*Reports indicated that the average American will eat 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat at his or her Thanksgiving dinner. Will this affect what you choose to eat during your holiday meal?*
Tips and Tricks to Stay Fit This Thanksgiving:
- Clean vigorously before guests arrive. Brisk, challenging housework like raking, sweeping or moving things into storage is an effective way to burn calories.
- Have a salad, light soup or some fruit and veggies before leaving home or prior to your meal. This way you will feel fuller and are less likely to overeat.
- Take a long, hard walk or run about an hour before eating. This will elevate the metabolism to help digest the food more effectively. You can also participate in a Thanksgiving Day 5K run/walk, which various cities offer, or visit your health club for a workout; many will sponsor special Thanksgiving morning workouts.
- Practice portion control. A smaller serving of the real thing can be very satisfying and calorie-trimming. Commit to eating one serving of food on your plate without going back for seconds or thirds.
- Separate dinner and dessert: Take a walk after dinner to help digest the meal and get some space before indulging in sugary desserts.
- If playing football or basketball with the kids, be sure to warm up three to five minutes for every ten years of age. Start with a brisk walk to a light jog and do some agility drills to properly warm up the muscles prior to dynamic activity.
- Don’t panic or feel guilty if your diet seems to have gotten out of hand. You can make up for a feast of rich, higher-fat foods with lighter, lower-fat meals for the next couple of days.
Source: American Council on Exercise
COMMENTS
5 Comments
1. katherine
November 17th, 2009 10:06 AM
Thanks for these suggestions!
2. Shelley Leeman
November 17th, 2009 10:26 AM
great suggestions– it’s all about moderation
3. Kasondra
November 17th, 2009 11:45 AM
Great suggestions!
4. Kelly Winn
November 17th, 2009 07:14 PM
I love working out the morning of Thanksgiving. It just starts the day off better. I also always try to eat a healthy but filling breakfast so I’m not starving by the time “dinner” comes (we eat at like 1 or 2 pm)
5. Heather
November 18th, 2009 10:59 AM
These are great suggestions – I also try to wear tighter pants – that way when my belly gets full I can’t eat anymore!