Surviving Turkey Day!

Here are just a few tips to help you get through the holidays without ruining all your hard work:

- Eat your regular meals all day until the "big one". This will keep you from being too hungry when it's time to indulge. I do this, and I find that I'm satisfied with much smaller portions than what I used to have in the past.

-Get in a good, sweaty workout the morning of the big feast. When I have a good workout, I'm always more likely to make smart choices. Who wants to go load up on junk when you just worked so hard? Even if you only have a short period of time, get in some sweat - you will feel good, make smarter choices, and not feel bad for indulging a little.

-Don't hover around the food table. At many events, there is a table set up with snacks - don't hang around it! Sometimes this is hard since most people hang around the snack table, but try to get away, or stick to the veggies.

-Keep your hands busy! Constantly keep water on hand, help out with the cooking, play with the kids, take pictures - keep your hands busy and they will less likely be caught in the snack bowl. :)

-Alternate your drinks. If you're going to have a drink or two, alternate them with a glass of water. Make it a rule to not have a second drink until you've had a glass of water. You will consume less calories, and hydrate! :)

-If you are cooking, see if there are ways to lighten up your recipes. Use Splenda, or whole wheat flour. There are many things you can do to lighten up a recipe without taking anything away from it.

-Get right back to your plan the next day! Allow yourself to enjoy the holiday meals, but just get back to your plan the next day. A day off is perfectly fine, and necessary - just don't let it turn in to a week or more off. :)

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Enjoy the food and the tradition, but most importantly, enjoy the time you get to spend with loved ones, and take a minute to think about all the things you are truly thankful for. :)