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Fit & fab – Anne Parker on Thanksgiving calories

Anne Parker

Denver fitness trainer Anne Parker answers questions and offers advice on fitness and weight loss. Have a question for Anne? E-mail editor@denveralamode.com or leave it as a comment below. Read about her TRX boot camp here.

By Anne Parker

Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday.  I don’t want to worry about anything other than putting my feet up, watching some football and eating whatever I want.  I love mashed potatoes, turkey and gravy and pie … Lots of pie.  Yes,  I am a foodie.  But, not only am I a foodie,  I am a healthy foodie, which has forced me to find creative ways to eat what I enjoy and still be able to wear my “skinny jeans.”

Here are a few tips to survive the holidays without packing on the average 10 pounds:

Eat whatever you want, whenever you want, but plan for it. Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, eat very clean meals for the next five days and carefully schedule all of your workouts.  Plan your Thanksgiving Eve festivities to include a light dinner and no dessert or cocktails.  Save your calories for the “Big Show.”

Find clean meals that are delicious and make you feel good. The same goes for your workouts: Find something you enjoy doing, and you will be less likely to skip them. Think about a time when you have been on a good schedule with your workouts and then you miss a few days. Do you feel grumpy, tired and guilty? I sure do,  so I make sure to always incorporate something active into each day — even when it’s the holidays and you have house guests and a million things to do. If you stay on track,  you will feel more in control and less stressed this holiday season.

We all need a little balance, and we also need to splurge on delicious food every once in awhile. After you indulge,  get right back on track and you will feel fit and fabulous. Who needs to walk around feeling bloated and depressed? Nobody. So take charge and do a little planning. There is nothing wrong with being “one of those people” who brings a cooler of fresh food to work and occasionally skips happy hour because you can’t miss your favorite spin class.

I almost forgot to add, while you are out shopping on Friday and are looking for a bite to eat, grab a crunchy fall salad filled with roasted veggies, lean protein and a vinaigrette dressing. Skip the fast food court and enjoy the kick-off to the holidays while savoring your healthy and delicious salad and a nice Arnold Palmer.

Related: Anne Parker on running and weight loss.

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