Thanksgiving is that special holiday where everyone gathers together to enjoy a large meal and for some a day of football with the family. Why is it most people end up taking a short nap on Thanksgiving? Is it the tryptophan in the turkey that puts us to sleep? Is it the warm environment combined with a stomach bursting with food? It could be the combination of both. Wouldn’t it be great to actual be able to enjoy Thanksgiving without stuffing ourselves with several thousand calories? I thought it might be helpful if I gave you some solutions to surviving the holiday meals.
1. Make sure that you eat every 2 to 3 hours. The reason for this is so that you metabolism stays functioning throughout the entire day. Most people don’t eat anything because they want to ration their calories for the big meal, however this is one of the worst things you can do. By eating small frequent meals, you prevent yourself from becoming so ravenous that you eat everything in sight.
2. Eat your salad and meat first before progressing towards the other foods. By eating salad first and then your turkey/ham second, it will help fill up your stomach with good nutritional choices and limit the amount of space for other carbohydrates.
3. Don’t feel you have to eat everything available to you in one sitting. If there are some foods that you don’t get to eat the first time around, wait 3 hours and eat some of the items you might not have indulged in the first time around. By doing this, you allow your stomach to process the food properly and help maintain a healthy metabolism.
4. Don’t skip your workout because of the holidays. Most gyms are open Thanksgiving morning, which is a great time to rev up your metabolism. This way you can indulge in some of the tasty foods that are available and not gain weight. If you can’t make it to the gym on Thanksgiving, go either the day before or after. You can also suggest to family members to take a group walk rather than sitting in front of the television. You could even play the Wii, which would give you some activity.
5. The day after Thanksgiving get out your walking shoes to do some shopping. By walking around endless shopping establishments trying to find the perfect deal, you can help burn off some of the calories of the previous day. Try to carry multiple bags to make the shopping trip a little more challenging.
Well, I hope this helps maintain your waistline over the Thanksgiving holiday. For more nutritional information, please contact Tony@xspeedtraining.com for a nutritional program. Be safe and enjoy the time with your friends and families, too often we take the gathering for granted.