Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means there will be plenty of food, family, friends, and football to be enjoyed. While it is a great holiday that brings people together, it also has a tendency to bring tons of calories that convert into unwanted pounds. If you have been disciplined up until now and worked hard to reach your current fitness level, you may not want the holiday to ruin all of your hard work. Here are some tips to help you stay trim through all the temptations.

Do not save calories leading up to the big meal

Some people justify pigging out on Thanksgiving by taking in less calories on the meals preceding Thanksgiving dinner. Not only are you depriving yourself, but you are also setting yourself up for failure when showtime rolls around. You should definitely eat a regular breakfast, as well as lunch, depending on what time you plan to have your feast. If your body has had its proper nutrition earlier in the day, you will be less likely to overdo it at dinnertime.

Include some exercise beforehand

Even if you do not get into an eating competition during dinner, you will probably ingest more calories on Thanksgiving when compared to normal days. For this reason, some exercise beforehand is a great idea. Stimulating your body through exercise will cause your metabolism to increase, which will allow you to burn more calories.

Drink water ahead of time

Water is the best of both worlds. Not only will drinking it fill you up, but it also comes with zero calories. You should try to drink a 16 ounce glass of water approximately one hour before the main course. This will fill you up, and you will be less tempted to pile extra food on your plate.