Weekly Challenge #6 - Is Thanksgiving about food or REALLY about being THANKFUL?

Thanksgiving is only just a few days away...are you looking forward to some traditional Thanksgiving food? Maybe even a few little indulgences - candied yams, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc. Although I've given most of you the "green light" to eat foods that are normally part of the TAKE SHAPE FOR LIFE program, be sure to keep the extra carbs and calories in moderation.

This challenge for this week is to help you to re frame what THANKSGIVING means to you. Make it more about GRATITUDE and less about the FOOD!

Ask yourself?
Do I really show love to my family by cooking/ baking favorite sugary and fattening foods?
Do I really show gratitude by eating 3,000 + calories at one meal?

To complete this challenge, please take a minute and write a short letter to yourself to remind you why you are THANKFUL for this new lifestyle you've chosen. Send me an email or post a comment after you've written your letter.

Here are some additional tips and strategies to help you stack on track this week:

1. Plan to enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving meal in moderation. Try to keep your meal as "lean and green" as much as possible. Fill up your plate with veggies and turkey and just have small spoonfuls of the potatoes, yams or other carbs you may want to eat.
2. Remember it's THANKSGIVING DAY... not THANKSGIVING WEEKEND! If you eat extra calories and carbs on one day, you will be able to recover and get back in to fat burn mode more quickly than if you take 4 days off the program.
3. If the dinner is being held at your home, send all the leftovers home with your family. You don't need the temptation on Friday, Saturday, etc.
4. Make sure you get in at least 3 workouts in this week to help you burn the extra calories.
5. Keep a journal. Write down everything you eat on Thanksgiving day. This is great way to be accountable to yourself!

I am truly THANKFUL for the opportunity I have to share this program with you and coach you along your journey! I believe in you!

Marti