also chosen to incorporate a few days out of the year when I'm going to indulge. Life goes on.....

When you get married you don't get to have cheat days do you? Thats what a lifestyle change is. it makes no sense to take a day off of this lifestyle either.

Sunday I had smoke bbq spare ribs and all kinds of good food. I stayed with in my calories goals. I will do the same on thanksgiving. I will enjoy the food and also stay with in my goals.

Sounds to me like alot of people feeling deprived of food needing a excuse to splurge. You can have a wonderful meal and still not blow your calorie goals.

That's true. In fact, I've been out to eat, been out to bars, and cooked delicious meals (smoking feasts sound awesome!) all without blowing my goals (well, sometimes there are the extra 50-100 cals here and there). But I also allow some elbow room for my favorites! Yes, it is possible to lose weight and have what you want.

Loseittoo

That's true. In fact, I've been out to eat, been out to bars, and cooked delicious meals (smoking feasts sound awesome!) all without blowing my goals (well, sometimes there are the extra 50-100 cals here and there). But I also allow some elbow room for my favorites! Yes, it is possible to lose weight and have what you want.

Mmmm Ribs lol.

tdh302

I admit that I haven't read all of the posts, so this may just be echoing what others have stated; however, here are my thoughts. I personally look at holidays as a time to be with people, or participate in activities, that I normally don't get to enjoy. That usually includes some foods that I don't normally eat or may only see once a year. I've never looked at it as a last meal before the electric chair or the opportunity to eat as much as I can just because it's a "special day." I think there are some people who DO eat as much as possible because it may be what they've always done on a holiday, but that can even be more complicated than what it appears. I personally do not judge the day a loss or a set back if I don't track what I eat, simply because I am conscious of portions and understand it as being one day- or for that matter - one meal. Each person has their own way of handling holiday eating and for some that will be to keep it as monitored/controlled as they normally do, to throw all rules out the window, or to just do the best that they can and move on. Whatever works

buggaboo73

Well, I have made a lifestyle change too, but at my heart my number one belief is in moderation. That means I am going to eat as healthy as I"m able to most of the time, and I am also going to treat myself at times. It's not good to go 100% off the deep end in either direction. That is what really disturbs me about this community, we seem to have a lot of people who are so "all or nothing" in mindset. Yeah, I have chosen to lead a healthier lifestyle, but I have also chosen to incorporate a few days out of the year when I'm going to indulge. Life goes on.....

When you get married you don't get to have cheat days do you? Thats what a lifestyle change is. it makes no sense to take a day off of this lifestyle either.

Sunday I had smoke bbq spare ribs and all kinds of good food. I stayed with in my calories goals. I will do the same on thanksgiving. I will enjoy the food and also stay with in my goals.

Sounds to me like alot of people feeling deprived of food needing a excuse to splurge. You can have a wonderful meal and still not blow your calorie goals.

I am simply saying that my lifestyle choice is moderation. And enjoying different foods and treating myself to a piece of pie or cake a few days out of the year is, in my mind, moderation. The strongest tree is the one that can bend.....

If you are not comfortable with that then by all means, stay within the lines. Whatever gets you through.

TateFTW

Part of the MFP plan is to not get to crazy with calorie reduction. Because of that, hopefully your metabolism hasn't downshifted so much that a couple extra calories will throw you off to far.

Personally, I plan to focus on healthy foods while still enjoying myself. Just be reasonable and understand that you might not lose as much as normal. No biggie.

Loseittoo

Well, I have made a lifestyle change too, but at my heart my number one belief is in moderation. That means I am going to eat as healthy as I"m able to most of the time, and I am also going to treat myself at times. It's not good to go 100% off the deep end in either direction. That is what really disturbs me about this community, we seem to have a lot of people who are so "all or nothing" in mindset. Yeah, I have chosen to lead a healthier lifestyle, but I have also chosen to incorporate a few days out of the year when I'm going to indulge. Life goes on.....

When you get married you don't get to have cheat days do you? Thats what a lifestyle change is. it makes no sense to take a day off of this lifestyle either.

Sunday I had smoke bbq spare ribs and all kinds of good food. I stayed with in my calories goals. I will do the same on thanksgiving. I will enjoy the food and also stay with in my goals.

Sounds to me like alot of people feeling deprived of food needing a excuse to splurge. You can have a wonderful meal and still not blow your calorie goals.

I am simply saying that my lifestyle choice is moderation. And enjoying different foods and treating myself to a piece of pie or cake a few days out of the year is, in my mind, moderation. The strongest tree is the one that can bend.....

If you are not comfortable with that then by all means, stay within the lines. Whatever gets you through.

A piece of pie or cake is far from what some are talking bout. I have a family dinner at my house every week. We have all kinds of food. More than some will have on thanksgiving. I stay with in my goals each week. I have cake, pie, cookies what ever. Its about moderation,accountability and responsibility. Thats why I don't have a "cheat day". I am living life.

MisdemeanorM

A piece of pie or cake is far from what some are talking bout. I have a family dinner at my house every week. We have all kinds of food. More than some will have on thanksgiving. I stay with in my goals each week. I have cake, pie, cookies what ever. Its about moderation,accountability and responsibility. Thats why I don't have a "cheat day". I am living life.

There are many many of us who don't have these sort of events regularly. Eating out, having family over etc. For me, I eat with family (other than my husband) maybe 2 times a year, if that, and in a restaurant maybe 6. If they were regular events it would make more sense to stay way within range and with sever moderation, but the 2 times a year I see my family and eat their signature dishes, I'm not skipping out on two kinds of pie!! (though my pie slices also won't be 1/4 of the pie!)

I think for thanksgiving for me, it would be pretty easy to stay close to my calorie goal because it's currently about 2200 calories), but there are lots of people at a 1200 cal limit, which is NOT much food when you're talking Thanksgiving meals!

It's hardly likened to cheating outside of marriage - marriage includes a vow that you will do no such thing. Eating healthy and losing weight includes no such specific exclusion. Some people could argue that taking a day off exercising is a cheat day (and thus comparable to cheating on a spouse?), but it's healthy for your body and your mind - occasional overeating (not stuffing, just going over) can actually be healthy and good for your metabolism and your mind as well!

Plus, people need to remember that they are already at a (generally speaking) 500 deficit - so they can go over 500 and call it a maintenance day, then the wiggle room on overeating is anything ABOVE that. So going over your goal by 700 - is really NOT THAT BIG A DEAL! Even going over 1400 - that's only 900 cals toward weight gain or .25 of a lb - providing that every single calorie over goes directly to fat stores and nothing at all gets flushed out. One day of that ruins absolutely nothing.

Now, again, if you have events similar to Thanksgiving all the time - ie your weekly meal, it really does remove a lot of the significance of Thanksgiving and that meal and gathering, compared to people who it's the only day a year (or one of few) they see family or get access to an actual full spread of food like this.

That being said, you can still eat in moderation and go over your typical daily goal but still be within a realistic and healthy overage that will have no effect on your weight gain or loss a week from then.

Rjperron

Great discussion everybody. I think we're on the right page in terms of balance and moderation, and enjoying some special time with family.