Ideas for getting through Thanksgiving without gaining

I am thinking ahead to Thanksgiving.  My plan is to indulge but in small portions.  Any ideas or suggestions on how to get through the holiday without paying a huge price on the scale?

My plan is to take a break from counting calories and enjoy the food and family. I'll eat until I'm no longer hungry, try not to overdo it and then get back to counting calories the next day. One day of overeating isn't going to do me in.

Yea, I've been giving quite a bit of thought to this myself.  I think I am going to watch my portions, but not make anything off limits.

I'm still going to count the calories, but not freak out if I go over. 

For me is not a problem the "holiday" (which ever it is).  The problem is the following days where left overs from my favourite foods are around.  So this year we're invited to my in-laws and I don't have to cook.  I never stress about food on holidays but I have also stopped, a few years now, eating until I have to open the button of my pants.  I just enjoy the food and find an excuse to get up from the table when everybody is done and just hangs around munching and talking.  Try something to that extend and enjoy the special day with your loved ones without stressing yourself about calories.  Good luck

Calorie counting is key! If you don't count, you will gain weight...trust me! Drink lots of water, because foods are sure to have more sodium.

Instead of eating your "weight-loss" number of calories, eat the maintenance calories for your weight on the days you want to "binge".

If you have a day where you eat way more calories than you should, eat your weight loss number of calories the next day (zig-zag approach).

Also, eat small portions of the foods you love, and don't hang out near the food tables at parties.

Take little walks throughout each day.

My plan is going to be to have a light breakfast the morning of and also have a snack (fruit and yogurt maybe) like 3 hours before.  Lots of water too. I think my problem in past years is that I skip breakfast and dont eat anything until the time of thanksgiving dinner! Silly me! Then Im starving by the time its 4pm and time to eat...of course then at that point I gorge myself on pies, stuffing, bean casseroles, and all of the other holiday goodies.

My normal calorie deficit is between 500 and 750 calories, so on holidays I give myself "permission" to eat up to 500 calories more than my usual target.  I always feel happy with that splurge, and never gain any weight.

So, my plan on Thanksgiving is to have my normal breakfast (about 400 calories) a light lunch (about 400 calories).  That leaves me with 1000-1500 calories for dinner, so I can eat sensible portions of all the "healthy" foods like turkey and broccoli and butternut squash, and small portions of all the "treat" foods like gravy, stuffing, pie, and wine.  I won't obsess, but I found on other holidays that this works out fine for me, I never hit my higher end of my calorie allowance, and I don't feel deprived.

As others have said, the trick is to get right back on track on Friday, regardless of what I do on Thursday.

Original Post by kristicro:

Calorie counting is key! If you don't count, you will gain weight...trust me! Drink lots of water, because foods are sure to have more sodium.

We're talking about one day here. Unless someone were to eat at least 3500 calories over their maintenance, the weight gained from overeating is most likely going to be water weight and whatever's in the intestines. If something like this occurs on a daily basis, of course someone would gain weight. But, again, this is only one day.

We have Thanksgiving "dinner" around 1pm so I have a chance to be active the later half of the day. I usually don't eat much, if anything, for dinner on Thanksgiving so the calories I do eat are put to good use throughout the rest of the day.

Well, I'm going on a 10-mile run that morning.  It'll enable me to eat!  :)  If you're worried about it, do something active in the morning and give yourself a better buffer while still being aware of what you're eating.  Good luck!

Personally, I'm going to the gym. When I'm hungry, I'll eat, and when I'm full, I'll stop.

Thanksgiving is not really any different than any other day.

Turkey Run.

There are a lot of Thanksgiving Day runs/races out there. They are fun. And there is always the chance to win a turkey.

No way I am skimpin' on that fine day.

Going for an after feast walk around the hood with the family, playing around with the kids in the family, is fun.

But I will also try to not overdo my portions too much, or eat some of the gross artery blocking food that some people make on Thanksgiving.

So I say at the moment.

Try not to make too big of a deal out of it-esp. infront of family members.  I nearly gave my mom a heart attack last year when I was counting calories on Thanksgiving.  It's one day, you don't need to go crazy in over-consuming or in counting!

We are not having it at our house so I plan on leaving all the leftovers behind...so then don't go to my behind...hee hee

I also will run around like a turkey with his head chopped off.... because I will be trying to make everyone happy!

Also portion control, one helping and that's it!!!!!o ya and only ONE desert..not one of each pie!!! we will see how I do ~hth

Good luck to everyone!

I LOVE all the traditional Thanksgiving food.  However, I also know ME and my lack of willpower.  I can't have just a taste of something, so I might have some turkey and a bit of gravy, but will forgo the mashed potatoes and the dressing (which I can't get enough of), and all the other stuff.  I might just take a couple of snacks I've measured or weighed. I did that for a family get together a couple of months ago, and it worked very well.   My family is very supportive of my efforts and will understand.  It won't be easy to resist all the goodies on the table, but when I get home Thanksgiving night, I'll be happy with myself, have great memories (and photos) of being with my family, and won't be hesitant to get on the scale a couple of days later.  But, I also know MY plan wouldn't work for everyone.  We each have to do what works best for us.  And, on that note, I'll wish you all a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Drink a glass or two of water before your Thanksgiving feast (it will help you feel fuller before eating.)

Lucky for all of us, smoked turkey can actually be pretty healthy and lean! As long as you make sure to trim the fat off what you're eating, you can have 3-4 oz. of it for under 300 calories.

Other than that, my advice is: stick to the veggies! Steamed broccoli and carrots are low-cal and very filling, not to mention delicious. And for those candied yams- You can make sweet potatoes without the butter and sugar that taste just as good.

Mashed potatoes- you have to be careful with these. It depends on what kind of milk you make them with and if you put butter in them, etc. Mashed potatoes are actually pretty healthy, but when you chuck them full of butter, sour cream, cream cheese, and gravy, you kind of defeat the whole purpose.

Stuffing, well, that stuff just kind of depends on the recipe, but it's definitely not the most healthy thing on the menu. Try to watch your portions with this.

Cranberry Sauce is probably not too bad. Well, the Ocean Spray kind out of a can isn't, anyways.

As for the pies and cakes and cookies- If you're really craving one, then go ahead and eat that piece of pumpkin pie!

For Thanksgiving, I'm going to try to keep it healthy with turkey and lots of healthy veggies. If I skimp on the stuffing, then I'm definitely going to let myself have a piece of pie. The trick is to let yourself have ONE, not two.

Also, don't think that just because it's the holidays, you can eat and eat and eat until you get sick. I used to do that (eating without really paying attention to hunger), and I was MISERABLE afterwards. Just eat until you're full.

One day isn't going to screw you up, either, if you do end up going a little overboard. Remember: You'd have to consume 3,500 extra calories to gain a pound, and to eat 3,500 calories on top of maintenence is pretty damn hard to do in a day!

I say, pick one thing you love and indulge in it.  Taste everything else, and don't let anyone make you feel bad for being disciplined!

We don't have Thanksgiving in the UK, but I guess Christmas is the same scenario... the last few years I've... eaten and enjoyed the meals but not had seconds, not snacked between them (I've no sweet tooth anyway) and stayed offalcohol before 6pm. This year I'm not trying to lose weight any more (unless I put on 10lb before xmas!) but to be honest I think I'll do the same because I enjoyed the food so much more eating for enjoyment, not just to gorge myself...

me and my brother are making a three bird roast for new year! We had to debone three birds then put them inside each other... how awesome is that!

I plan to taste everything, eat reasonable portions, and listen to my gut - I no longer like the feeling of being full to the brink of explosion, so I am hoping that will guide me.  I'd like to be able to take a long, long walk, but we'll be doing alot of traveling that day -

If my strategy doesn't work, there's always this -->

http://caloriecount.about.com/planning-your-t hanksgiving-feast-b358177

Hey!! Look what I found!! LOL