October’s chill has diminished into a blustery November freeze and many of us have found hibernating in front of our televisions with a hot cup of cocoa more appealing than braving the elements for the sake of physical fitness. And to make matters worse, eating three times our normal daily intake over Thanksgiving is enough to throw even the fastest metabolism off kilter.
Thankfully, two of the countries’ top fitness experts, Jeff Halevy, a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine trainer and one of New York City’s top fitness coaches, and Kristal Richardson, a professional figure competitor and ACE-certified personal trainer, are here to offer some quick tips to help you leave the stuffing in the turkey.
Jeff’s Tips to Help Guys Deflate a Turkey-day Tummy Tire
“During the colder months, our metabolism has a tendency to slow down as we become less active and consume more comfort foods,” explains Jeff. “Adding large holiday meals to this equation is a recipe for some serious weight gain.” Many of Jeff’s male clients don’t just stop at the big Thanksgiving feast – they snack on leftovers for days thereafter. In addition, since most men tend to fill their plates with carb-heavy portions of gravy, mashed potatoes and stuffing, they lack the important nutrition provided by healthier dishes, such as vegetables.
- Continue with a steady workout routine throughout your Thanksgiving vacation
- Munch on healthier snacks, such as carrots and hummus before the big meal
- Add a healthy supplement to the stuffing, mashed potatoes or gravy to boost it’s nutritional value
- My Daily Veggies is 100% dried whole organic vegetables from the green, red and orange-yellow food groups that, as defined by the USDA, provide two full servings of vegetables per single-serve packet. It contains all the fiber, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients as real fresh or frozen vegetables in addition to lycopene from tomatoes, lutein from spinach, beta carotene from carrots – an outstanding antioxidant, sulforaphane from broccoli and glucosinolates from kale. My Daily Veggies is a heart healthy food that doesn’t contain any added salt, sugar or preservatives – instant gratification! Price: $19.95. For more information, visit www.drinkyourveggies.com
Kristal’s Tips for Women to Tame a Growing Gobbler
According to Kristal, “In order to keep the stuffing in the turkey, women need to focus on portion control.” Many of Kristal’s female clients complain that they feel unpleasantly full after gorging on a Thanksgiving buffet. Since women typically add healthier options to their plates, such as vegetables, it’s important for them to recognize that they may be overeating – a sure way to pack on the pounds!
- Take a long walk before and after the Thanksgiving feast!
- Trade large portions of carb heavy stuffing and mashed potatoes with protein rich turkey and squash
- Drink a healthy supplement before the big meal to curb your appetite
- Tight Curves is the first and only multipurpose HeartHealthy protein product for women that delivers 14 grams of high quality protein, with only 4 grams of carbs. It also includes specific ingredients that support bone health, a concern of women susceptible to osteoporosis, mood management, a concern of women dealing with hormonal changes. Daily incorporation of Tight Curves into a healthy diet promotes toned muscles, enhanced fat oxidation regulated moods, increased endurance, and decreased recovery time from exercise or other activity. Price $50. For more information, visit www.tightcurves.net
Both Jeff and Kristal agree that maintaining a uniform balance between nutritional value, exercise and portion control is a smart way to keep from tipping the scales after a Thanksgiving feast. Adding supplements, such as My Daily Veggies and Tight Curves, to a consistent workout routine will help you look and feel your best when it’s time to trade the wind burn for tan lines.
