My blog entry for today

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My Turkey Day Plan, Executed

Okay it's about 1:00 on Thanksgiving Day and so far we're right on target.

Yes, I know, it makes sense to share the Turkey Day Plan before Turkey Day,

but this gal has been BUSY!

So here is my Turkey Day Plan!

My priorities for the day I lay out in advance. Holidays are just another

day as far as our bodies are concerned, but we all know that in all

cultures, holidays carry with them madness, mayhem, traditional foods, and

at best a funky little monkey wrench that leaps right into the middle of

our schedule. So well before Thanksgiving I set up a few priorities for

myself. Why? Because I want to make sure I don't use the holidays as an

excuse to get off track. I'll admit it, I have a healthy fear of gaining my

weight back and I embrace that fear. Why? Because I love how I feel, how I

look, and all the things I can do sans 107 pounds.

Priority Number One: Family

I found out as soon as I could what we were doing, when and with whom. This

way I can plan my day around the family plans without impinging on the

family. They are, after all, number one.

Priority Number Two: Healthy and Delicious Food

Since I'll be in control of only a small part of the menu, I make sure that

I bring things that are healthy, nutrient dense, low in fat and calories,

and really tastey. So today I'm bringing to the family get together:

* A huge green salad with a variety of lettuces, peppers, tomates,

onions, olives, cucumber, and carrots (0 points)

* A relish tray with homemade pickled hot carrots, pickled beets, and

pickled green beans as well as olives (just the right size to put on your

fingers...it's a tradition, don't knock it until you've tried it),

pepperocini, and sweet gherkins. (0 points if you don't load up on olives

or gherkins)

* Fat free Uncle Dan's Dressing (Uncle Dan's Dressing mix made with fat

free sour cream and fat free mayo--1 point for 1/4 cup)

* Veggie tray: carrots, green onion, snap peas, brocolli, red, orange,

and yellow peppers, and grape tomatoes (0 points)

* Pumpkin pie (my recipe is only 2-2.5 points per slice)

* Pumpkin bran muffins (2 points and SUPER easy)

Add to that skinless turkey breast (2.5 points for 4 ounces), cooked

veggies (not the green bean casserole, although you can make it lower in

points), cranberry sauce (2.5 for 1/3 cup), dinner roll (2), 1/2 cup mashed

potatoes (2) for a total of 14 points. Does it look like I'll go hungry?

Priority Number Three: Get in some exercise

This morning the YMCA had a Burnin' Off the Turkey workout. Bring a can of

food and you can work out between 9 and 10 a.m. I think most YMCAs in the

country did this. So Roy and I donned our running gear, each grabbed two

cans of food, and ran to the Y, which is a mile away. We deposited our cans

(and will give more throughout the season, but one can only run carrying so

much food), and went in to workout.

Five instructors put us through HIGH intensity step aerobics, floor

aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, and pilates. It was a BLAST and I think there

were a good 50 people in that room, plus many more in the Cybex room on the

machines. It was a blast and is now, definitely, going to be a Thanksgiving

tradition. Even just running down the street carrying cans for the foodbank

brought a warm feeling to my heart.

We ran home for a total of an hour and a half of workout.

Priority Number Four: Stay within my normal daily points

I don't even want to use flex points because this weekend I have a half

marathon and I need points for the carbo load dinner the night before.

So, first of all I skipped breakfast. I don't normally suggest this, but my

plan was a brunch instead since we eat dinner early on Thanksgiving. After

a good workout where my metabolism was roaring, I had a very filling five

point brunch:

* Chicken wrap made with Carbdown flatbread (2 points and they are

HUGE), 2 oz boneless skinless chicken breast seasoned and sliced (1 point),

veggies, and raspberry wasabi mustard.

* Three small satsuma oranges (1 point)

* Salad and fat free italian dressing (0)

I planned to eat one Pumpkin Spice Bran Muffin (see recipe, they were

AWESOME and I just created the recipe today). (2 points)

Scheduled in a snack of 94% fat free microwave popcorn for about 2:30 so I

don't go to dinner starving.

Before brunch I sat down and pre-journaled my entire day, including a snack

when I get home. That way I know exactly what I'll eat at Thanksgiving, and

how much " wiggle " room I have if someone brings something really different.

Priority Number Five: No stress holiday!

Okay, maybe NO stress is out of the question, but reducing stress is

definitely important to me because I want to ENJOY my holiday!

No I know what some people are saying, " But with all the planning exactly

what you'll eat and trying to get in a workout, that's a lot of stress to

add! " Well you know what? Not to me! In fact that takes the stress away

from me because I know that pre-planning lets me enjoy my day without

thinking " Okay, this is 2 points, and that is...oh how many points? Maybe

4? Ack! How many do I have left now? "

I also do NOT believe in just going off program for a holiday. Why? Because

like I said, my body does not know it's a holiday. It's just another day to

my body and staying on program is how I celebrate WITH my body by treating

it right. Eating healthy food is my gift to me!

I woke up this morning in a bit of a cranky mood, but the exercise took

that stress right away. It was FUN to dance around in a room full of people

and work off my meal well before I ate it. My muscles relaxed, my hormones

stabalized, my mind let go of the things I've been worrying about. On the

way in and the way back Roy and I chatted about the holidays and what was

going to happen this weekend.

And the most important thing for reducing stress? Being thankful...just

remembering what this holiday is all about. I am taking time throughout the

day to just think of one or two things that make me happy. I think that's

the most IMPORTANT part of executing my Turkey Day Plan!

=========================================

Tory Klementsen, MCP A+

Career and Technology Educator

The successful person will do the things that the unsuccessful person will

not.