Get Ready for the Holidays: Make a Plan

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Let's face it, it involves lots of food, giving thanks, and I don't have to pretend to be Santa or wrap presents. Feels like once Halloween hits we just get funneled full speed through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. No wonder we need to chow down. There is a lot of stress created at the end of the year. Can we ignore it? No. How about try and manage it? That works for me.
Let's look at what the actual holiday day is called: Thanksgiving DAY. The key word being "day." Listen, even though we can't escape the months of turkey decorations and candy corn lying around, the actual day of eating is only 24 hours. What I would like to propose is that you trick yourself into noticing all the chaos less. Get yourself organized for the actual day of thanks and eating, and then don't think about it. Don't let the weight of the holidays keep you from your regular routine or from even starting a new healthy resolution.
You always hear how important it is to "stay in the moment." I fail at this miserably, but prescribe to it wholeheartedly. If there is ever a time to stay present, now is it. Don't look so far ahead to the upcoming weeks and all the "important" things you have to get done. Forget about the anxiety you feel about trying to navigate around all the parties, food, goodies, and booze. One day at a time (sounds like AA). Can you keep moving? Is there a way to not emotionally eat during this demanding time? YES. Just stay the course and don't let yourself get sucked into eating holiday food starting in November.
It's almost as if we give up and resign ourselves to the fact that we are just going to gain weight and we will start over in the New Year.
Make a plan:
Write down on your calendar when and where you can get a little exercise in. Stick to the plan. Try your best not to break your appointment with yourself to take a class, walk, bike, life, whatever it is...be there. Another reason to be diligent about exercise during this time of the year is that there will be so many edible temptations. So if you have a few weak moments here and there, at least you will counterbalance it a bit by keeping your body moving.
Take this on with a friend. It's a lot harder to blow off something if you're meeting someone. Not only does it make you accountable, but you can both be a support system or voice of encouragement when the one "doesn't feel like it" or has maybe fallen off the wagon. You can push each other, lift each other up, and be a "team." If it's in your budget and you have debated getting a trainer, now would be a great time to try it out.
On the gathering day, don't fast all day and plan to just stuff your face at the big sit-down event. You will throw the first thing you can get your hands on down your throat when you're hungry. Have a light breakfast and then fill up first on the "good" -- as in healthy -- stuff. Go for the bird and veggies, then head for a roll or stuffing. Eat a lot of real food, then have dessert. If they happen to lay out four of your favorite pies, cut everything into a quarter before you put it onto your plate. Then you can "have it all."
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When you abstain from shoving every tempting cookie or party hors d' oeuvres in your mouth, think of how good your food is going to taste on Thanksgiving Day. I say go for it and enjoy. If you are able to stay pretty true to your plan, then just have fun on the holiday. Someone once said food is not a reward, but eating it and not feeling guilty is pretty fun.
It is the holiday season, but let's not make that a reason to stop living a day-to-day life that will enhance our health or derail us from our quest of discipline and great health. By the way, if you go off the deep end one day or even a week, get up, dust yourself off, and remind yourself that each day is a new opportunity.
Have a happy Thanksgiving.