Another pie, another pound

Every year, I write this holiday column, and few of you read it. No one's interested in counting calories at Thanksgiving. However, if by chance you do find time to read this and you plan on controlling your eating habits, you might try adding a little exercise to your holiday menu.

Put your turkey in the oven, let your family sleep, and go outside for a long walk. Exercise during Thanksgiving will help you lower your stress level, slow down nervous-eating habits, and maybe even keep you away from the refrigerator.

I can't tell you not to eat too much; you wouldn't listen anyway. Besides, you won't read this column if I do. However, eating light, getting plenty of rest and putting in a little exercise time will help you through the holiday.

Everywhere you turn this time of year, you are hit with food ads. Your days are spent either in the kitchen cooking or in the grocery store. You overbuy for "just in case" and "over eat" because it's available. Instead of ending up with a habit of overeating that's hard to cure, eat slowly.

It takes 30 minutes for your stomach to register that it's full. If you eat quickly and too much, you're still filling that stomach when it has reached, and exceeded, the full mark.

Stay busy - not hard to do with a house full of kids, parents and friends. Staying busy helps lower your stress level, and the more stress you're under, the more you'll eat. Keep in mind that if you lose control now, it will take you three weeks to recover, and by that time, it's Christmas and you get to go through it all again.

Try laughing. Do you remember how to laugh?

You'll need good humor to go along with the 5,000 calories you'll consume on Thanksgiving. That's the average count for a Thanksgiving dinner. Don't tell me you won't find a place to put all those calories; it happens.

Finally, keep those points in mind: Turkey meat is great protein, low in fat and low in calories. You have all those relatives and friends to help you with the dishes. And with all those leftovers, you won't have to cook again for a week.

Enjoy your day and your family, and you have my permission to forget you read this.

• 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.