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tips on how to survive thanksgiving????

Posts: 15
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
does anyone have any tips on how to survive turkey day without leaving the table an extra five lbs heavier?! lol! just started my diet today, i'm hoping i wont completely gorge next thursday. lol

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Replies

  • Posts: 39 Member
    Bump! I've been worrying about this all month!
  • Posts: 3,321 Member
    Make it one meal on one day. Not a weekend long event.
  • Posts: 1,491 Member
    Exercise before the meal to earn extra calories...and enjoy yourself....it only comes once a year
  • portion control. honestly, thanksgiving is meant to be enjoyed, but that being said... you can have a couple bites of everything, fill up on good stuff (and water) and not have to be rolled away from the table.

    I'm planning on enjoying it and having a little bit of everything, but no heaping helpings on my plate!
  • Posts: 1,361 Member
    Small p[ortions and liste to when your full, but I plan on still enjoying it!!
  • Posts: 135 Member
    Take small portions, eat slowly with lots of water inbetween. Fills you up faster!
  • Posts: 460 Member
    Make it one meal on one day. Not a weekend long event.
    exactly.
  • Posts: 8,980 Member
    You get a free pass that day. Tell 'em I said so.
  • Posts: 625 Member
    Turkey is your friend... cheese covered things (broccoli casserole) is NOT your friend. Just aim for the healthier foods, and if there are only fattening items on the table, go for just a taste... not a full serving of the less-healthy foods. Fill up on the turkey.
  • Posts: 334 Member
    I plan on trying a little bit of everything, not giant mounds of food! I will also allow myself to try a little bit of pie, but I do not need a slice of each kind, which is what I've usually done!!!

    I'm also gonna try to exercise the day of, to earn some extra calories before I go.
  • Posts: 3,369 Member
    I plan on stuffing my face on thanksgiving. I ain't doing this calorie count crap for nothing!
  • Posts: 1,996 Member
    work out hard all week, and enjoy the day. Thats my plan!
  • Posts: 496 Member
    portion control. honestly, thanksgiving is meant to be enjoyed, but that being said... you can have a couple bites of everything, fill up on good stuff (and water) and not have to be rolled away from the table.

    I'm planning on enjoying it and having a little bit of everything, but no heaping helpings on my plate!

    ^^^absolutely this!!^^

    also, pay attention to your body when you get full, dont keep eating after that point. and msot importantly rememember it's one day a year- if you do go overboard...dont beat yourself up!
  • exactly.

    That's my plan for it! One day. The weekend will be logged. How many calories do you burn Black Friday shopping.....?
  • Posts: 333 Member
    Small portions - allow yourself a little of everything and just go for walks or something to increase the exercise.
  • Posts: 57 Member
    I think it's important to enjoy yourself! The turkey is actually pretty good for you so don't worry about that - focus on the side dishes!

    It's all about portion control! If you want something, try to stick with sample sizes...a few bites won't kill your diet.

    Exercise before you eat!

    Drink lots of water before and during your meal! It will help you feel full and keep you from over eating!
  • Posts: 1,491 Member

    That's my plan for it! One day. The weekend will be logged. How many calories do you burn Black Friday shopping.....?

    I hadn't even thought of black friday shopping....definitely gets my adrenaline going, lol...maybe I'll wear my hrm? haha
  • Posts: 74 Member
    I don't do Thanksgiving so I don't have that problem... but I do apply these tips at other gatherings of family and friends :)

    1. Tell everyone ahead of time what you're trying to do and not to tempt you
    2. Do your workout before you start eating that day, it will help ur metabolism
    3. Drink lots of water
    4. Eat a very small portion of everything so you don't feel deprived or that you're missing out on anything
    5. Eat lots of veggies and fresh fruit before you start eating anything else
    6. Talk alot so your mouth stays busy doing something other than eating!
  • Posts: 4,519 Member
    Enjoy yourself for one day, and keep it to one day, rather than a 4-day weekend eat fest. Friday is back to normal.
  • Personally I am going to sign up for the Turkey Trot and burn those calories before I get my face stuffed on Thanksgiving!
  • Posts: 3,966 Member
    Call dibs on the entire turkey.
  • Posts: 99 Member
    take something tp the meal you know you can eat. honestly skinnytaste.com has become my new best friend. She has a ton of thanksgiving recipes for half the calories.
  • Posts: 2,351 Member
    I plan on using full-fat everything for maximum deliciousness. Then I am going to back the food truck right up to my plate and eat until I am sick.

    I traditionally go riding in the morning. But Thanksgiving is supposed to be a feast and I don't plan on dietizing it. I will enjoy every morsel and have not one iota of guilt about it.
  • Posts: 4,741 Member
    Move to Mexico?
  • Posts: 3,138 Member
    Thanksgiving is not a day I worry about. Really, among the typical foods offered, there are many good choices. If you cook yourself, you control what you make--check out Cooking LIght magazine or website for recipes. If you are a guest, just plan to take larger portions of low-cal options and just a taste of the higher cal options. Serve yourself the higher calorie options using a heaping tablespoon (the eating utensil kind, not the measuring kind)--that will give you a nice taste of about 1/8-1/4 cup.

    Lower cal:

    turkey
    turkey gravy
    any roasted, baked, grilled (not candied marshmallow type) veggies
    salad (take dressing on the side)
    cranberry sauce

    Typically higher cal, but still not bad in small portions (take a heaping tablespoon -- that 's about 1/4 cup):

    mashed potatoes
    stuffing / dressing
    candied sweet potatoes
    green bean casserole (if you must, ugh)
    ambrosia fruit salad

    Of course the desserts can be a downfall. This is where you take a small piece of pie (meaning 1/16 of the pie), skip the whipped cream. Pumpkin or squash can be a good option, or a fruit pie. Pecan is much higher calorie, but if you want it, take just a small piece.

    It's only one day, and if you're not cooking you'll have time to get in a nice run, bike ride, or workout before dinner, right?

    Enjoy the day.
  • Posts: 2,019 Member
    Don't choke on a bone. You should live to see the next day.
  • Posts: 4,852 Member
    as long as your not dressed like a turkey you should make it out ok
  • Posts: 3,966 Member
    Don't choke on a bone. You should live to see the next day.

    I agree. Deep-throating a turkey leg doesn't sound safe. Start with a wing.

  • I hadn't even thought of black friday shopping....definitely gets my adrenaline going, lol...maybe I'll wear my hrm? haha

    If you seriously do wear your heartrate monitor, I'd love to know what it said. I know it'd be different for me at a different weight and all but I'd be really curious.
  • Posts: 313 Member
    I plan to use it as my spike day. The next day back on track .
This discussion has been closed.