Eating on Thanksgiving

Yea, don't lose your mind, just have fun, but don't eat until you feel sick. You can also get some long cardio workouts in, I plan on going on a 20 mile bike ride thanksgiving morning so I can go H.A.M.

No reason to fear food. Its three days. Enjoy, log it and carry on.

Eat at maintenance on those days, keep calm, and carry on. Don't freak out over a small scale jump the following days as it could be from sodium, or food in your digestive tract.

AJ_G wrote: »

Yea, don't lose your mind, just have fun, but don't eat until you feel sick. You can also get some long cardio workouts in, I plan on going on a 20 mile bike ride thanksgiving morning so I can go H.A.M.

Pretty much this. Have fun, don't stuff yourself.

Having several days close together eating much differently than usual, and usually more calories, completely throws me off track. I find it really, really hard to get back on track and not have calorie creep. You have to psyche yourself up for it and be very, very disciplined. Extra exercise can help a bit.

Eat a healthy small breakfast and lunch. For dinner eat the carbs and the Turkey! Try to limit yourself to one or two desert items do you don't feel to awful

It is ok to splurge for three days. Stay on track for your other days.

In addition to all the great advice from other posters, consider bringing a dish that you know you can eat. At family gatherings, I always offer to bring salad or vegetable dishes that I know I can load up on. I fill my plate with large portions of healthy food and small portions of unhealthy food. That way I still enjoy all the deliciousness of the holidays. And even if you do overindulge - just keep at it and get back to your healthy habits the next day. Move on, don't obsess, and you'll do great.

Sad truth is I'll be doing good to make 1000 calories that day. I have severe food allergies and eating at other people's places is a dangerous nightmare.

I also barely got 1000 calories the day I took my niece and nephew to the county fair, for the same reason.

Thanksgiving day, I will be eating lots of good food, and after that, through January 1, I will be eating at or near maintenance, and not denying myself anything. We will be traveling, visiting friends and family that we don't see any other time, so the holidays for me last a couple of weeks and they're intentionally filled with good food.

Like someone said, it's not the holiday meals that get you, it's all the days through the rest of the year. If you want to lose weight and maintain your goal weight for the rest of your life, you have to get comfortable with just realizing that we're human beings and we need to eat, and we need to enjoy the good times and not be stressed that we might gain a pound or two now and again. Just be mindful of it and don't let a few meals ruin everything you worked hard to achieve.

I learned in WW that the average person gains 7 lbs during the holidays. Some of the tips I gained there were helpful. One was pretty obvious. Save up your calories for the day for the big meal. It's not like you need a big breakfast on TG day. Another was to divide plate into 3 parts.....one for protein, one for starchy stuff, and the third for veggies/salad. Pie is separate, naturally.

Anyway, I know for me my appetite is far more easily satisfied today than when I first started to diet. I am in no danger, really, of overeating. I get full quickly now. I bet you will, too.

Agghhh this "smart" phone is stupid but you get what I'm trying to say

I think having a plan helps. 3 days of potential over eating is something I would be concerned about too.
Bank some calories. Plan a long hike the day of the event. Set boundaries for eating. If you want to make it a break from counting calories then make the decision and enjoy it and make a plan to get back on track.

many traditional thanksgiving dishes aren't really all that good. I try to really evaluate what I am putting in my mouth. I find that for the most part, unless the baker is a complete genius with pie....it isn't all that appealing. I think of it as low quality high fat food.

Lots of good advice here. I didn't get fat in a couple days or weeks of bad eating. I am not loosing weight in a couple days or weeks of healthy eating.

If you have a long-term commitment to eating well, relaxing and enjoying a few days' celebration with good people is good for your head and heart, and will not sabotage your body.

I would actually advocate against logging the meals, or at least put it out of your mind until after each meal, to minimize any anxiety you may feel as you approach the food. If you log it and find out that you're over goal, or even over maintenance, keep in mind that these isolated events are NOT going to have the impact that previous habits had on your health.

Once the celebrations are over, get back on track.

This year is my first actually going to all my partners family holiday events as well, and then to top off doubles of big meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve/Day our two year anniversary is the day before Christmas and we have made a tradition of an extravagant dinner and wine, and then his Birthday is that weekend, and mine two weeks later. Its a doozy of a time for sure.

My plan is to talk to all the hosts and get an idea of what's going to be offered and make a plan for myself. Indulge in my favorites and skip what I dont need. I wont have desserts at all our events, I'm going to pick my favorites. Like I know my family only makes a pumpkin pie and I dont care for it so I'll make sure to enjoy whatever HIS mom has available

Think each event through and make your best plan! I'm even planning to bring my food scale to these events. Anyone who cares about me isnt going to be a jerk about it!