Thanksgiving is right around the corner!
This time of year is about recognizing the blessings in our lives and spending time with loved ones.
But it is also about the food.
Sharing a hearty delicious is a great way to connect and strengthen relationships with family and friends. Unfortunately, much of the food traditionally prepared for Thanksgiving dinner is heavy on carbs that will definitely take you out of the Keto Zone.
Yet, there are a few simple strategies you can use to minimize or eliminate weight gain and to keep your body burning fat throughout the holidays!
Ditch the Carbs
The Keto Zone diet allows your cells to use body fat as a fuel source. This only happens when dietary carbohydrates stay below below 50 grams per day. Therefore, the easiest way to stay in the Keto Zone this Thanksgiving is to say no to carbs!
Obvious culprits include bread, biscuits, stuffing, pies and desserts. These are all loaded with carbohydrates. Grain dishes such as rice, corn, and quinoa should also be avoided. Even starchy vegetable dishes such as mashed potatoes, carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes have enough carbohydrate to take you out of the Keto Zone.
So what is there left that you can actually eat?
Eat in the Zone
Take stock of what’s available and seek out low-carb foods that will keep you in the Keto Zone.
The good news is that you can eat as much turkey (or any other meat) as you want! You can douse your turkey with gravy without feeling guilty.
You can also eat as many leafy greens as you want. This includes spinach, kale, and collard greens. Other non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and green beans are low in carbs as well. Just make sure that the vegetables you eat are not cooked with any bread or stuffing such as a green bean casserole.
Bring Your Own Food
It is always an option to prepare a couple of Keto Zone dishes to bring with you to Thanksgiving dinner. Make low-carb alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Watch with satisfaction as people like them more than the original!
Another consideration is to bring your own low-carb sweetener with you. Put a bottle of organic stevia in your purse or pocket. This will allow you to add sweetness to tea, coffee, or water without spiking your blood sugar.
Stay Hydrated
Make sure to drink enough water!
This is especially important if you are going to be drinking alcohol. Try to have at least one glass of filtered water per each alcoholic beverage.
Before bed drink a large glass of filtered water and then another upon waking in the morning.
If You Fall Off the Wagon…
Maybe you just have to eat your Aunt’s mashed potatoes. Maybe you just really love pumpkin pie. Or maybe you feel like letting loose and not worrying about your diet.
Whatever your reason, if you may decide to go off the rails and carb up this Thanksgiving.
If this you, don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world.
However, there are few things you can do to mitigate the damage and get yourself back to burning fat in Keto Zone as quickly as possible.
Instant Ketones
Bring your Instant Ketones with you to Thanksgiving this year and consume a serving with every carb heavy dish you indulge in. This will provide your body with an exogenous source of ketones which will keep your body in fat burning mode despite carbohydrate consumption.
Instant Ketones are not a replacement for a low-carb diet. Yet, they can help ease your body through transition in and out of ketosis.
Next Day Fast
Another great way to detox from Thanksgiving dinner is fasting. The day after your holiday indulgence skip breakfast (and maybe lunch and dinner).
This will allow your body to burn off the excess glycogen you have stored from your meal. Then you to get back in the Keto Zone more quickly.
Fasting will also allow your body to activate detoxification processes such as autophagy. When your body is not focusing on digesting food in can put more energy towards eliminating toxins and cellular waste.
Get Moving
To further assist your body in the depletion of excess glycogen, make sure to get some form of post-holiday meal physical exercise.
This is especially effective if performed in a fasted state. The body will preferentially burn off glycogen stores to fuel your exercise thus bringing you back into the Zone.
It doesn’t have to be anything intense (although that would help). Anything from a brisk walk to a weightlifting session will help you recover.
Be Grateful
The most important thing to remember this Thanksgiving is to be grateful. Gratitude has scientifically proven healing properties. Tell you family and friends how much you care about them. Give thanks to the Lord for all the blessings in your life.
We all have something to be grateful for.
The Keto Zone Diet
For more guidance, recipes, and tips on how to successfully lose weight with the Keto Zone Diet, visit www.KetoZone.com today!
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