Tracking calories on Thanksgiving day?

I log, but just to have the data. I learn something just by quantifying the ridiculous amount of calories in a four-course meal.

I might track the entire day I might not. My Thanksgiving dinner, however, is very likely just going to be roasted duck, maybe brussels sprouts (probably becauses those with duck fat....), maybe yams (big maybe), homemade cranberry sauce, and probably chinese steamed buns. Dessert will probably be strudel instead of pie. Basically I'm just making a nicer meal than usual that has next to nothing to do with Thanksgiving.

If I go over I go over. I might be a little grumpy about it, but at the end of the day it's just another day.

I'll track for the data (it's not difficult, as we tend to have most of the same things from year to year, and most of the things we have are family traditions that I have made myself, even if someone else made some of them this year, so I just pull them out of my saved recipes or copy them from last year).

But I don't worry about trying to stay within some calorie limit. Last year I was about 300 calories above maintenance for the day, and the before I was close to 400 calories above maintenance. I tend to go higher on Christmas, as I like cookies better than pie. Plus, there's eggnog.

I actually have to work a 12-hour shift on Thanksgiving Day, so I will be eating totally normally that day. However, the following Saturday is when my fam is going to get together & I will absolutely splurge and eat whatever the F I wanna for one day.

I will have at least a taste of everything that I like. I usually have a glass of wine on Thanksgiving & Christmas, but my husband quit drinking this year so we decided not to have any alcohol this year. I have never been a big drinker, so it’s not a problem. I will probably go over on calories, but it’s only one day as others noted. We traditionally do the nearby towns annual “Turkey Trot” 5k, so getting exercise in.
Right back at it on Friday, doable for me.

Enjoy family, friends and food! That’s what Thanksgiving is about!

pinggolfer96 wrote: »

If I did track it would only be to see how high I could or did get my calories....not to restrict myself. Gonna go crazy per usual

Yep. That^^

apullum wrote: »

Depends on your definition of "okay." You should expect the scale to go up the next day, and you should also know that the increase will likely be mostly water fluctuation and undigested food. It's probably not fat gain and it will come off after returning to your normal routine, but it might take a few days. As long as you're aware that this will happen, and you don't let one day of overeating turn into many days of overeating, then you're fine.

^ This. Especially since it sounds like you have been restricting carbs, a sudden increase will likely cause you to retain several lbs of water weight. It's nothing to be concerned about, and will go away by itself when you are back to normal. Just don't freak out

Good ideas and food for thought!

I track every day, it's just what I do. If I found that it kept me from enjoying the holiday, I wouldn't track.

I'll be tracking. More out of morbid curiosity than anything else. Since this is my first Thanksgiving of tracking calories, it will be interesting to know just exactly how badly I pig out. My guess is probably 4,000 cals, but we'll see.