Healthy Choices Thanksgiving Challenge Day 3

Well, it’s Thanksgiving Eve - The day before the big holiday, and Day 3 of my challenge to make healthy choices and eat smaller portions this holiday week.

I started documenting this on Monday (Day 1) because I had a social event (a tea party) that could have easily caused me to derail. And I’ll continue with this through Friday to make sure that I not only get through the holiday, but also the day after – with all the holiday leftovers – on track.

Last night, I stayed up really late – until 3:30 am talking to my hubby, so I started the day really late. And as usual, it derailed my morning exercise.

Exercise -wise I only did a few of my morning stretches, did a couple stretches this evening. Most of my movement today consisted of doing kickbacks, Y-squats, and other movement while I was waiting for waffles to cook. (I’m famous for burning food because I leave it go check something quick and forget about what’s cooking - so exercising while making waffles helps keep me in the kitchen.)

I also got some walking in while out grocery shopping with my daughter, parked the car way in the back of the parking lot, just so I could get a short walk in. The cooler weather is really causing stiffness, so I’ve got to keep some movement.

Food wise, the day started out good and deteriorated from there. As I have been throughout this challenge, I kept track of both what I ate and when I ate it, so I can raise my awareness and get the calories and nutrition in earlier in the day (rather than late at night). So here was today:

11:30 am Diet Pepsi – (darn it another soda for breakfast…need to break this habit AGAIN.)

1 pm 1/4 of a plain homemade, whole wheat, high fiber waffle (I was hungry, having not eaten anything yet, so I pulled a section of my daughter’s first waffle.)

1:45 pm 3/4 cup of roasted potatoes. My daughter made these, so they were peeled and in more oil than I prefer, but again, I was hungry and these are a yummy snack. She had actually given me more, but I shared with my 7 yo, who apparently has a hollow leg (he’s always eating something, but then again, he’s always moving too.)

2:30 pm After making everyone 2 or 3 waffles each, I finally sat down to eat mine.

I don’t use butter or syrup on my waffles, so instead I topped mine with warm, stewed apples, which I had simmering on the stove while I was cooking the waffles.

So… 1 whole wheat, high-fiber waffle with apples stewed in water, a tablespoon of sugar and a dash of cinnamon.  Yum, and filling.

6:30 pm  A bite of carrot after I was done grating carrots for my son to use in the dish he was cooking for the family dinner.

7:30 pm a Banana. My daughter and I were out doing grocery shopping and deliverying a meal to a new mom, but we were starving so I grabbed a banana at Kroger (our first stop), to hold me until we could stop and sit down for a snack.

8:00 pm… and here’s where things go wrong… We went to Arby’s and I ended up eating fried food. I just couldn’t resist the curly fries, but I was hungry so I ended up eating not only the curly fries, but 4 pieces of popcorn chicken and 3 of my daughter’s mozzerrella sticks.  <ugh>

9 pm As a reward for their help with unloading and putting away the groceries, I split a York Peppermint Patty with 3 of my children. So I got 1/4 of a piece – just enough to get the taste and that actually was all I needed.

Midnight – And while I was typing this, I did grab a banana as a quick snack.

So Today’s Verdict:

So in all, most of the day was okay as far as choices go. Though I really need to eat more of the food earlier in the day. But that Arby’s run sunk me. Good thing we don’t go out that often. 

Exercise wise, it was poor, but I did spend most of the day on my feet, instead of my usual sitting, so that is better, but not great.

Tomorrow is the big day. I’ve already cut the chocolate cream pie in half and stuck half of it in the back of the freezer to save for Christmas – simply because it’ll be too tempting tomorrow. I figure a half of a pie, split across six people, will be much easier for me to manage temptation wise.

So here’s to making healthy choices for the holiday!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

…Shannon