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Thanksgiving-Watch Diet or Enjoy the Day?

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shunyata13
shunyata13 Posts: 71 Member
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With Thanksgiving coming up I thought it would be a good idea to help each other enjoy the day by offering each other suggestions to enjoy the day without feeling guilty when we eat with family plus still stay close to our diet plan. I don't know about anyone else but I hate it when you are trying to diet and friends and family have to point out that you must not be following your diet any more because you want to enjoy one day of not watching your calories so closely. Or you follow your diet and the same people point that out and before you know it the conversation is now about how you are doing on it and why is it taking so long for you to loose the weight. For me I am planning on cutting calories before the meal and after so I can enjoy small portions of the meal without feeling left out while everyone else is enjoying all the flavors.

Anyone else have ideas where we can enjoy the day and not beat ourselves up after because we didn't follow our plan exactly?

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  • samantha1953
    samantha1953 Posts: 156 Member
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    Turkey itself is low in calories. We're doing a buffet at the local casino because we don't have any family close by and we can't travel because my husband works the whole weekend.

    I plan on a nice amount of turkey, smaller portions of potatoes, stuffing and gravy and lot's of veggies. They also have great steamed mussels. 7 calories per. Bring 'em on!

    I'll be good before and very good after but I am enjoying the dinner!
  • samantha1953
    samantha1953 Posts: 156 Member
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    Our plans have changed. Our seasonal neighbors will be in town and invited us for Thanksgiving Dinner.

    My plan is to plan ahead and be aware.

    Check this out. A calculator of Thanksgiving Dinner. Knowledge is Power!

    http://walking.about.com/library/cal/blthanksgivingcalories.htm
  • kt4ever
    kt4ever Posts: 18
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    Holiday eating and exercise tips that will help you enjoy Thanksgiving without piling on the extra pounds.
    Load up on vegetables – The average turkey dinner with all the extras has the potential to weigh in at a massive +1500 calories. Get around this by loading your plate with lean white meat and fresh boiled veggies. Stop! Keep all the rest to a very small, small, small portion.
    Think before you eat – It’s so easy to over-indulge after dinner. Before you pick something up and pop it in your mouth, think to yourself, ‘Am I actually hungry? Do I need to eat this?’ Yes I am asking you to talk to yourself. If your family loves you they will understand!

    From my fitness trainer!
  • Janice0711
    Janice0711 Posts: 154 Member
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    This year, I am going to "look up" what I plan to eat ahead of time~I am going to figure in a tiny bit of dessert.
    Years ago, at a Weight Watchers meeting, our speaker told us , "The BEST bite is the 1st one." After u have that 1st one, they all taste the same after that! HA!

    Good Luck!
  • Janice0711
    Janice0711 Posts: 154 Member
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    My hubby is a great supporter of my exercise & diet!
    He is sweet & not pushy, but he thinks about it when we plan meals.

    We had invitations for Thanksgiving dinner for lunch and another one for dinner time.
    We are eating Sat. night with the people that ask us for Thanksgiving dinner anyway~
    SO, hubby suggested we only eat the ONE big meal for the day & not two big meals in one day.
    That is the only way I could stay within my calorie limits for the day.

    In the past, we would have gone & eaten 2 BIG meals, just to be nice & accommodating, and felt stuffed and upset because we ate too much~ha!
  • shunyata13
    shunyata13 Posts: 71 Member
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    Good for you Janice! Its great to have a husband/partner that supports you in what you want to do for yourself. Since I joined MFP my hubby has been supportive and now wants to loose a few pounds himself. I don't know if he will join MFP but at least he is working with me and not against me like some of my friend's husbands. Have a great dinner at both places!
  • wreckedredhead
    wreckedredhead Posts: 15
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    My thoughts exactly - if you deprive yourself you feel deprived and that just make sticking to it that much harder.
  • chedges9090
    chedges9090 Posts: 208 Member
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    A different idea on the Thanksgiving feast-- and it is another Weight Watcher tip. It was suggested to me to skip the "every day" items. For example-- Mashed Potatoes: can be had any day of the year. Skip em. -Sweet Potatoes: Holidays only, eat some- Corn: every day of the year, skip em - Packaged Rolls- can get them any day, Skip em. Aunt Betty's HomeMade rolls-- YUM! have one-- you won't get them any other time.

    Ofcourse, you still have to be smart about portion size and how many servings. But, I think I will NOT be having a lot of turkey and/or veggies. We will have leftovers and I will be eating the turkey /veggies at other times. For my 200 calories of the turkey, I will eat Sweet Potato Casserole (from Skinnytaste.com) . And so on..

    WOW-- this is making me hungry!

    Everyone Enjoy- and remember, if you excercise this week.. you can save some of those excercise calories and use them towards your Thanksgiving meal :)
  • shunyata13
    shunyata13 Posts: 71 Member
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    My friend sent this to me. I thought I would pass it on to put a smile on your face

    May your stuffing be tasty
    May your turkey plump,
    May your potatoes and gravy
    Have never a lump.
    May your yams be delicious
    And your pies take the prize,
    And may your Thanksgiving dinner
    Stay off your thighs!
    Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
  • samantha1953
    samantha1953 Posts: 156 Member
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    Pumpkin Pie Libby's Recipe. 1/6 of a pie is 377 Calories

    Nutritional Information open nutritional information

    Amount Per Serving 1/8 of a pie: Calories: 283 | Total Fat: 12.1g | Cholesterol: 65mg

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