Foods to Avoid for thanksgiving part 2

You are making sense.

I ask my mother to put a serving of veggies aside for me before she adds butter to the dish. She is not pleased about it, but I don't let up. She then makes me mash my own potatoes, steam my own green beans, etc.

I think another (difficult) key is to eat as slowly as you can. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to tell you that your stomach is full, and surely one serving, not 2nds or 3rds will fill you up if you eat it slowly and enjoy.

It is hard when people do not know that you really need their support. They are just seeing their own perspective and point of view. Don't take it personally, just do your best!

I hear you - part of the weight I have now is from college! There are some things you can eat that are good for you - turkey, for instance, is very lean. See if your mom will make a small bowl of veggies just for you - little butter. Most moms are happy to make whatever their kids like. Small amounts of stuffing, depending on how your mom makes it, can be okay.

Unfortunately, most of the "good" stuff is high in calories - pies, cranberry sauce, buttery rolls, etc. I'm hoping to avoid these temptations, too!

Stay away from the liquid calories.

Think up a reward to give yourself if you stick to your plan. Do Not Eat anything you don't want to eat. In other words, don't give in to pressure to eat to please others. Only you have to live with the results. Best wishes to you.

Try to work really hard at portion control (with no second helpings at a sitting) regulating your times for eating (not grazing all day and night) and do something while home to burn off the calories. Walking, going out dancing (with few drinks and lots of water). Be creative and enjoy the holiday.

This is really good advice.

Why don't you take control of some of the cooking and shopping? That way you introduce some better options and take control of your diet. If they want to continue to eat that way they can add the butters and oils at the table instead of in the kitchen.

good advice from everyone!! Enjoy your day and don't give in to peer (family) pressure. :drinker:

Good advice not just on the holiday proper..
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ss/slideshow-naughty-list-of-holiday-foods

You don't HAVE to eat the leftovers just because they're there. If the family is having Thanksgiving round 7- opt out and make your own food. You must get over the idea that just because it's on the table or in the fridge you MUST eat it. It's simply not true. Practice a little self control, avoid things that are notoriously calorie laden and you'll be fine. Just make sure you keep up on the exercise and LOG EVERYTHING.

None of my household care about eating healthy or counting calories. My Mother-In-Law is generally a horribly-unhealthy (not even tasty most of the time) cook and the food in the fridge generally consists of crazy high carbs and lots of grease (she thinks it was only the occasional fried foods that caused her quadrupal bipass). I always have to take only certain parts of meals or make something quick and healthy myself. Tonight I turned down a big slice of garlic bread and my Father-In-Law got offended (apparently they only use whole-wheat and healthier for you margarine!). Believe me, I also have TWO THANKSGIVING meals to attend coming up... Learning to stay away can be done, self-control is key!

I give myself one day a month to "write off". I just enter my max calories and forget about it. Last month was my anniversary dinner with my wife. This month will be Thanksgiving day. Next month Christmas. If you get right back on schedule the next day, you won't suffer (besides being really full that one day) any lasting effects. I plan on logging calories the rest of my life. This has been the easiest way to lose weight that I've tried. I'm down from 270 to 242 in two months just from tracking calories and exercising a few times a week (walking 3 miles at a time).

If you feel like you have to extend your Thanksgiving eating, get some of the Smart Ones Bistro Turkey with mashed potatoes meals. Tastes good and only 200 calories!


Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Don't sweat it on the actual day of Thanksgiving, eat sensible portions and enjoy the day. For the leftovers, use turkey or ham to top a big salad, make a wrap, or put it in an omelette. As others have suggested, ask your mom to set aside portion of the veggies before she adds the butter - or ask her to do what I do and leave the butter on the side for people to use as wanted. As a cook, I would suggest doing this ASAP to avoid her becoming stressed at a last minute request. Maybe even offer to help cook!

Alternatively, after Thanksgiving day you can buy yourself a few bags of frozen veggies and some rice, use that to round out the leftover turkey and ham. Use some of the side dishes, but sparingly. Look up the calorie counts for some dishes (these won't be totally accurate, but you just want a general idea anyway) and see which are higher in calories and which aren't so bad.

Just being aware of your portions and trying to eat a balanced diet should help you not gain those 8 pounds this year! You are not the person you were last year and you are trying to do something good for yourself. Log, log, log and get outside and move! If you exercise appropriately, you could theoretically eat everything you ate last year and still lose weight. Feel free to friend me if you want some ongoing support!

This may sound crazy but I suggest eat what you like for one day you deserve it .Give yourself a treat if you don't you will all ways have that craving .(Trust me you wont eat that much your body wont let you ) When is over its over craving is gone ,your back to your working out and eating right .I use to be on a diet where you have one cheat day out of the week to eat one thing that you really like , example Cheeseburger, Pizza .Beef Sandwich, scoop of Ice cream , etc. .It works I lost 53 lbs doing this diet Low carb high Protein , no potato's, no reg pasta, No Bread , trust in the the 3 Bs when cooking Boil, Bake,Broil you will stick to your plan 6 out of 7 days to get to the treat day and for sticking to your plane 6 out of 7 days you do deserve it . Do you really think that once you reach your goal weight you wont have a snack that you love .If you do it now once in a while now it is much easier after you reach your goal weight .