It's all about moderation. Don't eat until you're stuffed. Eat more veggies than anything else, and do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT take home left overs. Once the day is over... it's over, move on and get right back on plan the next day. Turkey hangover or not.
It's one day a year, that's the way I'm looking at it. I'll throw in some extra work outs that week (and work harder at them) and be really careful not to go over the few days before, and go back OP immediately after. I'm not going to "overdo" it on Thanksgiving, but I'm not going to deprive myself of the food that I love so very much and only eat one day a year, either. There will always be holidays and special occasions, but it's our willpower and perseverance that makes us work even harder following a sort of overindulgence!
Oh, don't worry, there are lots of fabulous T-day options out there that taste AMAZING! And lean white turkey breast is a wonderful source of protein. The secret is to start looking now for healthy, yummy versions of your favorites, so that you can make them and bring them for all to enjoy. Hungry Girl's website has some delicious Thanksgiving alternatives. Just use the search function, and bring on the anticipation! I'll bet there are some great ones right here at 3FC as well. I can't wait to make some low cal, veggie and flavor rich stuffing. MMMMMM! And, baked apples with cinnamon and a scoop of light pumpkin ice cream just can not be made any better!
Turkey white meat is not bad! You can have three slices of that. And a small scoop of mashed potatoes (half a cup) isn't bad! Vegetables aren't bad as long as they're not drenched in butter or cream sauce. Gravy--well, try to measure it out in tablespoons instead of just covering everything. Skip rolls and butter.
Do some planning ahead of time! Figure out portions, make your decisions, come up with your trade-offs. Maybe you'll skip wine, for example, in favor of something else--or pass on the mashed potatoes in favor of a sliver of pie, or skip the potatoes and have a scoop of dressing.
Don't plan on seconds. Have one good plateful according to your plans, and that's it.
And enjoy the meal and the company! That's what it's about, not how much you can eat or not eat.
Most of the foods I eat every day, staying on plan, will be served on Thanksgiving. Turkey breast and veggies don't stress me because I have them so often, so I'll choose those and stay away from things I normally avoid anyhow.
I figure I turn down unhealthy choices everyday, the pumpkin pie, stuffing and buttered rolls won't be a problem because I wouldn't have them any other day - why make an exception if there are healthier items readily available?
It doesn't hurt that I'm in another local Biggest Loser's contest and I have that motivation as well, a weigh in the next week.
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And enjoy the meal and the company! That's what it's about, not how much you can eat or not eat.
Also, if you don't think you will have the option of healthier foods being served you could always bring some side dishes that are to supplement your own meal.
Thanksgiving doesn't have to be that bad. Turkey is good for you - in reasonable portions. Mashed potatoes are ok - it's the lashings of cream and butter that make them calorie laden.
Can you control any part of the meal? Do you cook any of it? Can you bring a dish or two? Usually for T-giving here I make roasted squash, roasted asparagus, mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, and gravy. If you can bring some squash or other veggies to whatever family dinner you're having, that will help.
Also, I tend to think like others here as well .. Thanksgiving is one day and I am ok with going over my calories/going off plan *a little* on that day. I'm not going to binge or pig out, but I am going to have pie for dessert. I am going to have stuffing with gravy. I am going to enjoy those things. They'll be for one day and one day only. I will probably do the same on Christmas day as well.
For Thanksgiving I plan to enjoy a little bit of everything, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and definitely pie. I'm just going to eat everything in moderation and go back to my usual habits the next day.
I took a large mixed greens/veggie salad for our thanksgiving. I had a good 2 cups of that, one medium slice turkey, one medium slice ham, 1/2 cup mashed potato's, 1/4 cup stuffing and a bit of gravy. I was stuffed. have a plan, measure, work it into your calories for the day... you'll be fine!
One thing that I think helps even more than stressing about the calories for the Thanksgiving meal, is to focus on being comfortable. Mindful eating and not eating until stuffed.
Another tip, that's been helping me is to pretend I'm picky and hate my food touching. In reality, I could care less if my food touches. I did this today at an oriental buffet. My old habit was to carry a mound of food back to my table (a couple times). Instead, I allowed myself two trips to the buffet, but the "rule" was that I had to keep at least an inch between each food, so no food would touch another. I'm also limiting carbs, so I chose lower carb choices. I did have two plates, but each looked like one you'd make up for a 5 year old - a couple tablespoons of each choice with a wide berth between them.
A couple years ago, my mom was hosting Thanksgiving while she was on Weight Watchers. She made lighter versions of most of her traditional dishes, and didn't mention to the guests that any of it was lower in calorie (except the jello dessert in case anyone was avoiding artificial sweeteners). The dinner received just as many raves as previous years. It was funny, because some of the men after eating their fill, later in the livingroom remarked how they didn't feel as sick or sleepy after the meal as the year before.
Mom found most of her recipes online and from her WW meetings.
One of my favorites to bring as dish to pass is a veggie salad made with frozen veggies the night before. I use all sorts of blends, but Walmart's asparagus or snap pea stir-fry blends are my favorite, though plain california blend is fine too (cauliflower, broccoli and carrot). I dump them into the serving bowl, add chopped onion and a bottled or homemade light vinaigrette (usually italian or an oriental ginger dressing I found at Aldis that is fairly low cal and I add a little extra rice wine vinegar) and that's it. Although I often add one or more canned or fresh ingredients to "gourmet" it up a bit (bell pepper, olives, jarred yellow pepper rings, artichoke hearts, canned mushrooms, grape tomatoes, water chestnuts...)
I always make a huge batch, because it's always very popular and no one notices that it's light.
One thing I've gotten better and better at through the years, is not giving the day too much importance. There were times in the past when, I'd feel I'd "blown it," and might as well just keep eating until New Years.
Hmmmmm, EZ. I run my 5K (ok, not quite that far, but close and I'm getting there ) every M-W-F. Does that mean I get the works three times a week???
Nice try JULIE
You know better than that of course. My own personal feeling about Thanksgiving is this ~ It is one day a year that we set aside to enjoy with our families w/o presents being the focus! I think...again...ME THINKS!...if you are doing what you do to try and get healthy...and put in a little extra the day before/of/after to take some of those extra calories off, you may have taken in...then I think you should eat what you want...no binging of course...but eat so you ENJOY the time/dinner with your loved ones and friends.
But that is just me...and we all know what kinds of trouble I can get into
I cannot wait until Thanksgiving. I plan to reward myself by focusing on the fellowship and fun and NOT the food. I will enjoy it I am sure but in moderation. A quick fix for me is always drinking a ton of water on the way there.
I'm stressed about Thanksgiving, what the heck am I going to eat?
Skip rolls and butter.
) every M-W-F. Does that mean I get the works three times a week??? 
