The Holidays are upon us, so I felt it timely to share a “LIFE  COACHING LESSON”---HOW to navigate, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New  Year’s Eve, Susie’s Bat mitzvah, Super Bowl Sunday, 4th of July, Aunt  Mathilda’s Birthday or just about any ‘food’ celebration occasion 

Dressing, pumpkin pie, and sweet potato casserole ... the annual  Thanksgiving bounty is something we all look forward to. But if you  can't afford the traditional holiday weight gain, this time of the year  can leave you running scared! With a few simple changes to your usual  approach, you can enjoy the feast without wrapping yourself in those  extra pounds. NOTE TO SELF: THE AVERAGE THANKSGIVING DAY  MEAL IS A WHOPPING 4500 CALORIES!! 

Thanksgiving is the official start of the Holiday party season, and  restrictive diets can make this time of the year grueling. But it's also  the time when most of us gain an extra 7 to 10 pounds that,  unfortunately, tend to become permanent baggage--- Around the  middle, the hips, and with cellulite!! OR: Remember--- ONCE on the  LIPS? Forever on the HIPS! 

Here are the “P’s” for your Success EmPOWERment! 

1.) The Power of the Plan 

You can feast on the food, but this year arm yourself with a plan that  will help whittle down the usual 4,500-calorie meal to a more  reasonable indulgence. VISUALIZE: Think ahead to Jan. 1 when you  will delight in seeing the needle on the scale right where you left it in  November. 

Choose a few of the useful weight control -tips below to help you  maintain your weight while still enjoying the good cheer and delicious  food on Thanksgiving Day and the rest of the Holiday Season.

2.) Preparing for the Big Day--- PORTION CONTROL! 

∙ Wear a tight-fitting outfit. This will make you less likely to  overeat because it becomes too uncomfortable. 

∙ Don't arrive starving. Eat 2-3 hours before the big feast. A small  healthful meal with lots of fiber (oatmeal, whole-grain sandwich,  salad with beans) keeps you feeling full until dinner. 

∙ Make time for exercise on Thanksgiving Day. --- INTERVAL  Exercise; Wind Sprints; or a Brisk Walk ahead of the “BIG  MEAL”… Will help you continue to up your metabolism and  continue in the fat burning zone…  

∙ Start a new family tradition. Take a bike ride, go for a hike, or  play tennis Thanksgiving morning. 

∙ Establish some ground rules--- BOUNDARIES…. in advance of the  meal that allow you to indulge but not pig out -- for example, only  one sliver of dessert: Did you know that the first piece of pie  takes the same as the 10th? 

∙ Buddy up with someone during this Season who is also trying to  keep his or her weight in check. 

∙ Keep a food journal and write down everything that you eat. This  is an incredibly powerful tool, especially when you are tempted  to overeat. 

3.) POSITION: Ready, Set, Go 

∙ Enjoy higher-calorie food in smaller portions. 

∙ Don't eat food just because it is there. Save your calories for the  foods you love. Pre-choose your top five favorites prior to the  Feast. 

∙ Distance yourself from the hors d'oeuvre table: Those are  perennially highest in calories second only to dessert. Munch on  fresh fruits and veggies instead of high fat appetizers.

4.) POSTURE---- Children as buffer ZONES in between Politically  Rivaling Friends and Family—it will keep the emotional eating to  a minimum and the conversation ‘light’ with the ‘tikes’. 

5.) PLAN-- AHEAD: To--Avoiding Thanksgiving and Holiday Weight  Gain 

When the Feast Arrives: 

∙ Scan the buffet and carefully choose the foods you love. If they are  high in calories like the gravy, just take a smaller portion. Take  larger portions of the simply prepared foods such as baked sweet  potatoes, steamed vegetables, and skinless white meat of turkey. 

∙ Limit yourself to one plate of food. Look for the color of the plate  having ‘daylight’: No second helpings. 

∙ Eat slowly and savor every bite. Enjoy the conversation. Give the  food a chance to let you feel the satisfying feeling of fullness. ∙ Eat what you like, just eat a little less of it. 

6.) Pudding; Pie; and Desserts, Desserts, and More Desserts! 

∙ Enjoy a small serving of dessert. Choose pumpkin over pecan pie  and save a few hundred calories. Eat just the pie filling to take in  fewer additional calories and limit trans-fats. 

7.) Putting up a TOAST: Cheers! 

∙ If you drink alcohol, save those calories for a glass of wine with  the meal. 

∙ Skip the high-calorie, high-fat eggnog this year 

∙ Wine with Seltzer---It’s a great alternative and Wine extender! ∙ Drink water with alcohol when at parties 

8.) POST Meal-- When You're Done 

∙ At the end of the meal, drink a glass of water and push away  from the table to help you realize that you are full. 

∙ Follow the large meal with a leisurely walk.

9.) Physical Activity: Be realistic -- don't try to lose weight during  the Holidays. Just aim to maintain your current weight. And if  you plan on overindulging, bank some calories early in the week  and get more physical activity before and after Thanksgiving  Day to make up for it. 

10.) PRAY--- and be grateful for all of your blessings this Holiday  Season--- in the midst of the tumultuous 2020---- Pray for those  who are less fortunate. We’ve come THIS far in all SIX PILLARS  of your life: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Social, Mental,  Financial. 

P.S. IF you see the needle on the scale —Going right.. OR? The  Number turns to the letters: “OMG”? Reach out to me--- Health  Coach Jo Dee @ 800-820-0584… www.healthcoachjodee.com Or-- jodee@healthcoachjodee.com 

Every day-- when “PRACTICED” is Thanks—living….Which is TRUE  Thanksgiving!!