Happy Friday! Hopefully, you had a fantastic Thanksgiving filled with family, fun, and lots and lots of food.
The food part probably has you feeling a little sluggish today. That is okay! Holidays come once a year and food is a fantastic way to celebrate. There’s no reason to feel guilty for overeating, as long as you get back on track.
Today is the day to get back on track. We want to finish the year strong together. Here are a few things you can do to shake that sluggishness and get your engines started:
Have a healthy breakfast
More food probably sounds like the last thing you want right now, but having a healthy breakfast is the best way to get today started. It will make you feel better and get your body back into action.
Aim for something with a lot of fiber. It will help your digestive system start to return to normal after the overeating. Things like oatmeal, whole wheat toast, and fruits like apples and pears are great sources of breakfast fiber.
You should also consider something with some probiotics. These will bring some healthy bacteria to your gut and boost your digestion and metabolism. Yogurt parfaits, kefir, and kombucha are great probiotic sources.
Drink a lot of water
Water is your best friend after a day of overeating. A lot of traditional Thanksgiving foods, like turkey, stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes are high in sodium. Drinking water throughout the day will help you remove the excess and rehydrate your body.
Water will also help with digestion and energy levels. Sip on a cup at breakfast and carry a bottle with you throughout the day. You can also try low sugar electrolyte beverages like Pedialyte to further boost your hydration.
Secure the leftovers
Thanksgiving leftovers are a gift. Hopefully you were able to secure your favorites. We’ve talked about how to use leftovers before, and this is the perfect time to put that into practice.
It probably doesn’t sound appealing right now but start to plan out how you’re going to eat those leftovers. Some favorites are turkey sandwiches, Shepard’s pie, and casseroles. Try to think of some ways to make healthy, repurposed dishes.
If nothing comes to mind, there’s no shame in using the freezer! Save those favorites for a cheat meal down the line.
Get some exercise
Now is the time to get back on the road to health. You don’t want to become complacent by waiting for Monday. Habits can be broken much quicker than they can be built. You don’t want to risk having to start over.
You don’t have to run a marathon, but try something light, like going for a walk. Do what you can to get your body accustomed to movement again. This will also burn some of the excess calories that you ate.
If you want to, get a full workout in! There’s no better feeling than finishing a workout on a day that you have an excuse to take off.
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