Surviving Thanksgiving: How to Stay on Track this Thanksgiving!

We are only 5 days away from Thanksgiving and I'm sure most of you are thinking about all the delicious foods you have each year, am I right?  I know I have thought a few times about it.  I am a girl of traditions…I LOVE family traditions, the smells of Thanksgiving, the activities throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.  It brings me back to when I was a kid and I just love the warm memories!

This year, however, will bring a new set of traditions.  I do not host Thanksgiving at my house, but I am planning on coming with a few dishes the "clean" things up a bit.  I recently read, according to the Calorie Control Council, that the average American may consume more than 4,500 calories and over 200 grams of fat from snacking and eating their traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the goodies to go with it!  WHHHAAAATTT???  Are you kidding me?  I about fell off my chair when I read that.  I am bound and determined that I will not be one of those statistics this year!!  Will YOU?

Typical American Thanksgiving

You may be asking, how do I plan to avoid this staggering statistic?  Well…here are a few tips to help keep you on track to have a successful, yet still enjoyable Thanksgiving!

1)  Workout

Yes, Thanksgiving is a holiday, but that doesn't mean you are given a "calorie-free" grace pass all day. Keep yourself active.  Get yourself and family up and plan a morning workout, jog, football game, or hike.  Get ACTIVE!  It will help jumpstart your day and metabolism!  Find a local "Turkey Trot" 5K and sign up to run/jog/walk this together as a family!  This a great way to get your entire family active first thing Thanksgiving morning.  We have done this for the last 4-5 years and have such a blast…everyone loves it and gets involved!  I know this year, I'm going to stick to my T25 workout…It's only 25 minutes, and I know I can carve that time out before the day starts, plus we plan to do activity as a family!  So, find sometime to get out and exercise! 

DON'T FORGET TO WORKOUT HARD ON FRIDAY BEFORE YOU GO BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!!!

2)  Eat regular meals throughout the day - don't "save" your calories

I know this may be reverse thinking for some of you.  I know I used to think this way, that if I only eat a little bit throughout the day, then I can save all my calories for a huge dinner (or "lenner" as we like to call it, because we usually eat about 3 or 4 pm).  However, that's just going to be worse for you in the long run.  Your body needs sustained energy throughout the day to keep your metabolism working properly.  Plus, if you are starving by dinner time then you will most likely consume MORE calories than you had originally planned.

Instead - wake up and have a healthy breakfast.  I'm going to have my normal breakfast of Shakeology and continue to have my snacks that I have planned throughout the day.  I will be eating every 3 hours on Thanksgiving.  Some of my snacks I love are, apple with 1 TBSP of natural peanut butter or 14 almonds, broccoli or any veggie with 2 TBSP of hummus.  So plan accordingly so you are not starving throughout the day and gorge come dinner time!

-- Thanksgiving Dinner--

Pick and choose your Thanksgiving meal…don't eat it all.  Portion out and plan out what you will have.  You don't need to try EVERYTHING.  Make your calories count if you are going to get something "good".  Don't waste it on something that's not worth it.  Stick to your portion sizes.  Use your had for guidance.  AND…Don't go back for SECONDS!!  When you choose a dessert, keep it ONE dessert and not a sampling of all of them, and have a small portion instead of a "super-sized". 

Proper Serving Size

3)  Drink lots of water

In order to have healthy digestion, you need adequate amounts of water.  This helps your body to carry out toxins, burn fat, and lubricate your organs and joints.  This MUST be a priority for you this Thanksgiving.  In addition to what's listed above, drinking water will help you feel fuller more quickly and help cut your cravings.  Make sure you drink a big glass of water every couple hours and for sure before you dive into your meal!

Don't forget your water!

4)  Bring a healthy dish!

Confetti Quinoa Salad

After all, it is Thanksgiving, let's not forget to give thanks to the hostess by helping out with the Thanksgiving meal!  If you are going somewhere for dinner make it a point to bring a healthy "clean" side dish.  This way you will be certain that you have something to eat!  You don't need to feel like you have to eat everything, just because it's there.  Check out my recipes for some great ideas.  I'm planning on bringing a Confetti Quinoa Salad and a Sweet Potato Casserole.

Sweet Potato Casserole

5) Positive self-talk
Go into your Thanksgiving day promising yourself that you are going to be successful!  Don't give yourself any other option.  You have the will power within you to make it a successful day.  Remember the feeling of last year where you were sitting on the couch after dinner with your pants unbuttoned (or better yet, with an elastic waistband) and you promised yourself you would NEVER do that again?  Well, here's your chance to make good on your promise!  YOU CAN DO THIS!  I know you can!

Most importantly, remember to ENJOY your HEALTHY Thanksgiving day, be thankful for all you have and the friends and family you are blessed to be with.  Rest and relax, take an afternoon nap or just enjoy some good old Thanksgiving day football!

Lastly, in case your plan didn't go as…well…planned, and you did overdo it a little bit more than you wish, you still have time to get things back in order before New Years!!

I am doing a 30-day clean eating and Shakeology accountability group to help keep you on track to ROCK it before the New Year!  I'll teach you additional tips to help you stay focused.
Having support, especially during the Holiday season, makes all the difference in your success!

Day 3- Eat Clean Stripped Challenge

Today is day 3 of my challenge…I'm feeling great.  I've gotta admit though, getting up this morning for my workout was tough.  I had a late night last night so not much sleep.  However…I GOT UP, out of bed at 5am to workout!  Today was Focus T25 Beta Rip't Circuit!

No Excuses…You Can Do It!

Consistency for my working out is the biggest thing for me.  If I lose my consistency for even a couple days, I keep making excuses of why I shouldn't workout.  So, mentally, I don't even allow myself to think I can have a break!  I know I'll get lazy if I give myself an inch!

As far as my stripped meal plan today…I stayed pretty right on to my plan, however, I have to say that my biggest struggle in my day is after the kids and I get home from school and get snacks.  I'm busy cleaning up the kitchen and putting things away and getting snacks for the kids.  At the same time, I am super hungry at that point too.  I find myself really having to keep myself in check with getting a snack immediately and NOT picking at the kids snacks.  That's when you can really pack on the extra calories, even if they are healthy snacks!

I heart PB!

Confession:  I'm a peanut butter JUNKIE!  I LOVE, love, love peanut butter…but I know this is my biggest weakness.  It's so easy for me to take a spoonful of PB for a quick "healthy fat" snack.  This is what gets me in trouble.  This is where my "keeping myself in check" has to come into play!  And, I must say, I didn't keep myself in check too well today.  So…I will be better tomorrow on the "healthy fat" portions!!



So here's my day of eating…and I only have pics of 2 snacks!  I'll do better tomorrow with the pics!

Breakfast: Oatmeal, blueberries, 4 egg whites
Snack: 2 Meatloaf muffins, 1 apple
Lunch:  Chocolate Shakeology w/ PB2
Snack:  2 TBSP Hummus and Broccoli
Snack: Spoonful PB :(
Dinner: 4 oz of grilled chicken, quinoa, spaghetti squash

Until next time...

Holiday Survival Guide

Lose Weight During the Holidays

The holidays are quickly approaching!!  Can you believe it?  I sure can't.  The holidays are a time for gathering together and being with fiends and family…AND…a time we typically gather together centered around FOOD!  

Give the scale a break this holiday!

I know the past years every time we have gone to Thanksgiving or a holiday party I've had one of 2 thoughts go through my head depending on how I felt about myself or my body at that time.  Thought #1 (if I was feeling particularly good about where I was with weight), "ohhh what kind of good junk (stuff we normally don't get every day) is around" or thought #2 (if I was feeling not-so-good in my clothes), "what am I going to eat, I already feel so yucky in my clothes and skin right now".  

This is the year it will be different for me!  I'm NOT going to give into the temptations of the holiday season and parities.  I will enjoy my parties, yet choose healthy options that will give me the greatest results and not overindulge in all the fattening and calorie dense foods.  This holiday I commit to taking care of my body!!

This is the time of year we need the MOST accountability EVER! There are SO many temptations, parties, events and gatherings. There are TONS of little ways that you can stay on track but still feel like you have that balance in life. 

Have you been there?  Dreading the holiday parties because you are scared to see how many pounds your lack of control has put on by the end of the year?  I know I've been there…all to wake up on January 1st kicking myself and wishing I would have done better throughout the holiday food fest!

Well…GOOD NEWS!!  This year you don't have to go through those thoughts!!  How would you like to feel EMPOWERED to get through all the holiday parities and LOSE weight?  Feel amazing at the parties and look amazing in the new dress you bought special for the holidays!

ACCOUNTABILITY

What has changed my life over the past 80 days is accountability through a challenge/accountability group.  As a mom of 3, I'm busy and it's so easy to grab junk throughout the day.  By having an accountability group I can check in with, it has helped keep me on track to reach my potential for health and fitness.  I'm still on a journey and striving each day to stay committed.  I screw up sometimes and overeat or fall into the trap of hormonal and emotional eating.  But through this group I have learned how to be able to get back on track and started back on the right path.  

That's why this holiday is so crucial for ME too!  I have  not been throughout a holiday yet with my new commitment to better health and fitness.  I am moving in the direction I want to because I know that with clean eating, drinking my Shakeology, and my T25 workouts, it will push me through to the best outcome of the holiday season and I know I will have success throughout!

I want to help teach you how to enjoy the holidays with your friends and family and not feel deprived, yet learn the skills that will catapult you through the holiday season into the new year and have you be less weight than you were at the beginning of November!  How does that sound??

Don't be another Holiday Weight Gain Statistic 

Starting November 18th, join me for our Holiday Survival Guide Accountability Group.  We will check in daily with each other, have daily accountability, motivation, and tips to help get you through the holidays successfully!

The Formula:  Fitness + Nutrition + Support = SUCCESS!

Give yourself the gift of accountability this season and NO muffin top to ring in the New Year! 

Stay Healthy During the Holidays

What is the NEXT Step?

First, I must be your official Beachbody Coach.  This means you will go to my site and create a free account so that I am your mentor.  Then, you will need to fill out the Challenge Group Application below and be sure you are detailed in your information.  Tell me about your current struggles with nutrition and exercise.

Next, you are required to replace 1 meal a day with Shakeology for the duration of the group.  Shakeology is not a protein shake or a weight loss shake.  It is a nutrient rich meal replacement.  I require you to replace 1 meal per day with Shakeology because life is busy and it's not always easy to have all your meals be nutritionally balanced and healthy all the time.  With Shakeology, you know that you are getting the right nutrients your body needs in a balanced protein to carb ratio in order to have sufficient energy, to curb your cravings and keep you full for at least 3 hours.  We are always on-the-go and need and option for a quick and convenient meal, you can take this wherever you go!  The best part is that it's DELICIOUS!!  So, believe me when I say it is worth every penny, if you are a busy mom, you don't get all your veggies in every day, you skip meals, or you don't have time to cook.  You will not find anything else like Shakeology out there, it is worth it, I promise!  Trust me and give it 30 days and you won't be disappointed!  I had to take that first plunge in making my first Shakeology order and I'm so glad I did.  It has transformed the way I feel and helped reduce my cravings!  Commit to change today!

The next part of the challenge group is exercise.  Beachbody has a whole variety of fitness programs that fit your personal fitness level and the type of exercise you prefer.  My very favorite program is T25, especially because we are ALL so busy!  Literally, all you need is 25 minutes a day…25 MINUTES!!  NO JOKE!  It fits everyone's fitness level from beginner to advanced and did I mention it's only 25 minutes a day?  Anyone has 25 minutes to give to a workout!

Focus T25

So, that's what is required in a challenge group.  You will get my support and encouragement along the way thru a closed Facebook group.  Your commitment equals my dedication to helping you reach your health and fitness goals and YOUR very best results.  So, are you IN?

If so, please fill out the application below and I will contact you in the next 24 hours and answer any questions and help walk you through the sign up process.  The group will begin on November 18th so you'll have plenty of time to get enrolled and ready to go!

The first week we focus on preparation, meal planning and getting your mind ready!  Look fabulous and be strong during those holiday parties!