Thanksgiving weekend can be a revolving door of food and drink, so watching your weight can be a real challenge. From turkey and stuffing to pumpkin pies and whipped cream and all those delicious leftovers, it’s difficult to make smart choices when confronted with so much good food at so many gatherings. Dr. Grigory Sadkhin, founder of The Sadkhin Complex, has sent these seven essential tips to help your diet plan to survive the feasts ahead!
1. Prepare your mind: When attending a party, tell yourself you are there to socialize, not to eat. By keeping your attention on conversation, you will eat a lot less.
2. Plan your wardrobe: Wear tight or body-conforming clothing. You will feel full much quicker if you experience slight pressure on your stomach.
3. Prepare your body: Make the day before the party a “fasting day” with green tea or raw fruits and vegetables. Fasting the day before the party will shrink your stomach, and make it easier to not overeat. The day after, try to eat your first meal as late as possible: never earlier than noon. Give your digestive system time to recover from the holiday feast. Also, remember to eat a small but satisfying meal before you go to the party, to take the edge off your hunger.
4. Pace yourself: Imagine you are a food critic. Don’t just dig into whatever is in front of you. Taste and sample different types of food. You’ll fill up faster, and enjoy a broader taste experience. Engage in conversation whenever possible. The more you talk, the less you’ll eat! Use smaller bites, smaller plates, and smaller forks. Chew 25 to 30 times before swallowing your food. This will not only help digestion, but it will also prevent you from eating too fast and overeating.
5. Portion in threes: Eating in threes (i.e. limiting salad ingredients to three items, preferably raw fruits or vegetables) will help stimulate the digestive system and improve absorption while promoting proper organ function.
6. Prep for dessert: Desserts don’t have to be unhealthy! Fresh or poached pears are an excellent way to satisfy your sweet tooth without consuming unhealthy sugars and fats. Dark chocolate is preferable to milk chocolate, and is a great source of anti-oxidants.
7. Pour the right drinks: Alcohol is rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Instead of sweet drinks or sweet wine, drink straight drinks or dry wine. Drink green tea instead of coffee before and after diner. Not only does green tea contain caffeine, but it works to enhance your metabolism as well.
Do you have any suggestions to add to these fine tips from Dr. Sadkhin? If so, share them here on the blog with all your Boomerful friends!
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