The Loop

Thanksgiving: Your seven-step game plan

November 26, 2014

Roughly 24 hours from now, you're probably going to be knee-deep in cranberry sauce and stuffing. In all honesty, so will I. However, Thanksgiving doesn't have to be something you regret on Friday.

Follow these seven steps to give yourself a fighting chance to avoid turkey-day hangover.

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2. Drink tons of water—all day and all night. Not only is it important to stay hydrated while eating foods high in sodium and consuming diuretic beverages such as alcohol, drinking water also satiates your appetite. You won't be able to eat as much without feeling stuffed.

__3. Snack on veggies and fruits.__You know you're going to eat a heavy meal loaded with calories. So avoid the pretzels and potato chips and stick to the carrots and grapes until dinner.

4. Choose whiskey/spirits over beer and wine. This might seem counterintuitive, but we're talking about reining in calories, and you tend to drink less and drink slower when it's hard liquor.

__5. Eat slowly.__Put your fork down between bites. Chew thoroughly. The longer it takes to eat, the more time you give your brain to signal you that you're full, so you won't overeat and feel crappy. Be the last to leave the table.

6. Clean up. Take the garbage out. Do the dishes. Get moving after dinner and you'll be on your way to burning off what you just ate. At the least, take the dog for a walk.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Ron Kaspriske is the fitness editor of Golf Digest.

(Photo by Getty Images)