Happy Thanksgiving!

You may think I’m nutz for starting a serious diet program right before the holidays. I think I am. How the heck am I going to make it through Thanksgiving and Christmas and all those parties without eating all that yummy, once a year, can’t wait to eat yourself silly foods?? I love cookies and all that heavy food that comes with those big dinners. BUT – its only for one year, right?

I'm staying at a friend's house tonight and for the next couple of days with my kids up near deer camp. My kids are too little to stay at deer camp and there really isn't that much room. My friend is watching the boys while I go hunting. Then tomorrow, we are going to do the big Thanksgiving meal at deer camp. Just like I've been doing for years. We will have it all; the turkey, the stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, all the good stuff. I even had the request to make my famous green bean casserole. One of my favorites. So - what is a person on a very strict diet suppose to do???

I think my number one advice for a holiday meal or a party is bring something that you CAN eat. I made a variation of wild rice stuffing. I substituted bread crumbs for brown rice and skipped the butter. I added ground turkey and some celery and onions. I will let you know how it turns out. I can eat the turkey and I will eat up on the turkey - white meat of course - then I might have a little mashed potatoes, the wild rice stuffing and then I suppose I should have some veggies of some sort too! I will let you know how it goes.

Here's a few other tips: It is OK to splurge on your very favorites, but don't let your family decide what you should splurge on. Your splurges are way too precious so put some thought into it before you dish up. Also, don't starve yourself. If you have a late afternoon dinner between football games, eat your good high protein breakfast, have your snack, then eat a light lunch. If you starve yourself, your insides are going to get all messed up. If you keep eating normal then when you do eat that huge meal, it won't be such a shock!

And don't remember, get some exercise in! Even if it is just a walk.

I'm going to get up at 4am, drive out to deer camp, eat my high pro-low carb breakfast, get all my heavy clothes on (because its going to be cold tomorrow)and tromp out to the woods to sit in my deer stand for a few hours, or maybe just a couple.

Talk to you after Thanksgiving...hope you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving!