How to Have a Guilt Free Thanksgiving

It’s the most wonderful time of year! It’s also the time of year a majority of Americans will gain weight—but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re just starting your weight loss journey (yes, you can lose weight during the holidays, don’t be fooled) or continuing on your plan, here are a few tips to help you navigate the one holiday a year that quite literally revolves around eating.

1. Navigate Travel Like A Pro.

Many of us will be traveling long distances to see friends and family this Thanksgiving so make sure you eat a healthy nutritious meal before leaving for the airport or going on a long drive. While it should tide you over before you reach your destination, it doesn’t always. Airports and gas stations are littered with healthy snacks for you to grab before your flight takes off, so if you’re feeling a little peckish during your trip, grab some fruit, nuts, sushi, sugar free beef jerky or hummus and veggies for the road. There’s no need to fall off your nutritional journey on or before a flight.

2. Donate or Give Away Leftovers.

Thanksgiving is one day. Not an entire weekend and certainly not a whole week. We typically overcook for the holidays so if you have leftovers be sure to send it home with crazy aunt Beth or-better yet-donate the extra food to a local charity or church. 

3. Enjoy the Day!

It’s my philosophy that you absolutely should enjoy each holiday as you normally would regardless of whether or not you are trying to lose weight. Weight loss is a lifestyle change but it doesn’t mean you should go without or skip important days. Whether you’d like to believe it or not, one day is not going to undo your weeks, months or even years of hard work. Our bodies don’t work that way. Enjoy Thanksgiving and get right back to work the next day.

4. DO NOT WEIGH YOURSELF ON BLACK FRIDAY!

It is common practice as humans to make ourselves feel like absolute crap because we’ve indulged for a day - and you shouldn’t. I always tell clients to weight themselves several days or even a week after a holiday. As I said previously, a day of overindulgence is not going to do all of your hard work. However, because Thanksgiving meals are typically heavier meals the following day that will usually show up on the scale (you’re most likely retaining a lot of water from the high sodium meal you had) and if you give a few days (or even a week) of being back on your normal routine, you’ll find you’ve either maintained or even lost weight overall.

5. Remember: Maintenance Is A Goal.

Everyone is always on a quest to continue to lose weight (shocker: there is a limit to how much weight you can actually lose) but sometimes life gets in the way and our schedules catch up with us. Remember, if you’re doing your best while still enjoying the holidays and you are maintaining your current weight – that is a huge win. Any time you don’t gain and hang on to our progress, you’re doing something right and you should feel great about that. 

6.  Alcohol is An Empty Calorie.

Remember during holiday parties to not overdo it with alcohol. We tend to gravitate to sugary drinks this time of year and spirits like champagne and mixed or frozen drinks usually have a ton of added sugar. It’s best to stick to light beers and clear alcohols with soda. They’re going to have way fewer calories in them and remember alcohol does nothing for you during your weight loss journey.

7. Navigate Around the Holiday.

Eating healthy and working out on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as well as Black Friday can certainly help offset any unexpected weight gain on Thanksgiving (and will probably mentally help you enjoy the day guilt free.) If we can do our best and nourish our bodies properly around Thanksgiving, you should find that you will either maintain your current weight (or best case scenario - lose a pound or two!)

8.  Do Your Best!

Let’s face it – shit is going to happen this time of year. But as long as you are doing your best and trying, that’s the most important part. The holidays are stressful and for some can be lonely and depressing. As long as you are putting forth the effort, you’re going to be ten steps ahead of everyone come New Years resolution time. Prepare meals ahead of time, schedule workouts in your calendar just like you would a business meeting and have someone on hand to celebrate your wins and be there for you for you when you’re down. Simply putting forth any bit of effort can go a very long way this time of year.

9. There is No “Right” Time.

There is no “right” or “wrong” time to start your weight loss journey – there is only time. Don’t use the excuse of the holidays to do what you can do today – even if they are little changes. It will never be the “right” time because our brains will always find a way to talk us out of what we know we need to do. The holidays are a great time to start a new nutrition or fitness routine. If you can navigate your way around the hardest time of year food wise, you can do anything.

Most importantly, enjoy this special day! For more tip and info, be sure to click on my contact page to schedule a free consultation.