Thanksgiving and fitness may seem like complete opposites.  Like how can you fully enjoy Thanksgiving and also be concerned about fitness? Isn't Turkey Day all about wearing stretchy pants and eating all you can eat?

Well, these two things don't have to be mutually exclusive. You can enjoy your meal and keep fitness in mind all at the same time.  Below are some tips to help you maintain a healthful thanksgiving.   I have also included a quick workout you can use to start your day off with fitness in mind and still have time of all the Thanksgiving food prep, fun, and festivities!

The Tips

Work Out First

Starting your day out with a workout means you won't get too busy later in the day to get it in.  Plus workouts are energizing which you will need for all the cooking and socializing that needs to get done. You can call it your burn before the bird.  The workout below takes a total of 21 minutes.  I'm sure you can fit that into your morning. 

Eat Breakfast

Eating breakfast allows you to feel satiated during the day.  If you get to dinner time without having eaten anything, you will feel famished.  Your eyes will get bigger than your stomach and you'll end up eating more than you need to. Instead eat some breakfast so you don't end up over eating later. 

Drink Up Before You Eat Up

This advice is pretty common for anyone who is trying to prevent overeating.  If you drink a glass of water first, your stomach will already start to feel full and you will be far less likely to overeat. 

Make a Colorful Plate

There are so many foods available during Thanksgiving dinner.  Many of these food we don't really see at other times of the year.  Take this opportunity to fill your plate with a variety of foods you may not eat as often.  Your plate can become a colorful array of meat and vegetables and fruits. 

Stop When You Are Full

This is hard. The food is so good. Everyone else is still eating. You want to be a part of it. Instead just eat slowly, converse, enjoy the company. You can still have a little of everything and enjoy the company at the table without over stuffing yourself.  The only thing that should be overstuffed is the turkey...

Give Thanks

Finally, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all of our blessings, great and small.  Take some time to think about the things you are thankful for.  Not like a school exercise looking for the right answer to call out at dinner, but with real gratitude.  When you have an attitude of gratitude, it's hard to feel entitled.  This makes you less like to feel deserving of eating as much as you want and more grateful for the food you have and the time spent with friends and family.  

Next is a quick little workout to help you start your day with fitness in mind. Plus, if you do overeat, at least you can say you got your workout in!

The Workout

Do each exercise for 1 minute, rest for 1 minute and repeat. The whole workout is done in 21 minutes with plenty of time left for Thanksgiving festivities!

• Jumping Jacks

• Planks

• Squats

• Pushups

• Backward lunges

• Mountain climbers

• Tricep dips

• Burpees

• Side Plank

• Squat Jumps

I hope this inspires you to make healthy choices a part of your turkey day. You can still enjoy the fun, food and family without overdoing it.  You will thank yourself for it afterwards because who wants the post turkey day guilt?!  

Cheers,

Emily 

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