The holidays are upon us and I don’t know about you, but it allows me to reflect upon my life, previous holidays, family, friends and all of the things we are Thankful for.

There are so many things we can be thankful for! Friends, Family, Health, Food on the Table, A Roof Over Our Heads, The Fact That We Reside In One of the Greatest Countries in the World, Freedom to Worship our God, oh there’s so much more!!

I also tend to think of family traditions.  My family has many traditions for Thanksgiving but many of them left when my folks were divorced – somehow the holidays just aren’t the same.  But there’s still Mom’s famous pies, Turkey and stuffing with mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and cranberry sauce that no one eats – oh and the black olives, we can’t forget those.  But as time has gone on, our family sort of does our own thing, mostly because my sister and I live on opposite coasts and my Dad is sort of in the middle.  Obviously, there is the rare occasion that one or the other is able to fly out but what with the expense…

So, for my sister, Mom’s famous pies have been replaced by her own – and they are just as delicious and she’s established her own traditions.  My Dad usually spends the day with his wife and her daughter and kids.

As for us…. well, my husband’s folks used to have a gathering with his uncle and his family but most have all passed on though we occasionally see the cousins, but not as previously.  One Thanksgiving in particular sticks out when his parents had already passed away we went to a French Restaurant for dinner.  It was fine dining at it’s best with waiters serving each course and the service was absolutely amazing.  The funny part is, a relative from the other side of their family had business with some gentlemen that week from China who joined us and they didn’t speak English. We dined with them, as well as his wife who was bi-lingual (spoke Chinese and English – Translating for all of us), and my husband’s Uncle and his kids.  It was quite an international experience and as bizarre as it sounds, it was one of the most memorable!

This year, as usual, it is sort of fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants as far as planning anything.  This year we are actually thinking about just eating dinner out.  Is that bad?  I don’t know but with a lousy oven and only four of us these days, Myself, Hubby, Son and my Mother, is it worth going through all the trouble just for one meal?  Of course, my Mother will still make her pie(s) but should we do the dinner?  Hmmm…

Yeah, the oven is an excuse. Two years ago I cooked a 14 lb. Turkey and it took ALL DAY!! We planned on eating at 2:00 and didn’t eat until something like 7:00!  My oven works only when it wants to…usually when I plan for it to not work, such as using the maximum time for recipes because it cooks slow, but it decides on that particular day to cook fast  and BURNS everything! Grrr…

So for now our plans are up in the air as they usually are 1 week before Thanksgiving – lol.  I’ll let you know what we’re doing next Wednesday, k?

Thanksgiving is known for high calories – overindulging – and laziness.  Why not try something different this year?  Get up early and have a nutritious breakfast such as oatmeal and egg white pancakes with light syrup and cinnamon, get in a vigorous workout or go for a hike or a long walk/jog.  Come back refreshed and energized and go ahead and prepare all of your traditional favorites but how about cutting the unhealthy recipes in half?  Then, prepare an extra large vegetable tray, a delicious salad, and fill up your plate with healthy greens.  Go ahead and enjoy the stuffing, potatoes, and all the fixings, but limit yourself to a tablespoon of each of the “Unhealthies” and fill up on the white meat and greens.  Have your meal EARLY so that there’s time for a workout or a brisk walk outdoors, then partake in a small sliver of pie – EARLY.  Try to limit your evening meal to something light and filling such as another small slice of Turkey Breast and a salad.

One Solution to Overindulgence….

I am offering a fitness boot camp for the holidays – “The 25 Days of Fitness“ to help keep our bodies fit during these holiday festivities. I hope you will consider joining me!  It runs throughout the holiday season and includes a T-shirt and a food journal.  What a great way to kick off the New Year!!!

Click Here for More Information:  25 Days of Fitness

I hope you will join me!!

I’d love to hear some of your Thanksgiving Traditions, Struggles, or just share what your plans are for this year!

Until Next Time….