Many people in the fitness world are going to panic next week when Thanksgiving rolls around. I know, because I’ve been there. I have been the person who tried so very hard to eat healthy on Thanksgiving as to not destroy the hard work I had previously accomplished. I have been the person who dieted extra hard several days leading up to Thanksgiving in order to lose a couple pounds and then eat whatever I wanted on Turkey day. I’ve gone to the gym on Thanksgiving day. I’ve planned my meals in order to carb-load on Thanksgiving day but no other days that week.
The stereotypes are the best: Bodybuilders have probably very strategically planned their Thanksgiving meal to best fit their training or competition. CrossFitters will only eat the Paleo dishes. Runners will eat just the carbs. Fitness models will eat just the protein. Powerlifters will eat everything and then some, right? Haha. 😉
It’s quite exhausting just thinking about it.
Being the person who had to learn everything the hard way about “healthy” and “fit,” it’s now a DREAM to be considered a leader/role model/inspiration in this industry. But it’s also tough because there are so many expectations to live up to that I never had before. “Steph’s eating dessert? OMG!”
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through my journey, is that the holidays are the BEST time to relax and enjoy the foods you want to eat, the company you get to see, and the wine you get to drink. Fitness has been a long journey for me, but I’m glad it’s much easier now. I won’t stress about food this holiday, I’ll make healthy choices when I want and I’ll make fun food choices when I want. I’ll drink my favorite wines and do my best to stay fully hydrated too. It’s all about balance! I encourage every single person reading this to do the same this Thanksgiving:
- Don’t stress out
- Listen to your body
- Eat what you want when you want it
- Don’t over-stuff yourself in one meal
- Try to make a few healthy choices that will make you feel good about yourself along the way
- Just relax!
Speaking of balance, have fun with this conditioning workout!
For Time:
- 10 kettlebell swings
- 1 wall ball (sub squat thrusters)
- 9 kettlebell swings
- 2 wall balls….
- Repeat this sequence until you’ve done 1 kettlebell swing and 10 wall balls.
Your total number each round is always 11! Myra and I did this Wednesday morning and we both got done under 6:30. We then walked on the treadmill for 25 minutes and honestly, it was quite the perfect morning.
If you don’t have equipment, you can substitute anything! Burpees and handstand push-ups would be fun, don’t you think? Lunges and push-ups? Sit-ups and squat jumps? Choose what you need!
What’s your view on Thanksgiving eating? Let us know in the comments below!
