Ugh. It’s so much fun when it’s happening, but then reality sets in and you want to get out and work that gigantic Thanksgiving meal off. So just what does it take?
Well, for perspective, most Americans consume anywhere from 2,500 to 4,500 calories in the big Thanksgiving meal and day. It’s often twice your normal daily caloric intake. What you say? How can that be you say? Well, check out the handy chart here from the Calorie Control Council where 3000 calories are reached without too much trouble. (You’ll note this chart leaves out cocktails, beer, punch, cider, and/or wine, so in case you were feeling ok cause you go lighter on the sides or apps, maybe not so much…)
Let’s just say you go with the 3000 calories, here’s what it takes to burn that off for an “average” 160 lb woman (source).
| RUNNING STAIRS | 2.6 Hours |
| JUMPING ROPE | 3.5 Hours |
| JOGGING (5 miles per hour) | 5.5 Hours |
| CYCLING | 5.3 Hours |
| HIKING | 7 Hours |
| WEIGHT LIFTING | 8.2 Hours |
| WALKING (2 miles per hour) | 15 Hours |
| PILATES | 8.5 Hours |
While these are just estimates, and you very well may walk run or cycle quite a bit faster than these averages (we know we do), still good to know that you may need to step up the cardio this weekend and next week to knock that many extra calories off.
Here’s Another Fun One ~ Thanksgiving Dish-to-Exercise Breakdown
- Apple Pie (1 slice), 411 calories = 5K Turkey Trot (35 min)
- Pumpkin Pie (1 slice), 316 calories = Yoga (60 min)
- Buttered Roll, 210 calories = Flag Football (20 min)
- Sweet Potato Casserole (1/2 cup), 200 calories = Spinning (18 min)
- Turkey Breast (6 oz), 195 calories = Ice Skating (50 min)
- Egg Nog (1/2 cup), 190 calories = CrossFit (13 min)
- Stuffing (1/2 cup), 180 calories = Stair Running (10 min)
- Corn Bread (2 oz), 160 calories = Swimming (15 laps)
- Red Wine (6 oz), 150 calories = Walking (35 min)
- Mashed Potatoes (1/2 cup), 120 calories = Weight Training (35 min)
- Green Bean Casserole (1/2 cup), 70 calories = Dancing (14 min)
- Gravy (1/4 cup), 45 calories = 50 Burpees
- Cranberry Sauce (1/4 cup), 37 calories = 60 Push-Ups
Of course it’s a time for celebrating, so indulge and enjoy it.
Lord knows we all need that this year. If you don’t want to think about the calories til the day after, or the week after, or never, that’s perfectly fine. If you do, that’s fine too. We are all thankful to be able to share a big meal with our “small group” families, to have so much plenty in our lives, and to have healthy, strong bodies to support us. If you would like to share some of your famiy’s bounty with communities in need, please take a look at our Doing Good This Week article here.
