I am probably biased, but I truly believe Thanksgiving is the BEST holiday.  You celebrate food, family and drink surrounded by falling leaves, beautiful colors, and the excitement of Christmas coming.  Along with the 4th of July, it is the holiday that celebrates food, traditions and family/friends without the presents.  

I also believe it is the one holiday that calories should not count.  Most Americans eat about 3000 calories during Thanksgiving meal but if you look at a typical Thanksgiving meal, the things that are truly “bad” for you (pie, stuffing) are only 501 calories (323 calories for pumpkin pie + 178 calories for ½ cup stuffing).  To burn 501 calories, here are the top activities you can do to negate the bad effects of Thanksgiving*:

• Run x 40 minutes (12 min/mile pace)
• Peloton/Spin Bike x 60 minutes
• Do Zumba for 1 hour
• 2-3 hours of sex
• Lift weights for 1 hour
• Dance for 1 hour (like Bollywood style or Samba)
• Kickbox for 1 hour
• 50 minutes on a rowing machine
• Walk for 90 minutes

Turkey Trot

One hour of exercise prior to eating on the best-day-of-food seems like a small task.  On Thanksgiving, there is always the option for a Turkey Trot, which allows you to burn calories AND give back to your community.  In our hometown of McHenry County, we always have options like Henry’s Hustle  and our local running club, https://www.hillstriders.com/thanksgiving-day-5k.html.  

Endorphins are created in the brain during activities like exercise, eating, laughter, and sex – all pleasurable activities.  All of these activities should be considered as options during Thanksgiving.  And the creation of endorphins is reason #4557 why Thanksgiving is the holiday that offers the most benefit over effort.   

*side note:

I am not an advocate for counting calories.  Though as a peri-menopausal woman, I am an advocate for working out regularly to feel stronger, managing macros, and sleeping!  The recommendations in this blog are to help not feel the guilt of eating and rather to allow you to enjoy time and food with family and friends.  To me, this truly is the motivation for my running: to keep me healthy to increase my chances at longevity to allow me a lifetime of fun times with my friends and family