Is it actually possible to lose weight during Thanksgiving week? Why, yes, it is. It’s not easy, but it can be done.
Last year was my first Thanksgiving on the Weight Watchers program and I worked really hard to follow the suggestions that my leader provided so that I would not gain weight during the week. I was successful.
What did I do?
- I tracked all my points
- I used Weight Watchers serving spoons so I would know that I was dishing up 1/2 cup of whatever
- I changed our traditional candied yams recipe for a Weight Watcher’s one and my daughter – who has loved my candied yams for years – actually liked the new one better. Instead of heaps of brown sugar, I used orange juice and sugar-free maple syrup.
- I measured the gravy I put on my plate using the Weight Watchers 1/4 cup ladle
- I filled up with more veggies and salad than stuffing, and skipped the mashed potatoes
- I made sure to get in some activity during the week
By doing that, last year I lost half a pound during a week (or day) that is focused solely on food and typical over-eating.
What will I do this year?
This year I’m going to repeat all of the above but I’m challenging myself to try to lose a whole pound or more this week. I think I can do that if I ease back into my normal level of activity (up to 4 times a week running) and drink a lot of water.
Some other tips that came up in my weight watcher’s meeting yesterday:
- Chew gum and drink water while preparing food or putting away the leftovers
- Keep your hands busy washing dishes or cleaning up (or some other activity that occupies your hands) so you’re not tempted to dip into leftovers
- Go for a walk after eating
- Bring something to the meal that is for you that is on program – like a wild rice, whole grain stuffing instead of Stove Top, or a box of Weight Watchers 1 point ice cream bars to have instead of the 9 point slice of pumpkin pie
And I love the story my leader shares about her first Thanksgiving on Weight Watchers. She got up early and cooked everything before other people were awake, and everything she made followed a Weight Watcher’s recipe. No one knew the difference, and she stayed on program. Love her!
If you’re trying to lose weight this holiday season, what will you do to stay on track?
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
