Debra's Thanksgiving holiday blog

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and this can be a very stressful time of year when it comes to staying on track and eating healthy.  Food is usually in abundance and parties are frequent.

For me this a joyous and festive time with decorations, Christmas music, the spirit of joy and I just love seeing how excited the kids get knowing that Christmas is right around the corner. However, for some women it is a time of high anxiety because of overeating and binging. I remember those days and while I personally try to take it in stride I too can get overwhelmed and overeat, but many years ago I came up with a plan to  allow myself  no more than a 2 pound weight gain and for the past 15 years it has worked!

While Thanksgiving is considered the beginning of the holidays you do not have to binge and overeat or put on the 11-12 pounds that most experts say the average weight gain is at that time of year. Not only is that unhealthy physically, mentally and emotionally but that is a lot of weight to put on and it is so hard to take off.  Come January, when you mentally begin to get in the DIET mode, the shift will be to weight loss.” The DIET industry booms with people wanting to lose weight and that will most certainly lead to another year of disappointments for many.  Listen to me...DIETS DON’T WORK!

I truly believe that anyone can get through the holidays without eating till you cannot breathe or better yet cannot zipper your jeans. Yes, you can do this as I have done it for years and I am not different than anyone else. When I began to PACE MYSELF with holiday eating and thinking MINDFULLY about my choices I realized that anyone could do this. 

Here’s a tip to help you make it through the next 6 weeks without eating the kitchen sink. Again, I will say this, make sure you are exercising. When your fitness routine takes a back seat that sets up a roller coaster ride for a train wreck and that is when most good eating habits begin to go south. In other words, when one sinks they both go down.  Without exercise and eating sensibly, those pounds will start to pack on and you will probably experience a lack of energy, not enough sleep, feel bloated and feel miserable.

I have said this over and over, if you can make it through Thanksgiving Day half of the battle is won. That one day will most likely set you up for the next 4 or so weeks till Christmas is over and we are all running to get healthy once again. Do me a favor. Please eat one good meal on Thanksgiving Day like a good breakfast. Enjoy the day and celebrate you. You can make it, I know you can!