Happy Thanksgiving!

This might be my favorite holiday of all…a time to see family, be grateful and yes stuff your face until you pass out on the couch while watching football-I think that may be what heaven is like for men.

The question is how to do that without gaining weight and killing the results of all the hard work you have been doing in the gym and the will power you have been exercising to eat right.

Well, here is what I do for all major holidays…is it the best way? Not sure, but I do know that after the last 5+ years of doing this that I always keep my shape in tack so obviously something is right about it.

What I do is when I know I am going to just give in to every craving I have and probably do so multiple times then I start planning for that “feast” 7-10 days out so that I don’t have to feel bad about it.

So, 7-10 days out I tweak my diet to cut down the amount of carbs I am taking in so that I can lean out a little bit…normally this is not a good idea because you will not be taking in enough carbs to perform at a high level and you will lose muscle if you eat this way consistently but if done in this manner for less then two weeks with a feast planned at the end no muscle will be lost.

Here is a basic template of my pre-feast diet:

Meal 1: scrambled eggs (mostly all whites)
mixed with veggies
coffee and sometimes a piece of fruit

Meal 2: Protein shake / 2 scoops and 1/2 oz of walnuts

Meal 3: Ground chicken mixed w/ veggies
Maybe a small piece of fruit if my energy is low

Meal 4: Protein Shake/2 scoops

Meal 5: Spinach salad with chicken or fish

Meal 6: Protein Shake with smart balance light peanut butter (1 heaping spoonful)

Ok, that is what I do leading up to the big day and then after the big day I go back to the diet for 3 days only to kill those intense sugar cravings that you will be getting from all the pies and other sweets. Those cravings for me last for 3 days and as long as I don’t give in to them for those 3 days then they will go away. However, if you DO GIVE in to them then watch out because you can start to pack on the weight until you STOP.

As long as you do that not only will you not gain any weight but you will keep your exact figure through the holiday season and get back to business after the new year.

Hope this helps you out this season and every other season.

To Your Success,
Brian

Weight Loss Motivation-Workout Motivation