Thanksgiving Survival Tips

My surgeon's office sent out these tips.  I'm sure they're not all relevant to everyone, but take what you want and discard the rest :)  I thought they were helpful/interesting, so hopefully you might too.  I definitely plan on going for a run on Thanksgiving morning.  My plan calls for 12x400, eek!

• Before you start filling up your plate, survey everything that's being served. Have small portions of the foods that you really want.
• If you're a guest at someone's house, bring a dish that you know is a better option for you (and for others who are watching their weight).
• Do not skip breakfast that morning. This way you're not starving when you sit down for the Thanksgiving feast and tempted by everything being offered.
• Try to exercise Thanksgiving morning. Mentally, it will empower you to make healthier choices for the rest of the day. Physically, it will put some calories into your "calorie bank" so you don't have to stress about indulging a little bit later on in the day.
• Limit your alcohol intake. It's high in calories, and drinking more of it might lead to eating more of the foods you were trying to limit for the day.
• It might be difficult to get up and leave the table when you're done eating. If you can't, place your napkin over your plate, or push your plate away so you're not tempted to keep eating when you're full.
• People love sending guests home with leftovers. If you can't decline the offer, guide the host or hostess as to what you'd like to take home. Say, "I really loved the turkey, sweet potatoes, and broccoli! I would really appreciate it if you can pack those to send home with me."
• Don't strive to be perfect. Remember that goals - small ones and large ones - need to be realistic. Don't try to convince yourself that you're only going to eat a small portion of turkey, some salad, and will completely skip dessert. Recognize that some special - and probably very tasty - foods are being served today. Enjoy a few things, in small portions, and savor every bite. Take pride in knowing that you were able to indulge without going overboard.

Thanks GwenMo for sharing that. Really good info to follow.

Thanks for that post. It all makes so much sense and not hard to follow. Follow the plan 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.. 

For my first and second Thanksgivings, I put a spoonful of everything on the plate, ate all the proteins, then nibbled a bite or two of each side dish, leaving half of everything else on the plate, which was fine.  I took my time, and waited an hour before enjoying the equivalent of 4 bites of pumpking pie.  I ate my protein, felt satisfied, undeprived, and didn't get out of control.

At parties, go after the meat/cheese/nuts before the fancy carbs.  If you're full of protein, you'll only stray a few bites...hardly enough to beat yourself up over.