what to do on thanksgiving?

someday120
someday120 Posts: 24
edited September 22 in Food and Nutrition
I've lost 5 lbs so far and i'm hoping to lose 10 by thanksgiving. On thanksgiving my family has a huge party where we all come together and eat (about 50 of us). Almost all of the food is going to be homemade so I can't really count calories, and I know i'm going to be tempted to eat a lot.

My plan was to fast the day before and the morning of thanksgiving, does anyone think this is a good idea or have any other advice?
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Replies

  • epa422
    epa422 Posts: 1,009
    If you fast the day before and morning of, you will be much more likely to binge on food at your gathering. The better idea is to take smaller amounts of everything you want to try, but keep your bigger portions to the turkey and veggies (unless they're doused in butter or cream cheese). Another idea is to eat a small meal before you go so that you are full enough that you don't binge.
  • ChubbieTubbie
    ChubbieTubbie Posts: 481 Member
    You can estimate how many calories you'll be eating, just serve yourself small portions and do a bit of extra exercise during the week. I wouldn't advise fasting, since then you're likely to eat more because you'll be so hungry.
  • cef957
    cef957 Posts: 86 Member
    Don't forget to drink water....and maybe extra water. My plan is to have 2 glasses of water for every glass of wine.
  • leakejb
    leakejb Posts: 8
    This is what I would do ~ stick to your goals and on Thanksgiving day if you go over your cal intake then start fresh again the next day. Its ok. I dont think fasting the day before and the morning of Thanksgiving you will just be really hungry when its time to eat and you will feel miserable. Just do your best ! :flowerforyou:
  • JDMPWR
    JDMPWR Posts: 1,863 Member
    I've lost 5 lbs so far and i'm hoping to lose 10 by thanksgiving. On thanksgiving my family has a huge party where we all come together and eat (about 50 of us). Almost all of the food is going to be homemade so I can't really count calories, and I know i'm going to be tempted to eat a lot.

    My plan was to fast the day before and the morning of thanksgiving, does anyone think this is a good idea or have any other advice?

    Portion control and think about what you are eating before you eat it. Like if you got a helping of mash potatoes don't go and get another matching size portion of sweet potatoes or if you eat some bread to start the meal off dont go and get rice as well.

    I try to hit one of each food group, IE Turkey or Ham, Yams or sweet potatoes(drained), a little bit of wheat bread, some veggies for sure and maybe if I feel like being frisky a piece of pumpkin pie or 2.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    Why can't you count calories with homemade food? If nothing else you can give yourself an estimation. Turkey is about so much, gravy is about this much. You might not be exact, but one day of non-exactness won't kill you. It'll just be to keep you in a moderate zone.

    I would land on the side of NOT fasting just to gorge- you are going to send really wonky signals to your body.

    Instead go for moderation. I have a pretty large family thanksgiving- I'd say about 30 ppl depending on who shows. Just prioritize what you want most. I for one, like pie and lamb. So I am planning to skip most of the banal apps like chips, extraneous filler like rolls, and even skip the other meats (we make ham, turkey and lamb) and just have my lamb and potatoes and veggie dishes and cap it off with some pie (mmmm blueberry).

    You want to learn moderation long term, it just doesn't make sense to make a yearly ritual of starving yourself before thanksgiving. That's the opposite of moderation.
  • DawnOf1969
    DawnOf1969 Posts: 726 Member
    Find out if there is at Turkey Trot in your city that morning. Do the Turkey Trot, even if you have to walk the entire way! Then you won't want to waste the calories you burned by loading up on calorie laden foods. Fill your plate up with healthy stuff first, then have small portions of the "bad" stuff. I always make and take a salad and eat that first. Then eat all your "bad" stuff last that way you are full and you eat less.
  • RoadDog
    RoadDog Posts: 2,946 Member
    I usally do okay on Thanksgiving. I do all the cooking and, for some reason, don't feel like eating after spending the whole morning and afternoon in the kitchen. My problem comes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Eating leftovers.
  • Sirenism
    Sirenism Posts: 100 Member
    I would advise the portion control and choosing one or the other for food groups. Drink a large glass of water before you eat (no more than 30 minutes before) and just estimate those calories and do a bit of extra working out if you feel bad.
  • littlemamajamie
    littlemamajamie Posts: 118 Member
    Remember that its okay to take a day off and enjoy yourself because 1 day is not going to ruin all your hard work :) With that in mind just take smaller portions of all the "fatty" stuff and fill up on fruit and veggies and the white meat. Don't deprive yourself because it will make you want stuff more so just have a half piece of pie instead of a full one. You will be fine :) Enjoy yourself
  • rundgrenfan
    rundgrenfan Posts: 211
    I'm eating whatever I want for Thanksgiving dinner, while I am hungry and stopping when I am full, and planning to do lots of talking and water-drinking during the meal so I eat slowly. And if it doesn't work out, well, I'll park really far from the stores on Black Friday to get some walking in!
  • Val_from_OH
    Val_from_OH Posts: 447 Member
    I agree with the others - fasting leads to binging!

    First and foremost, AVOID the Chex Mix. Seriously - that stuff is evil.

    Also, be prepared before the meal. Look up the NI for turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, stuffing, etc. Even if its not your family's exact recipe, it will give you an idea of what you're putting in your mouth.

    Bring a couple of dishes to share that you would like to snack on, i.e. fruit kebobs, spicy pretzels, low fat cheese & water crackers.

    Do not take home fattening leftovers.

    Though my ticker doesn't show it now, I have previously been very successful losing weight, (Lost 50 lbs & maintained for nearly 2 years) and one holiday never truly ruined it:happy:
  • Val_from_OH
    Val_from_OH Posts: 447 Member
    This is a great idea. I am going to look into this in my town!

    Edit: This was supposed to be a reply to the Turkey Trot idea.
  • someday120
    someday120 Posts: 24
    Find out if there is at Turkey Trot in your city that morning. Do the Turkey Trot, even if you have to walk the entire way! Then you won't want to waste the calories you burned by loading up on calorie laden foods. Fill your plate up with healthy stuff first, then have small portions of the "bad" stuff. I always make and take a salad and eat that first. Then eat all your "bad" stuff last that way you are full and you eat less.

    ahh i never thought of that!
  • nlhr2011
    nlhr2011 Posts: 12 Member
    I have lost 78 pounds so far....I read in a book once that what matters is what you eat 355 days out of the year, not the other 10 days when it is your birthday, thanksgiving, christmas, 4th of July as so on. So my plan for thanksgiving is to eay whatever I want and then back on the next day. Some people may not agree but it has worked for me.
  • someday120
    someday120 Posts: 24
    and thank you everyone for the help!
  • BlueEyedMomma88
    BlueEyedMomma88 Posts: 558 Member
    I'm eating whatever I want for Thanksgiving dinner, while I am hungry and stopping when I am full, and planning to do lots of talking and water-drinking during the meal so I eat slowly. And if it doesn't work out, well, I'll park really far from the stores on Black Friday to get some walking in!

    LOVE this idea!! :-)
  • jillybeanruns
    jillybeanruns Posts: 1,420 Member
    I'm running an 8K and then eating a bit of everything. Moderation is key. Like others said, fasting is just going to really do bad things for your appetite and metabolism. Just eat lighter and exercise that day. Drink lots of water and enjoy yourself. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet...one day won't kill you. Just be sensible.
  • charmed2570
    charmed2570 Posts: 48
    I agree with the others, I am going to drink my water, and skip the alcohol, and soft drinks. I will eat a tsp. of things I want, and write it dwn, and I have also figured it out that you might be surprised to find your taste buds have changed and stuff no longer tastes like you thought. Good luck, and remember there is always, the next day, and walk after dinner, it helps with the guilt from eating, but don't drink ur calories.
  • heathersmilez
    heathersmilez Posts: 2,579 Member
    Fast the day AFTER instead then you'll prevent a Thanksgiving binge and you'll probably still be full from the day before so it won’t be too hard on you. I fasted my first time this past Saturday and It was easy since I spent the day cleaning my basement.

    Log everything just to remain accountable but it’s ok if you eat 2800 calories and workout for example b/c with the next day as a fast until dinner you'll make up for those 1000+ calories, no biggie! Just go easy on the desserts, have tastes not entire slices. The turkey, potatoes, carrots and such won’t kill you but bread and dessert will (not literally but calorically).


    The fasting idea comes from the book “Eat Stop Eat” just type that into a MFP search and you’ll see the huge thread of successful people.
  • heathersmilez
    heathersmilez Posts: 2,579 Member
    Like others said, fasting is just going to really do bad things for your appetite and metabolism.

    A one-day fast wont hurt your metabolism it allows you to detox and it’s the same as zig-zag eating where you eat less one day and more on others. The fast is 24h so usually 7pm-7pm so you wont be starving, you could still eat 700+ calories. Eating nothing for 24 hours is not recommended.

    The most important thing is to do resistance training to prevent lean muscle loss.


    Check out the “Eat Stop Eat” thread here on MFP for more info.
  • Jess0218
    Jess0218 Posts: 138
    I def plan on eating what I want but practicing my habits of eating slowly so I notice when Im full and also drinking a glass of water before. Water is a huge help to keepin ya full. But it's Turkey Day, enjoy your family and the good eats and just pick up fresh the next day! :)
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    See my signature...

    These words are thousands of years old.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    I'm planning on fasting from the night before until Thanksgiving dinner at 5. That way I can enjoy whatever the heck I want and not care. I'm also gonna sneak in a workout in the morning.
  • jsheph1
    jsheph1 Posts: 79 Member
    Find out if there is at Turkey Trot in your city that morning. Do the Turkey Trot, even if you have to walk the entire way! Then you won't want to waste the calories you burned by loading up on calorie laden foods. Fill your plate up with healthy stuff first, then have small portions of the "bad" stuff. I always make and take a salad and eat that first. Then eat all your "bad" stuff last that way you are full and you eat less.

    Great suggestion. I took it. I will be doing a 5 mile race Thanksgiving morning. This also gives me great motivation to train for it over the next couple of weeks. This is why I love this site.
  • nickiejohnson
    nickiejohnson Posts: 58
    If you fast the day before and morning of, you will be much more likely to binge on food at your gathering. The better idea is to take smaller amounts of everything you want to try, but keep your bigger portions to the turkey and veggies
  • nickiejohnson
    nickiejohnson Posts: 58
    Eat some snacks; fresh fruit/veggies/nuts/yogurt, before the meal that way you can still enjoy some of the food and the meal with you family but will be less tempted to eat everything because you will be already full!
    Good luck!!! :)
  • FoamyRiver
    FoamyRiver Posts: 276 Member
    I only saw a couple of people who stressed getting in your water (and some extra) on Thanksgiving. I plan on eating smaller portions of everything I want since Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the year. But I also plan on getting in about twice as much water. And I plan on getting in a couple of walks that day to since I probably won't take the time to work out.
  • amsenny
    amsenny Posts: 8
    Best thing to do about Thanksgiving - smaller plate. Take the food you like, eat slow and put your fork down in between bites. There is no need for us to "stuff" ourselves. It is just another day in the calendar year. Eat a larger breakfast so you are not that hungry when the turkey (all the fixin's) is ready to eat.

    Most important thing is to eat what you like on Thanksgiving. That way you do not feel cheated. ;)
  • MaryBeth1989
    MaryBeth1989 Posts: 44
    One plate rule. That's what I'm doing. I can have one plate so I don't go overboard.
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