1. Visualize. I will practice T day as well as the entire weekend (surrounded by all overweight family members except my dad and hubby) several times in my head before I go.
This really helps! I walk through my entire day in my head, making good choices and deciding what I will eat.
2. Know what's on the menu and plan ahead of time what I will eat - then DO NOT STRAY. There will always be Thanksgiving food, pumpkin pie, etc. This is not the last time I will see this stuff. But this year, I have to make choices for my health.
3. Leave nothing to chance. Get out of the house after eating. Sit far away from the bread. Have my hubby make a plate for me (he's more strict than me!
). Don't place myself in temptation's path. Eat on plan 100% every other meal - no cinnamon rolls for breakfast, mashed potatoes for dinner, pie for snacks. 1 meal tends to turn into an entire weekend of gluttony and over-indulgence.
4. If you can, do something completely non-traditional and non-food related. One year, we spent the entire day at the beach and then came home and just threw some chicken on the grill. The focus was family, not food (not so other years, which is why I'm here! LOL!). I'm sure my dad, hubby and I will do a major bike ride or hike that day as well.
5. Plan some foods that you can eat that won't break the bank. I'm making a low-fat pumpkin custard so that I can have 1 serving of that instead of pumpkin pie (with the loads of fat, sugar and salt in the crust). Steamed veggies, turkey breast (regular turkeys sold in stores are loaded with injected salt - try to look for one that's not), etc.
6. Sit back and think of the real reasons we are celebrating - we are on the path to better health, we are surrounded by those we love, and we are not slaves to food.
Best to all! Can't wait to hear your ideas!