Wellness Wednesday – A thought for Thanksgiving

Ahh, Thanksgiving.

While initially the holiday was meant to celebrate a successful harvest, it seems that now, for most people including me, Thanksgiving is an excuse to eat too much.

Turkey Trot For those looking to work up an appetite on Thanksgiving, the second annual Dundee/Memorial Park Turkey Trot will be held Thursday morning at 8:30. The “5k-ish walk or run” starts at the monument at Memorial Park and is a benefit for the Omaha Food Bank. Registration for the event is five cans of food or a monetary donation that will be collected at the start line. A registration form is accessible here.

Yesterday, I went to About.com and used the ‘Thanksgiving Calorie Calculator.” The calculator lists common Thanksgiving servings and you check the ones you think you will indulge in come Thursday.

At the risk of showing just what an oinker I am, here’s my planned intake for turkey day (give or take a few helpings):

• A cup of coffee with cream and sugar;
  
• A cracker with cheese (Who eats just one cracker?);
  
• One teaspoon of chip dip;
  
• One tablespoon ranch dressing (If by tablespoon, you mean that large bowl shaped spoon Mom puts on the table, then sure, I’m only eating a tablespoonful);
  
• Six ounces of white and dark turkey (Six ounces each is probably more accurate);
  
• Half a cup of stuffing (How big’s the cup?);
  
• Half a cup of cranberry sauce;
  
• Half a cup of mashed potatoes;
  
• Half a cup of gravy;
  
• Half a cup of green bean casserole;
  
• Half a cup of candied sweet potatoes;
  
• A dinner roll (or two, or three, etc.);
  
• A pat of butter (on each roll and the potatoes);
  
• A slice of pecan pie;
  
• A slice of pumpkin pie;
  
• Half a cup of whipped cream (for each slice of pie); and
  
• Half a cup of ice cream.

Here’s what the calculator told me about my planned intake for tomorrow and what I would need to do to burn off the calories:

“That comes to 2,690 calories. You will need to walk 26.9 miles, 43.38 kilometers, or 53,800 steps, assuming you cover one mile in 2,000 steps.”

Can I say that this information will deter me from my feast? Well, my mother used to wash my mouth out with soap when I lied, so I’ll have to just plead the fifth here.

That said, yikes! The fact that I’d have to walk a marathon to burn off Thanksgiving dinner does give me something to think about.

Want to see how long you’d have to walk after dinner to get rid of those calories? Click here and use the calculator for yourself.

And one more thing … Happy Thanksgiving!