Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday for people who love to spend time with their family
and eat delicious food. Turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie all sound amazing on Thanksgiving Day. But after sitting around all day and eating large amounts of food, you start to feel the dreaded food coma. At this time, it seems like a great idea to lie down on the couch and take a nap. This is a common feeling that many people get, especially during a time when you are eating such carb-heavy food. This feeling can make staying active feel like a real challenge. However, there are still plenty of things you can do to make sure you are active on Thanksgiving.
Keep reading to learn five easy tips that can help you stay active on the Thanksgiving holiday.
1. Walking
Going for a simple 15 to 20-minute walk can help regulate blood sugar and start your metabolism. The best practice is to take a walk early in the morning and then after you eat your Thanksgiving meal. A walk in the morning can help you get ready for your day and make you feel more energized. Going for a walk after eating can help you regulate your blood sugar and digestion. You could also make this a family activity by having your family members join you on your walk.
2. Stretch between eating
During Thanksgiving, there are many times when you will find yourself just sitting on the couch or at the dinner table. Sitting for long periods can start to make you feel very stiff and inactive. This is why it's a great idea to do some simple stretches whenever you find the time. Stretching can help you decrease bloating and help promote digestion. Some helpful stretches you can try out are a seated spinal twist, knees to chest, and a wall stretch. All of these stretches are effective in helping digestion and help you get some movement in to stay active.
3. Participate in your community Turkey Trot
Many communities run a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. This is essentially a 5k fun run that helps raise money for local organizations. So, you get to lean into the Thanksgiving spirit by giving back to fundraisers while also staying active. By taking part in a Turkey Trot you also have the opportunity to spend more quality time with your family and have fun dressing up in costumes together. Another added plus is that going for a run before the actual Thanksgiving dinner begins can help you feel less guilt when indulging in large amounts of food and make you feel more active.
4. Play family games
A great way to stay active and create new memories with you and your family is by playing family games. You could do things like play tag, relay races, or set up a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt. This is a great way to burn off some of the calories, help with digestion, and spend some time with the kids!
5. Go on a fall hike
Depending on where you live and what the weather is like, going for a hike could be a great way to burn some calories and exercise on Thanksgiving. This is a great activity for the whole family and it's a great way to embrace the changing of the seasons and get some fresh air. Whether you go before or after Thanksgiving dinner there are plenty of benefits that will make you feel more active.
Another important tip is to always stay hydrated to help digestion and keep your energy levels up. It can be easy to forget to drink water while chatting with your relatives, but this is a simple tip that will help you feel better after eating a big meal.
Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday for relaxing, spending time with family, making great memories, and of course, eating lots of great food. But as we know it becomes very easy to become stationary and forget about the importance of staying active. By using these five simple tips you can easily increase your movement and help digestion this Thanksgiving. So, whether it's a simple walk or playing a game with your family make sure to use these five tips to keep your body healthy.
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