Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and with it comes those additional calories and pounds! Each year we tell ourselves, “I am going to eat smarter this year and cut out that extra dessert.”

I have a different philosophy. I think that it is perfectly fine to have a second serving of stuffing and two slices of pie. Let your stomach be your guide – when you are full stop eating. What I find helpful is to look before I load up my plate, decide what I want to eat and start small; better to go back for seconds! And, don’t trick yourself into saying – I will run an extra mile tomorrow, go to another yoga class this week or cut-out sweets next week.

Chances are, over the next few months you will put on a few extra pounds. The fact that it is getting cooler outside and we are more sedentary. Like the animals that hibernate in the winter, our bodies burn and store food differently with the change in the temperature.

My suggestion is, start thinking about how you can maintain your weight without depriving yourself of that extra slice of pumpkin pie. Take a personal challenge to keep up your fitness schedule and the number on the scale by planning and monitoring your activities, eating and enjoy the season – we are just getting started.

Namesta