A Time of Thanksgiving

It's a time for thanks this Holiday Season.  Last week I was in Branson for Matt's Grandparent's 60th Anniversary; wow 60 years.  Marriage these days is not taken as serious as it should; we tend to take things for granted our marriages, relationships, and work.  We live in a time of fast living going from place to place following our agendas and schedules and not stopping to enjoy the moments.  Have you ever caught yourself saying I cannot wait until this such and such vacation or event?  What about today?  What are you thankful for today?  What blessings does the day hold in front of you not the future the present?  Yoga has taught me to be more present in my life to enjoy the moments it is all about finding your inner joy.  This holiday season think about your thanksgiving, and let them know how important they are in your life.  Holidays can also be hard if you lost a loved one, just got out of a relationship, and yes temptation of lots of food.  My mom loved holidays always made them special, and I definitely miss her every holiday and every day.  Holidays for me are a time to be with family and we have our family traditions running the Turkey Trot and then eating a big meal.  I mentioned how holidays can be hard with all of the food around.  How do you deal with all of this temptation, and how do you feel after you eat?  Holidays are filled with tons of food how do you keep yourself healthy?  I will admit holiday's can be scary for me for this reason.  I ran across a few holiday tips that may help.
 http://www.cpmc.org/about/e-health/11-05%20healthy-holidays.html

Ten Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

1. Be realistic. Don’t try to lose pounds during the holidays, instead try to maintain your current weight.


2. Plan time for exercise. Exercise helps relieve holiday stress and prevent weight gain. A moderate and daily increase in exercise can help partially offset increased holiday eating. Try 10- or 15-minute brisk walks twice a day.


3. Don’t skip meals. Before leaving for a party, eat a light snack like raw vegetables or a piece of fruit to curb your appetite. You will be less tempted to over-indulge.


4. Survey party buffets before filling your plate. Choose your favorite foods and skip your least favorite. Include vegetables and fruits to keep your plate balanced.


5. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. Savor your favorite holiday treats while eating small portions. Sit down, get comfortable, and enjoy.


6. Be careful with beverages. Alcohol can lessen inhibitions and induce overeating; non-alcoholic beverages can be full of calories and sugar.


7. If you overeat at one meal go light on the next. It takes 500 calories per day (or 3,500 calories per week) above your normal/maintenance consumption to gain one pound. It is impossible to gain weight from one piece of pie!


8. Take the focus off food. Turn candy and cookie making time into non-edible projects like making wreaths, dough art decorations or a gingerbread house. Plan group activities with family and friends that aren’t all about food. Try serving a holiday meal to the community, playing games or going on a walking tour of decorated homes.


9. Bring your own healthy dish to a holiday gathering.


10. Practice Healthy Holiday Cooking. Preparing favorite dishes lower in fat and calories will help promote healthy holiday eating. Incorporate some of these simple-cooking tips in traditional holiday recipes to make them healthier.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.  Enjoy the moments in life each and every single day.  Be sure to tell others your thanksgivings and how much they mean in your life.  You are a thanksgiving to me, and I appreciate all of the love and support from each one of you.