COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
Thanksgiving marked the official start of the
holiday season, and that also meant the official start of holiday eating.
The Calorie Control Council says the average
American consumes 4500 calories on Thanksgiving Day, and Columbia wellness
expert Jamie Scott says that number may be even higher. "If you just over eat,
which 80 percent of the people do in the U.S. on Thanksgiving, it's anywhere
between 4,000 and 6,000 calories," says Scott.
Scott says overeating has a lot to do portion
perspective. "You just can't have a whole container of dressing," he adds. "A
fist, balled up, that's usually a good healthy serving size."
So what if you didn't follow the fist-sized
serving portion and you consumed 4500 calories on Thanksgiving? Scott says you
probably still haven't burned off the meal. "Walking three times a week, it
will take you two weeks to burn that off."
In the midst of the holiday season, you're
likely to attend another holiday party before that, so Scott has three tips.
- Never go to a holiday
party on an empty stomach. (Scott says that will help reduce calorie intake and
unintentional food grazing. He says make the party about the people, not the
food.)
- Always drink water
before drinking alcohol. "Don't just have a beer because you're thirsty. Drink
water because you're thirsty, and then if you choose to consume alcohol then do
so after that."
- If you mess up one
day, get back on track the next. "Don't wallow in it!"
Scott says staying active is also essential,
and that doesn't have to mean a trip to the gym. "You can park on the other
side of the parking lot and walk to the grocery store versus everybody trying
to find a parking space right beside the door," he adds.
Scott
says if you follow these simple tips, they just may lighten the holiday food
overload. He adds if you want to put a dent in your Thanksgiving dinner, you
can also join him at his new location at Cross Hill Market at 8:15 am this
Saturday for the ‘JS Challenge Tri.' Scott says he's opening his new facility
during the holiday season on purpose and kicking things off with a
mini-triathlon of sorts. It will include a 50-minute boot camp class, a
50-minute spin class and a 3.5 mile run. For more information on the event
visit http://www.jamiescottfitness.com
and click on ‘JSF Class Schedules.'
