Practice the art of saying ‘no thank you’ on Thanksgiving. Although it may sound like an oxymoron, Thanksgiving can be a little overwhelming when you are trying to focus on weight loss and health goals. Consuming too many calories on Thanksgiving is an easy task if you are not keeping track, and honestly who wants to? No thank you is a polite way to not eat or do something without having to explain yourself. The trick is to say no thank you and move on to other topics of conversation or other activities. Instead of keeping tabs on calories, let’s count up the ways you can say no thank you.
As Bob Wright, our Lifestyle Education Director, says “Resolve dissolves in alcohol”. As our judgment dampens, we will not only consume more calorie filled beverages but indulge in more calorie rich food
Wait 20 minutes after you have finished eating. If you are still hungry after waiting, go back for seconds.
Have a sliver of pie instead of a slice. You cannot have weight control without portion control.
Go ahead and gorge yourself on the crudité plate, plain vegetables are not going to break the calorie bank.
Focus on the meal and the hours that someone has spent making such a delicious spread. Savor the flavor of Thanksgiving because it only comes around once a year.
There will be plenty of starchy foods to eat like yams and stuffing that you don’t have to waste your calories on bland bread. Take a scoop of your favorite starchy side and leave the rest for the family.
Thanksgiving is not an easy day to rely on willpower so instead use ‘no thank you’ to your advantage and give thanks to things that really matter like family, friends, and good health.
Cheers