With Thanksgiving upon us, we should all take a look at our lives and be thankful for everything we have been blessed with. Sure, we could complain about certain things in different areas of our lives, but in the end, things could always be worst. Look at all the people around you who are much worse off and realize you don’t have it nearly as bad as you think.
That being said, you should also be thankful for the ability to make change in your life. This can be in the form of a profession or even your health. We all have the ability to lose body fat and gain muscle. It’s not something that will come without dedication and work, but then again nothing worthwhile comes easy. You are not handcuffed when it comes to what goals you set for yourself.
Gobble until you wobble? Not exactly.
Just because the holiday is here and the table will be full of tempting foods you normally wouldn’t eat, enjoy yourself. It’s one day. Now, I’m not saying you should eat everything in sight, have some restraint—but at the same time enjoy the delicious food that was prepared. In order to keep you on the right track, I do have some Thanksgiving Day tips for you below that you can utilize.
1. Exercise early in the day
Mealtime is generally either lunch or dinner (or both). Fit in a workout before the day gets started so you’re already one step ahead of the game. You already know that you’re going to consume some foods normally on the “no-no list” so get that metabolism revving and burn off some calories in the morning. If you wait until later in the day, the chance of you actually following through with a workout could be slim to none.
2. Water is your best friend
I’m not saying you can’t have an alcoholic beverage or two with your friends and family, but the bulk of your fluids for the day should be in the form of water. We already know the many benefits of drinking water from the health and hydration side of the spectrum, but water is a great way to keep yourself “full” so you don’t overeat. Prior to the meal, drink a glass of water which will partially fill up your stomach so you aren’t as tempted to go back for seconds (or thirds).
3. Protein and vegetables are your friend
Whether you are eating snacks and appetizers before or even after your meal, try to be conscious of what you are consuming. When we snack and consume finger-foods, we generally toss items on a plate and pick at them. When your plate is empty, you go back for more. Before you know it, you consumed over 1,000 calories and didn’t even realize it. You went from zero to nuclear in lightspeed. Have a game plan to choose items that are high in protein as well as a variety of vegetables—these are always safe choices. And remember, just because others are still picking at food doesn’t mean you need to. If you are satisfied and full, there’s no reason to keep eating simply to be social.
4. Jump back on the horse the next day
The day after Thanksgiving is the perfect time to crush a workout. You probably consumed an abundance of carbohydrates during the holiday so you have enough stored energy to go out and have a great workout at the gym. Make a date with the gym and get after it. Up the intensity. Hit the weights. Finish it up with a nice cardio session before you head home. Holidays don’t need to be scary, you just need to know how to control yourself and ensure you’re still fitting in your workouts.
