I'm too sad to tell you — Bas Jan Ader
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and many of us start stressing about how we will deal with all of the food AND dessert.
Don't fret, there are easy ways to enjoy a hearty Thanksgiving meal without losing all of your momentum. It's all in your mind, so decide now that you won't lose control.
Rule 1: Stay Hydrated
Drinking water helps aid in digestion so that the food you eat can easily pass through your system and hold onto the vital nutrients needed for muscle repair/growth and weight loss. Staying hydrated also helps curb your appetite. Often times people mistaken dehydration as hunger and eat instead of drinking water. Don't make this mistake. When you feel hungry, drink 16 oz of water first. If you still feel hungry after 30 minutes, then eat. For Thanksgiving
Rule 2: Do not OVER eat
Eat till you're full, not till you become immobile and want to die. Some people use holidays as an excuse to over-eat and over-indulge. Don't let this be you. Make good choices and use the 50/30/10/5 ratio as a guide. Your plate should be comprised of:
50% protein: Turkey Breast
20% dense/leafy greens: Roasted kale, collards, brussels sprouts, broccoli, green beans (try to avoid anything creamed)
10% complex carbs: roasted or mashed sweet potato, squash, pumpkin, cauliflower, whole grain biscuit, 1-2 small whole grain rolls
5% healthy fats: clarified butter, turkey gravy, coconut oil
1-2 servings of dessert: 1 small slice of apple pie, 1 small slice of pumpkin pie: cuz you gotta live your life
Rule 3: Bring healthy side dishes
Make it easier on yourself and insist on preparing healthy side dishes that you know are good for you. As Benjamin Franklin would say, Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail. When you eliminate obstacles, you empower yourself toward achieving your goals. Instead of putting yourself in a situation where you are "forced to make a bad decision" or "left with no choice" forge your own path and make sure you're never in that position. You can find some great healthy side dish recipes in our No Regrets Thanksgiving post here.
Rule 4: Enjoy yourself
Life is too short to be worrying about calories every waking moment of the day. This is your time to exert your self control WHILE enjoying the holiday with family and friends. They aren't mutually exclusive ;D Food is fuel, so eat well with the intention to live well.
Here's to a HAPPY Thanksgiving!
