5 Ways to Have a Healthier Thanksgiving

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Plan a post-meal walk

As soon as you arrive at your Thanksgiving celebration, announce that you plan to take a walk after the meal. Most likely, some of your family and friends will want to join you. Once you get a few people on board, it'll be tough to bail out.

A brisk walk will help you burn some calories and likely put you in the right mindset to turn down a second piece of pumpkin pie!

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Walk around and talk to people

Rather than obsess over the food at Thanksgiving, I focus my attention on the entire celebration, including the once-a-year sights, sounds, and people at the event.

Instead of sampling each and every appetizer before dinner, I walk around and catch up with family and friends.

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Plan a workout date the next morning

Instead of feeling bloated and lethargic the day after Thanksgiving, schedule a fitness date with a friend for that morning—then you have to show up!

Knowing you've committed to burning off those extra calories from Thanksgiving allows you to splurge without feeling guilty. Plus, the thought of an early-morning workout might keep you from having too many glasses of wine during dinner!

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Volunteer to help clean up

Instead of picking at the leftovers or helping yourself to a second (or third) dessert, offer to help the host clean up. They will appreciate the gesture, and physically removing yourself from the table will help take your attention away from the food.

Cleaning up will also help you burn some calories!

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Stop eating when you're full

OK, this tip probably seems pretty obvious, but Thanksgiving is one of those holidays when people plan to eat until they are stuffed to the brim.

Instead of seeing how much you can eat, serve yourself a small, golf-ball-size serving of everything you want—no restrictions—but have only enough to satisfy your stomach without overdoing it. Remember, Thanksgiving is one day. Done right, you won’t set yourself back too far!

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