Speak Up: How Do You Feel About Indulging on Thanksgiving?

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Speak Up: How Do You Feel About Indulging on Thanksgiving?

November 25, 2009

The past month, I've been giving you Thanksgiving tips, healthy recipes, and calorie breakdowns to help you avoid weight gain during this food-laden holiday. I know many of you appreciate the extra help, but some of you may have the attitude that it's a once a year dinner, and you should enjoy yourself. So where do you stand on indulging for T-day? Do you throw all the rules out the window and eat whatever you want, or do you stay in control, and not allow yourself to over-splurge?

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33 Comments

lilxmissxmolly 3 years 25 weeks

I eat a balanced meal that's probably higher in calories than normal, and have a dessert that I'll enjoy.

insanitypepper 3 years 25 weeks

I made sure to have plenty of dishes that are good for me on the menu so I don't have to hold back.

dd sugar 3 years 25 weeks

I'm with laura220 on this one and I don't think of it as deprivation. Really don't want to spend the holiday with stomach issues, so I eat what I always eat and enjoy other things about Thanksgiving.

genipher85 3 years 25 weeks

I plan on eating whatever I feel like and working out extra next week to make up for it. Life is about balance.

totygoliguez 3 years 25 weeks

I have to enjoy my Thanksgiving. On holidays I don't like to think about dieting. I like to indulge on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New years. Those three days are the only time of year where I allowed my self to indulge without feeling guilty . The reason why people gain so much weight during the holidays is because they eat all through December and November. If you just stick to those three days you will be fine.

Spectra 3 years 25 weeks

I don't go all-out and eat a ton of food on Thanksgiving like I did when I was a kid/teenager. I do eat a little more than I do on a typical day...I love my mom's mashed potatoes and the turkey, but I also eat a big green salad and I work out before eating dinner.

carmela83 3 years 25 weeks

Life is meant to be enjoyed, a day of indulging is not going to wreck your figure, and sometimes it's healthy to let loose a bit. I usually just got for a long walk with my family after dinner or a morning run the next day.

mlreed 3 years 25 weeks

I agree with a lot of people here that as long as your overall lifestyle is healthy, the holiday won't affect you. Where people really gain the weight is from extending the holiday. You can't get a huge pumpkin muffin from Dunkin Donuts for breakfast every morning from November 1st through Thanksgiving because it's seasonal, or a grande Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks five times a week for all of December. I enjoy my Thanksgiving on the one day in November, where I feast with family and have a good time. I don't worry about perfect portions or not going back for seconds. I eat what I want, I stop when I'm done, and the next meal is not a holiday.

mlreed 3 years 25 weeks

I agree with a lot of people here that as long as your overall lifestyle is healthy, the holiday won't affect you. Where people really gain the weight is from extending the holiday. You can't get a huge pumpkin muffin from Dunkin Donuts for breakfast every morning from November 1st through Thanksgiving because it's seasonal, or a grande Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks five times a week for all of December.I enjoy my Thanksgiving on the one day in November, where I feast with family and have a good time. I don't worry about perfect portions or not going back for seconds. I eat what I want, I stop when I'm done, and the next meal is not a holiday.

Florida Snow 3 years 25 weeks

You know, as long as your average daily life style is chock full of healthy food and lots of exercise, the occasion eat-how-you-please it totally acceptable. Life is bland and sad without some indulgence!

doogirl 3 years 25 weeks

Who the heck watches what they eat on Thanksgiving? It's one day! The only thing I do on Thanksgiving, besides eat, it make sure to do something physical. Play a game of volleyball with the family, take the kids to a nearby school to play in the playground, nothing that screams "exercise" but something fun!

Kimpossible 3 years 25 weeks

you can splurge and still stay in control, which is what I meant by my post. Like I said, my fitness and nutrition is a lifestyle, it's not a punishment or a diet, I enjoy it. I will splurge on Holidays but I will stay in control even with my splurging.

tlsgirl 3 years 25 weeks

I don't feel that calories are the devil to begin with. I figure if I'm good the rest of the year, which I pretty much am, one day where I eat a little more won't hurt me. Plus, that full feeling isn't my favorite anyway, so I sort of naturally regulate myself. I don't see the big deal though. It's one day.

melx 3 years 25 weeks

I also think it is healthy to splurge sometimes!

melx 3 years 25 weeks

I also think it is healthy to splurge sometimes!

Merlin713 3 years 25 weeks

I have a large stock of weird feelings about ANY food related holiday/event because of my already bad gut situation. If I eat any of the wrong food I'll get 'sick' and my intestines will be at war with my body. I just can't...no amount of prescription drugs can help me with certain foods. It sucks sometimes, but if I can only eat a snack plate in order to not get sick for several months, I'll do that.

Merlin713 3 years 25 weeks

nikkisoda 3 years 25 weeks

I just don't think about it. If I eat a lot I eat a lot. If I don't I don't. I feel like if I go into it telling myself to watch what I eat and Oh no don't eat that I will just be miserable. Plus I will most likely overeat if I restrict myself. The only thing I'm planning on doing is going for a run in the morning. Mostly to clear my mind and have a little time to myself before the chaos begins.

3 years 25 weeks

Not a big Thanksgiving food type of person... so I just don't eat a whole lot bc I just don't like it. Anyone else think Pizza should be the traditional holiday meal!?

chloe bella 3 years 25 weeks

I definitely indulge more than I would on any other day, but I still try to eat smaller portions and to not overstuff myself. Even though I don't feel bad about eating the foods I like on Thanksgiving, I think the healthy recipe tips are nice. A lot of times, you can make healthy substitutions and the final product will taste just as good.

laellavita 3 years 25 weeks

isabelle said it exactly -- i'll probably eat a little more tomorrow than i usually do, and i'll definitely have something sugary and buttery and fantastic for dessert as opposed to fruit on most days, but i won't stuff myself until my stomach explodes.

isabelle315 3 years 25 weeks

yeah, I'm with Mamasitamali on this one....calories are not the enemy. Seeing this as a choice between "staying in control" or "splurging" implies that it's impossible to truly enjoy a good meal without eating 4 pieces of pie. I'll probably eat more tomorrow than I normally do, but then again, there are tons of days during the year when I eat more than "normal", and tons of days when I eat less than "normal".

FitBnnie 3 years 25 weeks

I don't deal well with the "stuffed" feeling that comes from eating too much so I try to watch my portions, but eat anything I want. I maintain a very healthy lifestyle and think indulging in less healthy, but delicious versions, of foods you'd normally eat is part of the balance. (Underneath those marshmallows and the brown sugar ARE yams!) I try to make a smaller plate (about half the size of my brothers' "first round" plate) with a little bit of everything I want, breath, and when people get seconds I go back for some more of my favorite things if I'm still hungry. I love desert, so I always have some with a cup of coffee. I only like to indulge in sweets that I LOVE, so this year I'm brining my favorite cupcakes for portion control and so I don't end up eating some cake or pie that isn't that great.

FitBnnie 3 years 25 weeks

tylergrl33 3 years 25 weeks

Being at the gym practically every day for the past 5 years & eating healthy makes me feel like I deserve a trip to the dessert table on Thanksgiving (and Christmas for that matter)!

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33 Comments

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