What I won't be eating this year at Thanksgiving

So about this time, many of people are in the throes of meal planning for the big dinner on Thursday. Or if you’re lucky like me, you're skating by with just easy apps and successfully avoiding all major forms of cooking. (Lucky for me and likely for them as well, I think!).

Regardless of our contributions, many of us also look forward to consuming our favorite dishes be it green bean casserole (and for the record, I do NOT believe that post about it being the least favorite dish btw), Mom’s buttery smooth and creamy mashed potatoes, Grandma’s pumpkin pie, Aunt Nancy's artichoke dip or one of my personal favorites, cranberries sauce straight from the can (don’t hate, you know you love it!).  And if you're like my husband and brother, likely you don't just dream about these foods in the days leading up to big event but live in mouth-watering anticipation all year long! 

But one thing that many, many, many of us end up consuming a whole lot of on Thanksgiving and perhaps many regular meals and snacks as well, is a heaping helping of guilt.

Guilt for what I choose to eat. Guilt over choosing more of one thing (less healthy option) and less of another (more healthy option). Guilt over straying from my current subscribed to brand of healthy eating and fitness goals that I've set for myself. 

My guilt is cunning. It can creep up before, during and after the meal. It’s relentless. It doesn’t celebrate successes but points out flaws. "Oh, you’re going to feel good about eating that turkey? Well was it antibiotic free?"

"Hmmm, you had some of that green bean casserole, you know dairy is bad, right?"

" How about that delicious fresh from the oven roll? Do you know that carbs are the devil? And don’t even get me started on that pie, you know sugar is actually what makes you fat…"

If you happened to read my previous post on my recent cross-fit-esque commitment you know that I’m on a journey to get healthier and more fit. I want the energy that comes from being in better shape as well as the health benefits of proper nutrition vs. consuming so much processed garbage and c’mon, if I’m being really honest, I want that bikini-ready body as well.

Maybe I’m the only one here. Maybe you all are much more successful about squelching any negative talk before it creeps up and are able to enjoy your intentional, deliberate indulgences sans the big ole dollop of guilt. If so, I sincerely applaud you. Truly. But I suspect that there are plenty of women (and some men) out there that are all too familiar with that incessant inner voice that robs of the pleasure of enjoying our “off plan” foods or sours the memory of that treat when we are lamenting over the fact that the scale has gone in the opposite direction the following week at the gym.

And that’s just it, right there. Intentional and deliberate indulgence. Because it’s okay to not stick to your plan perfectly, 100 percent of the time. In fact, I am not aiming anywhere remotely close to perfection when it comes to my nutrition. I’m looking for something that not only allows me to keep up with the pace of life but also eat a slice of birthday cake or jump in on family pizza and movie night. An 80/20 balance has always been my goal which is why it’s even more crazy that I allow this guilt to take up residence.

What the heck am I even feeling guilty about anyway?!?

So this year I’ve decided that not only am I taking guilt off the menu for Thanksgiving but I'm taking it off the menu permanently! I am now declaring myself allergic to guilt when it comes to my food choices. Consider me guilt intolerant.

I’m either going to eat the thing or I’m not. Plain and simple. And if I decide that this particular item fits within my reserved 20 percent flex or is worth slowing or temporarily side-tracking my progress, then so be it. I’m going to make the choice, own it and gosh darn enjoy it! Because what's the point of eating that donut if you're just going to taint all of the mouthwatering sugary goodness with guilt? 

It ain’t worth it, ladies.

But what if you go crazy and completely reverse any semblance of progress you’ve made? My naturally argumentative side responds. Well, then so be it. The “why” behind the changes that I want to make is either strong enough, or it’s not. But if I trip up, and make choices that I regret (which inevitably will happen at some point) then I want to be able to pick myself back up, dust myself off and keep going.

And the best way to do that is to stop beating myself up and instead praise the positives in the progress. Whoever was inspired to change and be better when they were getting the negative pointed out to them all of the time? "Wow, yes, let's think about why I feel like garbage after eating all of that garbage. That will make me make a better choice next time!" So along with banishing the guilt I vow to look for the positives and change that internal voice from one that condemns to one that compliments.

 

“Oh, you could eat 6 rolls but stopped at one? You go, girl.”

“An extra helping of steamed veggies vs. mashed potatoes. Way to stay on track!”

This is what will help keep me on this journey. This is the type of talk that will lead to real, lasting change. Because let’s face it gals, this is hard work. Successfully becoming a healthier version or ourselves is the culmination of hundreds of good decisions, praising ourselves when we get it right and giving ourselves some stinkin grace when we fall.

So whether your conviction in your goals is so great that you plan to just eat white meat turkey and lettuce this Thanksgiving (you do you, lady!) or whether you intend to go all out with the stuffing, casserole and 3 slices of pie, let’s own our choices, be intentional and take guilt off the menu. I know I plan to!