Have a Thankful and Healthy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving people!!!

As the stores (and many neighbors) are forcing us to think about Christmas already (and not because its Jesus' birthday!), please remember to count your blessings!!

Be thankful for the little things -
having 2 legs that work properly (even if they are a little bigger than you'd like them to be),
having children that love you (even if they drive you crazy at times),
having a roof over your head (even if it's not updated and that stinkin paint still needs to be touched up),
that you have a warm meal to eat with family and/or friends in a nice, warm, cozy home (even if it is disfunctional).
Life could be so much worse. We live such spoiled lives here in the U.S. We need to make sure to count our blessings because one day we may not have it all.

As for health tips:
1. Get some kind of exercise Thanksgiving morning and plan a post meal walk. The exercise will wake you up and give you more incentive to make healthy choices.
2. Drink LOTS OF WATER!! Thanksgiving food is filled with salt and sugar. One reason we keep on eating is because were thirsty! But instead of recognizing our thirst we stuff out faces with more dehydrating food.
3. Don't plan on seconds...unless it's vegetables. And I don't mean the cheese covered kind. I mean the healthy steamed kind... and preferably green.
4. Sweet potato casserole is a dessert!!! Put it there (on the dessert table).
5. Choose one (or 2) of your most favorite desserts and eat a little. Enjoy it, savor it, let it melt in your  mouth, think about the flavors. Then drink your coffee, then drink your water and save the other serving your dying to get for tomorrow. Spread the yumminess out.
6. Get back on your food & fitness routine ASAP!! This day will come again... in 30 days in fact.
7. Come back here for some healthy (or at least delicious) leftovers recipes.

Enjoy your holiday and your time off.

Have a Happy Day of Thanks and Blessings

Keeping It Real... Healthy!

Who likes holiday food?!?! I do, I do!! Turkey & stuffing with cranberry sauce; sweet potato casserole covered with toasted marshmallows; apple pie and pumpkin pie spice lattes; the list goes on. Let's face it, most people gain 2 to 10 lbs between November and January. So this year, be proactive! Do something about the weight gain BEFORE you gain it!

1. Enlist a partner. An accountability partner. Preferably someone in your family who you will be with at these holiday gatherings. Let them know your goals (only 1 sweet, only 1 serving, no more than 8 oz of alcohol, etc). This person needs to be someone you trust and who will be encouraging, not annoying or degrading. Someone who will be healthy too, not stuffing their face while your resisting.

2. Encourage healthy options at your gatherings  or just bring your own. My kids don't eat dairy (which btw saves massive calories!!) so I'm used to bringing additional food. And my family has been so wonderful looking up dairy free recipes and have even been making healthier dishes, too.

3. Let your family know your goals. Hopefully you have a supportive family and they will be supportive. How do they know your goals and intentions if you don't tell them?  How do they know how important your goals are if you don't tell them? If your goal is to be healthier, they should commend you. (Plus, what accountability! They'll be watching you. Be ready to set the example.)

This WebMD article has some great tips, too.

http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/features/10-ways-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain?page=2

I, personally, have had a few stressful months which results in eating unnecessary calories. But after putting on a pair of jeans that are a size (or 2) bigger than I normally wear I am determined!! Life is a little less stressful (still have 4 kids, still not in our house, but hubby is home and fall sports are over) so I'm ready to get back into my jeans! I have set some goals I intend on keeping til the end of the year... Or longer!! (It takes about this long to create a habit. I know I'm picking a difficult time to do these things but I canNOT put on more weight during the holidays.)
Here they are
1. No Dairy!! Something about it makes me want to eat more. (I'm guessing it's the sugar that milk has. My kids drink Almond milk and soy yogurt and I can do without cheese.)
2. No dessert or snacking AFTER lunch or dinner. I'm usually tired or thirsty after these meals. So instead I will be drinking water or have flavored hot tea.
3. Measure my food and Log it BEFORE I eat it!!
4. Calorie goals: 1400 when I don't exercise, 1600 when I do a 1hr workout, 1800 when I do 2hrs of exercise. No more than 2000.

It's easier to resist when we stay I'm control to start with.

What are your goals?!