Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, ham, rolls with butter, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and you haven’t even made it to dessert yet. Thanksgiving foods can easily get the best of anyone and make it difficult to fit in all the new clothes you’ll buy on Black Friday. Here are a few quick tips to avoid the turkey day muffin tops and love handles.
- Don’t Come Hungry and Still Leave Happy
To keep from shocking your body by stuffing your face all at once, eat small portions at a time. This will keep you from gorging yourself and regretting it all later. If you’re hosting a party, it’s a good idea to serve appetizers to start the day off.
- Cold Water
Not only is water great for you and something you should be drinking a lot of anyways, your body will burn extra calories heating up frigid water to body temperature. This will keep you feeling full without the guilt.
- This or That?
There are a few easy choices you can make to save calories and save yourself from extra weight. Swap white meat for dark meat, steamed veggies for casseroles, and pumpkin pie for pecan pie. Try to avoid excessive alcoholic drinks, as they are also a sneaky way to pack on pounds.
- Keep Moving
Just because it’s getting colder doesn’t mean you can’t work out. Make a plan you vow to stick to in terms of holiday workouts. To keep yourself motivated, have a friend help you stay on track. If you know you’ll be eating more than usual on a certain day, plan to go to the gym for an extra hour beforehand. Also, remember what the holiday is really about! Spend more time socializing and hanging out with family then stuffing your face.
- Portion Control
Force yourself to only grab one small plate, and not go back up to get seconds. Keep in mind what the average serving size is for each dish, and stick to it. In the end, it’s not what you’re eating, but how much of it. It’s ok to splurge as long as you’re savoring each bite and keeping the portions small.