Honestly, I loved reading about making yummy pumpkin yogurt, even though I knew that if I made it, I would probably still eat a slice of pie. I appreciated the strategy of filling half of my plate with veggies, but couldn't rationalize doing that with butter-soaked Brussels sprouts and didn't bring my own platter of raw or steamed vegetables that would fill both my plate and me up.
I do believe that being healthy means actively making good choices but also in releasing the stresses and shoulds and numbers that are exhausting, not empowering. At least, this is my definition of being a healthy person, and I try to convey that when I am on the air. I encourage people to be realistic and in control of the kind of holiday they want to have.
Still, it caught me off guard when the radio talk show host asked me what I would personally be doing to have a healthier Thanksgiving. I'd already listed the tips and so it was on me to come up with a plan in the four-second pause between her question and my answer.
I told her and the audience that I would be trying and savoring a few bites of everything. I said I would be leading the gratitude talk at the table so my eating would be slowed down. And then I said that I promised myself to enjoy my day and relax and to follow that up with a good Friday work out.
Saying all that spontaneously and out loud really helped. I did each and every thing. Even though I had a cold, it was raining, and I was still full from all the sampling I did the day before, I was really proud of myself for running on Friday. In fact, I felt so amped up, I went a half-mile farther than I planned. It wasn't that I was punishing myself or even trying to make up for what I ate. It was that I wanted to keep up what I've been doing, even on a holiday.
Even though none of the listening audience in Portland knew I was following through, it didn't hurt that I'd sent those promises out over the air waves. It reminded me that I am making good choices, I do know how to take care of myself -- even in front of a buffet of buttered, sugary, phenomenal food and even around my family and even on my days off.
Now it is your turn to share your successes: What's one (or more!) healthy thing you did for your self over Thanksgiving? Will you keep it up over the winter holidays?
There's no right answer here. Just share what felt good -- and healthy -- to you.
Read more:
- Your Thanksgiving recovery plan
- Soothing stretches to ease a full belly
- Finding enough: 6 ways to tame holiday eating
- How about some body gratitude this season?
[photo credit: Getty Images]
