Make Your Thanksgiving Meal a Treat Meal

Thanksgiving is a time for each of us to pause, reflect in gratitude, and enjoy the company of family and friends – over a wonderful meal, of course. Clients ask me, “Can I make Thanksgiving a cheat day?” I reply, “no, you really shouldn’t.” Instead, I tell them to make it a “treat meal.”

In my professional view, it’s okay to splurge and go all out for one meal, but you don’t have to go overboard by eating continuously all day in order to celebrate this special day.

Do You Know How Many Calories You Consumes on Thanksgiving Day?

According to the Caloric Control Council, the average American will consume more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day. For most people, these extra calories come from the all-day snacking in front of the TV while watching the Thanksgiving parade and college football.

Where Do All These Extra Calories Go?

The truth is, these extra calories you gobbled up above your total daily energy expenditure (calories in > calories out), are converted into droplets, which are consumed by your fat cells. One pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories.

Turkey Trot Before Turkey Meal, Anyone?

You can easily add a little more activity to your Thanksgiving Day to help balance out for some of the extra calories you eat. In fact, the 33rd Annual Sugar Land Turkey Trot is on Thanksgiving morning. To register go to: www.signmeup.com/123409.

You can burn as many as 50 to100 calories walking at a brisk pace for 10 minutes. And, if you can’t make it to the gym, you can do some resistance exercises at home, such as squats, lunges, push-ups and planks to build lean muscle and to boost your metabolism.

Exercise and Making Healthy Choices Is a Win

If you know you are going to give in to temptations, by making up for them through exercise and healthy choices elsewhere you can keep on track. Remember, by balancing your intake along with exercise, you’ll be able to take part in the holiday meal tradition, eat well, be happy without feeling guilty.