Of course you’re going to be stuffing next Thursday. Just don’t be a potato.
According to Amy Boyce, a registered dietitian and nutritionist in Boston, that is how to survive Thanksgiving with a full stomach and a clear conscience. No matter how the weekend alters your normal exercise routine, there’s still room to fit some under your belt.
“It’s not the end of the world if you over-eat at Thanksgiving,” Boyce said. “You get up the next day and you get going again. No time is too short to exercise. If you have 15 minutes, you want to use it. You walk, you run, you rake, whatever you can. But use that 15 minutes, and use it well.”
Boyce suggests ways to incorporate exercise into the weekend’s traditional activities: Park farther from the mall entrance on Black Friday to increase your walking distance; spend football halftime doing sit-ups by the couch.
“They’re simple things, but they work,” Boyce said. “You just have to fit them in. It’s such a positive, mentally. And when you’re stressed during the holidays, it becomes more important in that way.”
Also important is not altering your eating rhythm. It’s not the amount of calories, but how they’re consumed, that makes the difference.
“Saving up your calories for the big event is probably a bad idea,” Boyce said. “Breakfast is hugely key. When you get to your big meal, you can actually think about eating sensibly, because you’re not starving. It requires some planning.”
