My problem is that I really enjoy it all. So while implimenting the ideas presented, our tri club also has a holiday zero weight gain challenge that helps me.

Each week we report on our forum of our weight gain/losses over the previous week and net change from the starting date. This really helps me in that I work hard so I don’t have to post a gain over the holiday season. And while I tend to traditionally put on a pound or two over Thanksgiving, that public reporting makes me work to take it off so that I hit New Years Day with a net no change or a small weight loss.

Although I didn’t think Mark’s input about just eating turkey is all that useful/realistic, there were several tips I thought were helpful for me.

1) getting a workout in early in the day

2) eating healthy and normal throughout the earlier parts of the day (+ glass of water before the meal)

3) skipping the dinner rolls (as those are an ‘everyday’ food)

4) using a smaller spoon to dish the gravy

5) eat slowly

6) go for a walk before eating dessert

For most people, families are potlucking the meal so there often isn’t the option to change the ingredients or to do so without an ensuing riot. I think many families have long standing traditions about Thanksgiving foods, so I tend to chuckle at tips about changing up the mashed potatoes for plain yams as I envision the heart attack of my father-in-law.

I applaud you for doing both the hard core and the not-so-hardcore suggestions, however, and appreciate that I didn’t waste my time listening to a healthy tips podcast telling me basically not to eat Thanksgiving dinner…duh. I like the 80/20 rule. That’s doable for a lifestyle of health and fitness.

Liked the ideas too of making holes in the calendar.

Thanks for all the info.