It's Just One Day

Thanksgiving arrives in just a few days. Are you ready?

Whenever a major food holiday looms, many of us have a tendency to say, "What the hell, there's no use dieting this week; I'll go back on my diet after it's over." This is not such a good idea, for several reasons.

First off, you should not be on a "diet" at all. Diets don't work. Being "on a diet" implies that a some point, you can be "off the diet." Seeing as how there's no cure for obesity, being "off the diet" is a slippery slope to fatland. If you are on a "diet," there are TONS of reasons to be "off" it -- holidays, birthdays, parties, vacations, office leftovers . . . the list is endless. Faced with all of these diet "exceptions," many folks falter -- and eventually give up in disgust.

The only way to lose weight and keep it off is to permanently modify your eating habits.

Second, Thanksgiving is only one day. There's absolutely no reason why you can't follow your usual food plan Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember, Thanksgiving is a holiDAY, not a holiWEEK. And whether you're trying to drop a few pounds or are maintaining a loss, it's fairly easy to modify your weekly intake to allow for some extra goodies on THE DAY. Don't deprive yourself; learning how to eat in moderation for the rest of your life doesn't mean you can't have some food fun. But don't go overboard, either. Have one slice of pumpkin pie, not three.

Now: let's address those leftovers.

If you're cooking this Thanksgiving, give as much stuff away as you can. Make little packets for everyone and tuck them in their hot little hands as they leave. If they won't take 'em, then divide your boomerang leftovers into meal-size portions and freeze 'em. That way, you'll be able to enjoy your favorite foods throughout the next month. Yesterday, for example, I slow-cooked a bunch of collard greens with smoked turkey wings. I filled one small container for hubby and me to nosh on for the next week. The rest went into one cup-size containers, and are now residing in my freezer.

If you're not cooking for Turkey Day: try to avoid taking home those little care packets. But if you are strong-armed into taking someone else's leftovers, you know what to do, right? FREEZE THEM.

Lastly, if you do end up eating more than you planned? Remember -- it's only one day. Don't fall into the guilt trap. Just get right back into your program the next day.

We don't have to be perfect to lose weight and keep it off. We just have to do the right thing most of the time.

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Comments

[Elaine]

It's always a good idea to take a brisk walk after a large Thanksgiving meal.