Not just for turkeys

Each year as Thanksgiving rolls around most people’s thoughts turn to turkeys and thanks and seeing relatives. But one thing that often is neglected is fitness.

That can be a dangerous combo.

The average American consumes 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day and more than 229 grams of fat, or more than 2.5 times the average daily calorie count recommended and nearly 3.5 times the daily fat count recommended, according to the Calorie Control Council. The council also estimates that individuals may consume enough fat at Thanksgiving feasts to equal three sticks of butter.

I don’t know about you, but those numbers are a bit frightening to me and spurred me to look for tips on ways to combat the added calories.

So I turned to Mike Lofland, director of the Texas Health Fitness Center HEB.

Cutting sugar from holiday recipes

A group of about 10 people are gathered at the cooking demo station at MarketStreet, but they’re not watching a demo.

Instead, diabetes educator Leslie Crawford, RDLD at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford, is offering tips on how to control diabetes with healthy eating. The group then tours the store getting a quick lesson in label-reading.

As individuals ask about what to do since certain foods are off limits she gently shifts the conversation saying “it’s all about blood sugars and portion control.” To illustrate her point, Crawford offered up an easy dessert recipe using a cake mix, such as carrot cake, and a can of pumpkin. You combine and bake according to directions on the package – omitting the eggs, oil and water because you included the pumpkin. Having tasted the recipe I can vouch that it’s tastier and more moist than making it with the other ingredients.

Bedrest and twins: a surprise-filled pregnancy

Throughout her pregnancy Sonia Hays has encountered surprises.

Sonia (right) and Missy chat about the challenges of bedrest.

At 18 weeks pregnant she discovered she was having twins. Hays said she knew something was up well before that though. “I felt extra big at six weeks,” she says. Since twins run in both sides of her family Hays initially suspected that. But sonograms and other tests didn’t show that she was expecting twins until the 18 week mark.

Then came an even bigger surprise at her 25 week sonogram. Instead of a quick appointment they were worried about her cervix and noticed she was having contractions. She was immediately admitted to the hospital to stop the contractions.