Top 5 Tips For A Fit And Healthy Thanksgiving
Today I give thanks to you, my incredible fitness family! Each of you in your own special way enriches my life and makes my days that much brighter. To show my gratitude and keep us moving forward toward our fitness goals, I thought I would share my top 5 strategies for managing the gluttony ahead! lol
So here goes…
1) Eat a good breakfast: The gluttony does not have to be an all day event. Try to eat a good wholesome real food breakfast that includes a quality protein source and healthy fats (i.e. eggs, yogourt or kefir, nitrite free bacon… (yup bacon, you have my permission - we can discuss that another time).
2) Get out early in the day: Get out for a nature walk, family stroll, play sports with the kids, or hit up a morning workout. While this may seem obvious, it is easy to fall into “hall pass” mode and flake out for the entire day. Of course if this is what your body actually needs… But that’s a post for another day!
3) Eat a good lunch: Unless you are having your Thanksgiving early, you should eat a quality real food lunch. This brings to mind my uncle’s strategy to holiday dinners - he would essentially starve himself, or in his terms “work up an appetite” for the entire day. That way he could “take full advantage” of what was on offer. Of course, if you don’t want to end up like my uncle, like a bloated whale passed out on the couch within 45 minutes of dinner, you may want to consider strategy #3. If you eat a good lunch it will leave you more satiated going into dinner, and thus reduce the likelihood that you will overeat.
4) Set Yourself Free: I often speak to people about what I have aptly termed “food freedom”. Food is not a means to an end as dietary doctrine would have us believe. It is meant to be enjoyed. It is one of our greatest gifts as it brings people together, nourishes our physical and emotional body and brings us tremendous joy. When we view food in this manner, It liberates us from the stronghold of nutritional science and gives us back our food sovereignty. It sets us free of anxiety or fear over food choices. You are in control, so set yourself free to enjoy a few indulgences.
5) Get back at it: Just because you ate a few pieces of pie doesn’t mean you have fallen off the wagon, or that the whole week is a write off. As per our philosophy of food freedom, allow yourself to indulge in your favourite Thanksgiving dishes or treats. Then, when you wake up tomorrow morning, get back at it. Get up, have a wholesome breakfast and get back on the fitness wagon. No need to starve yourself or restrict your intake - just get back at it and take advantage of the metabolic kick that sporadic caloric indulgences provide.
Hope you found these tips helpful. Please feel free to comment below with any feedback you may have. This is your fitness community, so we want to hear from you!
