Five Healthy Ways to Recover from Thankgiving Dinner

by: Chicago Women's Fitness Examiner

Everybody dreads it: The food coma and subsequent bloat that dutifully arrives approximately 20 minutes after a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Some attribute it to L-tryptophan, the substance in turkey that has been shown to cause drowsiness. Still, the 5,000 to 6,000 calories that the average American eats during Thanksgiving is probably the biggest offender.

Try these tips to reduce the bloat and sluggishness that comes along with your Thanksgiving meal—and help your arteries pump that cholesterol out of your bloodstream.

1. Instead of sitting down on the couch, plan a family walk for after the meal.

2. Get inspired by the NFL! Start—or continue—a family touch football tradition.

3. Help mom or grandma clean up. Working in the kitchen after a party can burn up to 250 calories in an hour.

4. Avoid overdoing it in the first place. And if you’re going to gorge, pick just one thing that will be your guilty pleasure food, not everything.

5. Join a local Turkey Trot.