How Not to Gain Weight During Thanksgiving
Wow! Can you believe it? Another Thanksgiving holiday is around the corner! Have you resolved in your mind what you are going to do when it comes to eating during this holiday?
What are you going to do differently this year to avoid gaining weight? Will you let the pies, cakes, cookies, and momma’s homemade dressing and uncle Lenny’s fried turkey lull you into a stupor this year? I know, I know! It’s so tempting just to let go. Besides, Thanksgiving comes around only once a year, and that’s when those irresistible family recipes are created.
No Weight Gain
If you want to survive this holiday without gaining weight, then you will have to decide ahead of time that you are only eating foods that are part of your healthy eating plan. Find out from your family or friends what food is going to be served at the Thanksgiving feast. Let them know that you are eating healthy and you want to stay on track.
However, try not to make it a big deal. If they aren’t serving food that supports your healthy food plan, just bring it yourself. Let them know that you will help out by bringing side dishes. I recommend that you bring enough for 4 servings and make it colorful and appetizing.
Should I Eat Desserts?
If you can handle just eating a small portion of a desert, then, by all means, eat it. But for you who can’t afford to eat anything with flour or sugar in it, you must abstain! Because if you don’t, it will set off an addictive reaction where you will be compelled to overeat.
A clean alternative to the sugar-laden desserts is fruit. Bring a fruit platter to the festivities. You can’t go wrong with eating a serving of fruit!
Please don’t make this Thanksgiving an excuse to self-indulge and throw yourself off track, especially if you have been eating healthy before the holiday. Just think of this special day as an opportunity to be in the presence of family and friends who we sometimes rarely get to see.
Beware of What You Are Drinking
At family functions like this, when everyone’s eating and drinking, be aware of what you are drinking. Again, avoid pre-sweetened drinks like lemonade, sweet tea, sodas, etc. I recommend that you bring a bottle of unsweetened tea with you if your host is not offering it. Also, bring some packets of zero-calorie sweetener like stevia with you. It is a good habit to keep some in your purse at all times.
Celebrate What’s Important
Consider and remember what this holiday is about. It is really not about the food and the Thanksgiving shopping season, as the commercials would have you think. It’s about giving thanks to God, for His goodness, the people in your life, and what you have been given.
Despite the current unrest in our culture, we are still blessed. But oftentimes, we don’t recognize it or acknowledge it. Unfortunately, it’s because we take our lives for granted as well as the people around us. On Thanksgiving, we have the opportunity to stop and give thanks for all of it.
Your Challenge
The challenge, if you are willing to accept it, is to prepare to succeed this Thanksgiving holiday season. Don’t get tangled up in the food that’s on the table. Instead, count your blessings.
Love on the people you are spending your Thanksgiving with. Be interested in them. Listen to them and get acquainted with what they are doing in life and what makes them happy. Be there to listen, cry, and laugh with your family and friends. They ultimately are what’s important and hopefully, the reason why you are there.
My hope for you is that your focus won’t be so much on the food, but on the family and friends that you are blessed to have in your life during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday.
Be sure to leave a comment regarding your anticipated challenges with food during this Thanksgiving season.
I’m thankful for you!
Cynthia
