Q. What is the average # of calories consumed in a typical Thanksgiving meal?
A: Honestly, It doesn’t matter.
What’d you expect? You know I’m not a fan of the “calorie obsession” mode of living or die-ting.
That said, the question does provoke a certain morbid curiosity—like a car wreck or J-Lo landing on her rear during a live performance. (If you just can’t resist, the answer can be found at the bottom of this post.)
Resisting indulgence on Thanksgiving is no more likely to promote astounding discipline and Strength than wearing a blindfold in a strip club, staying angry at Disneyland or refusing to be awed at a Cirque du Soleil show.
It’s being unnecessarily punitive on a day where energy is better invested in being present to family, mindful of all that’s good and grateful for life—however great and challenging it may be at the moment.
To stand in noble resistance to food may simply be a way to avoid being there—to sidestep the intimacy and opportunity for connection.
For the love of all that’s good in this world and your life, take this day to be there, to be free, to indulge—100% guilt free. Avoid acting out any heavy-handedness towards yourself, no self-incrimination; no eaters remorse.
It’s well documented that some people over-eat so they can indulge in negative self-dialogue after the fact. Take away the power of that negative self-talk and you take away the energy in that triggers overeating in the first place.
To eat all that you want and be thankful for all that you ate without any remorse will in itself be a truly transformative practice for many.
This Thanksgiving may you eat as much as you want and not an ounce more.
Now, enjoy the support from My 5 Tips for Eating All You Want, Not More
Yep! That’s a lot of calories.
How I arrived at this “parlor game” estimate is part homework, part research, part educated guess—as it’s virtually impossible to determine an average across the broad spectrum of people. My investigation uncovered supported estimates ranging from 3,000 to over 7,000 calories. My guess is that we eat a lot but it’s on the lower end although I think most, if asked, would underestimate the quantity of food they ate by more than half.
Whatever the true number you can rest comfortably knowing it’s a lot.
Until Next Week,
Stay Strong,
Shawn
Follow Me: /Twitter/shawn_phillips
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24. November 2009 at 2:57 pm
very inspiring! there’s some real wisdom in what has been said here. common sense goes a long way!