Thanksgiving: a day filled with family, friends, love, and most importantly, FOOD. Thanksgiving’s the one day we focus on what we have and not what we want. We all know that one person who counts down the days till Thanksgiving the second after a leaf falls from the tree. They spend days craving for the turkey, cornbread, casserole and cranberry sauce. But, can we blame them?

This once-a-year meal surrounded by family members asking awkward questions or someone never failing to ask you how much you’ve grown or if you finally have that special someone in your life… But let’s face it, that’s the beauty of it!

When it comes to meal prepping, there’s typically only one direction (south). From one moment to the next, our plates are filled up with an excess amount of food (or at least mine is).

Yes, this meal only happens once a year, but eating without control increases the risk of weight gain. Which is why we wanna give out some pointers on tips and workouts you can do to avoid weight gain

Calories of a Thanksgiving Dinner

The aroma of steaming stuffed turkey teases your taste buds. The urge to absolutely devour the gravy and green bean casserole torments your head. From having mom’s Cranberry Stuffing to squeezing Mashed Potatoes on your plate, we don’t even realize how many calories we’re actually eating up.

The Classic Thanksgiving Dish: Roasted Turkey, Sweet Ham, Green Bean Casserole Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows, Cornbread Stuffing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce. & let’s not forget about Pecan Pie or Apple Pie for dessert!

This meal alone can be anywhere in between 1500 to 3000 calories, which is equivalent to running a 15k (10 miles)!

Yes, terrifying.

Tips to Avoid Weight Gain

1. Eat Breakfast before the feast: Yeah, fasting before the big meal makes sense to save up calories, a small meal in the morning can give you more control over your appetite for dinner.
2. Slow Down & Skip the Seconds: Resist temptations to go back for seconds. Regardless, leftovers are much better the next day. Save some room for a mouthwatering dessert.
3. Savor Every Bite: Eating slowly and tasting each mouthful is one of the easiest ways to enjoy your holiday meal.
4. Go Easy on the Booze: Alcohol calories add up quickly. Keep it down to a minimum that way you limit alcohol calories and stay hydrated.
5. Focus on the People NOT the Food: Cliché, yes. But thanksgiving calls for a time to celebrate with friends and family.

Work Off Your Turkey Feast

Thanksgiving, and the holiday season, seems like a weight-gain trap. It’s okay to overdo the turkey, stuffing and pecan pie. Instead of shaming yourself, get a good workout in after eating this delicious meal that boosts your metabolism, burns fat & calories.

Whether it be Running, Boxing, Pilates, or Weight Training, these exercises will get rid of that leftover food coma in no time. You can even workout from home performing the art of Yoga giving you all the right benefits like promoting weight loss, improving heart health, and more!

Interesting Learn more about the Benefits of Yoga? Check out our blog on 6 Amazing Benefits of Yoga for Women’s Health

Enjoy the Holiday

Thanksgiving festivities are underway, and your long weekend has begun! An awesome thanksgiving comes with great food, friends, and family. What better way to spend the holiday than with people you love?

We hope you enjoyed our tips and workouts on how to keep your Thanksgiving under control while savoring good ol family time and craving the most delicious dishes!