My favorite day of the week is any day I get to wake up naturally without an alarm. This means going to sleep knowing I can wake up whenever I want, not feeling rushed, and being able to sip on my cup of coffee for as long as I want to. These are the days I usually feel the most rested and relaxed. When I’m well rested, I’m happy and have a more positive outlook on life which means I’m more likely to make lifestyle choices that align with my intentions.
Today I’m sharing how I prioritize the Wellness Abundance Trifecta (nutrition, movement, and rest) on Thanksgiving Day to be sure I maintain the lifestyles habits that help me stay healthy and thriving while enjoying holiday indulgences. You can follow my process and personalize it to align with your health and wellness intentions.
Priority #1- Feel Well Rested
Sleeping in as late as I want to (7am is the latest for me) is how I love to start any holiday, especially Thanksgiving. I get up super early at 5am and work hard during the week and, even though I love what I do as a coach, I still look forward to taking a break to recharge my batteries. It’s not just giving my mind a mental break from work but also my body a break from feeling like I need to workout right after I have my coffee.
Sleeping in and enjoying coffee time with my hubby helps me start Turkey Day in relax mode before the holiday chaos starts. It’s our quiet time together before we join the rest of our family and jump into our family dynamic of conflicting personalities. I think everyone can relate to this. As I mentioned earlier, when I’m relaxed and happy I’m more likely to make food and beverage choices that align with my health and fitness goals (more on this later) and I’m able to have a good time no matter what happens throughout the day.
Priority #2- Move Your Body
After our quiet, relaxing coffee time, we’ll do our annual Turkey Day burpee workout. This has been our tradition for several years now and it’s one that I look forward to every year.
One of the reasons we do a burpee workout is to deplete our glucose (the body’s form of stored carbs) so when we eat all the carbs delights during the afternoon feast our bodies are less likely to store them an excess as fat. Not only am I physically benefiting from this type of workout but it helps boost my mood as well.
You don’t need to do an intense burpee workout. You can do a strength training session, go for a hike, participate in a local Turkey Day Trot, or simply go for a walk around your neighborhood. If you need accountability to get moving, invite a friend to join you.
Speaking of accountability, we’ll be live-streaming our Turkey Day burpee workout on our YouTube channel here and would love for you to join us for a full-body workout at 9am PST. We’ll start by giving everyone a tutorial on different versions of a burpee so you can choose the one that aligns with your fitness level. You can do as many as you’d like and we’ll be there to encourage you to push your comfort zone. You’re way more capable than you give yourself credit for so this will be an opportunity to see what you can do.
You don’t need to do the entire workout at once. You can break it down into micro workouts throughout the day. For example, if you’re cooking, you can do squats or push ups in-between basting the turkey or preparing the mash potatoes and green bean casserole. Even moving around the kitchen cooking and cleaning is movement that can benefit you. Going for a walk after a meal slows down the digestion process and keeps your blood sugar levels from going crazy.
Do whatever feels right for your body, mood, and schedule for the day.
Priority #3- Nutritional Flexibility
This is one that I struggle with every year. I love eating delicious food and am not one to shy away from a hearty meal. If this is you, you may be able to relate to the struggle of staying true to what you consider healthy eating style intentions. It can be easy to give into the delicious temptations on the table.
Warm rolls fresh from the oven
Buttery mashed potatoes
Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
These are just a handful of delicious holiday dishes that tempt me. I give myself permission to indulge in any Turkey Day dishes if I feel like it. I go into it knowing I might not feel great but it’s an infrequent indulgence and I know it’s not going to derail me from my health and fitness progress.
One the other hand, if you want to stay true to your healthy eating style on Thanksgiving, have a strategy in place if you feel like you might be tempted to indulge too much. You’re the expert in your own life which means you’re the only person who can decide what you eat and don’t eat. If I were to stick to my usual eating style, I would focus on eating meat and non-starchy veggies with butter. If I really wanted dessert, I would bring dark chocolate to treat myself to an after dinner sweet treat.
Day After Strategy
If you want to use Turkey Day to take a vacation from your healthy lifestyle habits, go for it. Often times days like these are friendly reminders of why you’ve implemented different nutrition, fitness, and rest habits. You may wake up the next morning feeling like crap and be super motivated to get back to it so you don’t feel like that again.
If you indulge a little or a lot, have a strategy in place to reset your body such as scheduling a hike or strength session with a few friends the next day for a post Turkey Day workout. Make sure you have nutrient-dense foods such as meats, eggs, seafood, veggies, and fruit in your house ready to eat on Friday and through the rest of the long weekend.
My philosophy at Wellness Abundance Coaching is that living your life in a way that you enjoy without strict rules to follow all the time will help you stay healthy and happy and keep you thriving.
So, how are you going to enjoy your Thanksgiving next week?