Turkey Day and the aftermath

Overeating at Thanksgiving means four days of overindulgence. It's long enough to set a pattern for life. Thanksgiving dinner alone brings with it about 5,000 calories. That's a lot of eating. We eat, or overeat to relieve tension, and there is sure enough of that to go around at Thanksgiving.

Relatives who haven't seen each other for a year or more, and wish they didn't have to now, get together for ego mashing over the potatoes. It never fails. You end up with a migraine and a killer desire for pie. And we were born with overdeveloped guilt feelings regarding pie.

Here's your Thanksgiving cure for stress; relax. Go outside by yourself for 15 minutes. Being alone can help those feelings of stress. Close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply for 10 breaths.

Now, you need an understanding about those sweet cravings. They are cyclic. The high that you get from sugar comes seconds after you eat. And the low follows anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on how much pie you ate. The low will be much lower than you were before you ate. It keeps you on edge as long as you indulge. And remember, weight is something you have total control over. No one forces you to gain weight; you do it with your mouth wide open.

I hate to bring this up, especially during Thanksgiving, but there is no better remedy for eating binges and stress than a good hard workout, whether walking up and down hills for 40 minutes or jumping rope in the garage at midnight. (The relatives won't find you there.)

More and more of my students are going out for Thanksgiving dinner. It's a good thought; no leftovers to tempt your midnight cravings and guests go home earlier because the refrigerator is empty.

After Turkey Day, open that refrigerator, look at that last piece of pie and feed it to the dog. Stuff the leftover sweet potato casserole down the disposal. Then drag your overstuffed body off the couch and into exercise.

I guarantee, your relatives won't follow you and neither will the leftover pie.

n Jerry Vance is owner of The Sweat Shop/Wet Sweat. She offers classes through Carson City Recreation and Aquatics Center and is a fitness instructor for the Senior Center.