Let’s face it—Thanksgiving is practically a national sport. From stuffing (yourself) to pumpkin pie, it’s a day designed for indulging. But with all that food and family fun comes the inevitable stress about overeating. Let me stop you right there: one day of eating more than usual is not going to ruin your progress. Seriously.
The Truth About Thanksgiving Calories
Here’s the deal: to gain actual fat, you’d need to consume a huge surplus of calories over your regular intake—and even then, it’s not something that happens in a single day. Most of the weight you see on the scale the next morning is just water retention from salty foods or extra carbs. It’s not fat. It’s not permanent. It’s nothing a few days of normal eating won’t handle.
So, instead of spiraling into guilt about the extra slice of pie, focus on enjoying the moment. Food is more than fuel—it’s culture, connection, and joy. And Thanksgiving is about more than just the meal. It’s about family, gratitude, and, okay, maybe football too.
The Secret to Long-Term Success: Consistency
What really matters isn’t how much you eat on a random Thursday in November. It’s what you do most of the time that counts. If you’ve been hitting the gym regularly, eating balanced meals, and staying active, one day of indulgence is just a blip on the radar. It’s consistency over weeks, months, and years that drives results—not perfection on every single day.
The trick is to get back into your usual routine. Come Monday, lace up your sneakers, hit the gym, and eat meals that leave you feeling good. No need for crash diets or punishment workouts. Just return to your normal habits, and your body will do the rest.
Permission to Relax and Enjoy
This Thanksgiving, give yourself permission to relax. Stressing about your food choices can actually do more harm than good. Elevated cortisol (the stress hormone) can affect your digestion, sleep, and even your metabolism. Plus, who wants to spend a holiday worrying about calories instead of enjoying Grandma’s famous sweet potato casserole?
Remember, you’re not starting over on Monday—you’re just continuing. That’s the beauty of building healthy habits: they’re always there to fall back on.
Gratitude for Your Body
While you’re reflecting on what you’re thankful for this year, don’t forget to include your body on that list. It’s what allows you to run, lift, play with your kids, or even crush the family turkey trot. Your body is resilient and adaptable, and one meal—or even a few—isn’t going to change that.
This Thanksgiving, enjoy the food, the company, and the tradition without the added stress about what it means for your progress. One big meal isn’t going to undo all your hard work. What matters is the consistency you bring to your habits the rest of the year. So, take the long view, give yourself some grace, and let Monday be a normal day where you pick up right where you left off.
Enjoy the feast, and I’ll see you back in the gym next week!