8 Ways To Survive Thanksgiving On A Diet

by Shin Ohtake on Monday, November 24, 2008 • 4 Comments

Stuffed turkey.  Mashed potatoes & gravy.  Sweet potato pie.  Apple Pie.  Pumpin Pie.  Ah, the guilty pleasures of Thanksgiving.  What’s that you say?  Yes, of course I was visualizing the veggie platter too!

Maintaining your weight during the holidays is a challenge even the “genetically gifted” face, but losing weight during the dinner party season is a whole ‘nuther ball game.  Since this holiday season officially kicks off on Thursday, November 27th with Thanksgiving, here are 8 surefire tips to keep your eating habits in check.

1. Be Realistic

The holidays are meant to be fun, so don’t set yourself up for failure right off the bat.  I’m not saying you have to toss your nutrition plan out the window.  But if you’re too strict on yourself you’ll just end up cranky and feeling deprived.  Loosening up a little on Turkey Day will allow you to maintain a balance of fun and staying fit. 

2. Workout That Morning

Susan and I always workout on Thanksgiving.  First off, the gym is usually empty (gotta love that).  And second, there’s a lot less guilt when we sit down to devour our Thanksgiving dinner.  Plus, you’re just more apt to eating better on the days you workout.  It’s a subconscious thing for most people, but it works.  When you feel like you worked out hard, you don’t want to “ruin” it by eating bad.

3. Eat Before You Go

If you’re having Thanksgiving at someone else’s place, don’t go starving. The hor d’oeurves can sabotage your whole plan by themselves.  Eat some healthy snacks before you go, so you’re not tempted gorge on the calorie-laden finger foods.

4. Watch Your Serving Size

You know Aunt Millie is going to pile the food a mile high on your plate at the first chance she gets.  After all, she’s been slaving over that meal all day.  Kindly let her know to take it easy on you this year.  Use your fist a gauge to measure your serving sizes and try to avoid going for seconds. 

5. Easy On The Booze

Drink alcohol in moderation.  Besides being packed with carbs and sugar, the more buzzed you get, the more you’ll end up lowering your guard and you’re intentions to eat better will be gone to the wind.

6. Eat Slow

Avoid calorie comatose and let your gut digest some of that food before you go for seconds.  It usually takes about 20 minutes after eating before your stomach tells your brain that you’re full, so don’t rush the meal.  Engage in conversation or help serve the food to distract you from cleaning your plate too fast.

7. Drink Water

Drinking more water (before and during the big meal) will help control your appetite, making you feel fuller faster.

8. Just Say No

Pressure.  It’s probably the hardest to deal with at Thanksgiving.  Other people can feel threatened or even intimidated by your good eating habits.  In an effort to make themselves better about their own bad habits, they’ll oftentimes guilt you into eating more.  Don’t be a pushover this year.  Stand your ground.  (Either that or feed your leftovers to Fido).

About The Author

Shin Ohtake is a widely recognized strength coach and fitness & fat-loss expert. His unconventional, no-nonsense approach to getting fit has made him the go-to source for fitness enthusiasts and trainers alike. Shin is also the author of the world famous, MAX Workouts book, which has transformed and reshaped the bodies of thousands of people across the globe - without requiring hours in the gym. To learn more about how MAX Workouts can help you achieve your fitness goals, visit maxworkouts.com.

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