Tips for avoiding the bulge after holiday indulgences

JACKSON, Tenn – With Thanksgiving behind us, many people headed to the gym Saturday morning to work off those extra holiday calories.

Following a Thanksgiving filled with turkey, sweet potatoes and gravy, Gold’s Gym owner Steve Roten says people tend to turn away from exercise.

“You’re not going to mess everything up with one meal,” he said. “The big thing is to not let a bad holiday meal derail you.”

Roten recommends people watch the sides they are eating and to get their diet back to as normal as it was before Thanksgiving.

He also advises people to not eat late at night.

“I think a lot of the sides in your Thanksgiving and holiday meals are mind-blowing,” he said. “I’ve seen statistics where some people’s meals can be around 3,000 calories, and that’s more intake than you should get in a day.”

But not all Thanksgiving food is bad for you.

Hillary Keen, a clinical integration coordinator for LIFT Wellness Center in Jackson, suggests people play close attention to their portions.

“It’s okay to indulge a little bit, but keep it in moderation,” she said. “Maybe do a smaller portion that way you can enjoy the things that you love, however you don’t over do it.”

Planning is key to staying healthy during the holidays. Experts say dedicating a time during the day to get out and take a walk is a good place to start.

“Go ahead and have your gym bag packed and ready to go, that way everything is in line and everything is in order and all you have to do is go through the motion,” Keen said.

For those who don’t have time in their schedules for a full workout, experts recommend a 10 to 15 minute walk or run to burn holiday calories.