Thanksgiving is the most notorious holiday for sabotaging our diets and our weight loss goals. After all, it only comes around once a year, so why not splurge a little?
With a holiday so focused on heavy, filling, comfort foods, it can be a struggle to eat healthy and nutritious meals. Thankfully there's no reason to leave the table feeling defeated! We're here to help you avoid getting your goals off track and keep you feeling happy and healthy this holiday season with our top tips for enjoying a guilt-free Thanksgiving!
Eat Breakfast
You might think that you're just saving calories that you can put towards the main event by skipping breakfast. But eating breakfast can actually be your best weapon against over-eating by helping you control your appetite throughout the day!
Make yourself a small and nutritious breakfast that includes protein and fiber - like eggs or a bowl of whole-grain cereal - to keep yourself feeling satisfied and avoid showing up to the dinner table starving.
Get Active
There are tons of benefits to regular exercise, and getting in some exercise on Thanksgiving can help you win the day! After eating breakfast, get everyone up and moving at a local Turkey Trot, lift weights or join a group fitness class at your local O2 Fitness Club to put yourself in a caloric deficit and get your metabolism working.
Don't be discouraged if you don't have the time to exercise before dinner. Take your family and friends out for a short post-meal walk to help aid digestion, regulate blood sugar, and boost up those endorphins!
Slow Down and Savor It
It can be tempting to sit down and devour your plate after cooking and smelling all those delicious foods throughout the day. But, this is the main event! You don't want to rush through it and not appreciate all the good things you've been waiting for!
While you'll surely want to get a little bit of everything on your plate, slow down and think about the portions of foods that you are grabbing. Survey the table to see what is being offered, and mindfully grab portions of your favorites. Then take time to taste every mouthful of these delicious treats and enjoy the company of your friends and family. Once you finish your plate, avoid taking seconds (after all we all know the next day leftovers are the second best part of Thanksgiving Day!)
Keep Drinking Water
Holiday cocktails, wine, and beer can quickly and sneakily increase our calorie intake. While OK in moderation, it is important to drink water throughout the day and night.
Water plays a huge role in making your body feel full, cleaning out your system of toxins, and relieving ailments like bloating and headaches. (This is the tip that you'll thank us for tomorrow!)
Don't Be So Hard on Yourself!
Maybe you ate a little more than you wanted to, or you didn't get off the couch for most of the day. Half of America is right there with you! The holidays are one of the times that we find time to sit back, relax, and spend time with our loved ones. If you overindulged on Thanksgiving, don't fret. One day of eating will not undo all the progress that you have made in the gym throughout the year.
Acknowledge it happened, accept it, and move on. Get to the club, meet with a personal trainer, or pull up an online workout you can do at home before the family leaves town. There is no better time than the present to establish or re-establish a routine that works for you!
Contact us today to learn more about how O2 Fitness can help you stay in shape during the holiday season!
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