Hi erinzest
Great to see you and Happy Thanksgiving!
I find that thinking things through and planning ahead is what helps me the most. I did your yesterday last year, and I'm going to the same family dinner today. Before I spoke with the hostess, I reflected on my shortcomings of last year and made my own plan for food sanity today.
1. I'm bringing the salad (otherwise there wouldn't be one)
2. I'm bringing the sweet potato dish (which won't be brown sugar and butter laden)
3. I'm bringing the dessert (which is a smashing carrot cake in a metal 9x12 where I have craftily removed a corner and replaced it with a whole wheat,low fat, low sugar piece of another carrot cake before icing it, the corner marked with a small piece of tape) No one will know mine is different. (my vigilance is because I trashed the crisco laden cake that someone else brought last year)
A reasonable portion, no seconds, eat while sitting only, no mashed potatoes or gravy and a tablespoon of dressing. (the potatoes, gravy and dressing are triggers for my overeating)
Congrats! on your turkey trot and have a great day! You are doing great with your weightloss!