The leaves have fallen and Thanksgiving has come and gone. Most students here at MC are feeling tired, slow, and a little out of shape with finals around the corner. And while our workload is such that laziness outside of school is normal, it’s also time to hit the gym as well. It’s so easy to get unhealthy around this time of the year.

It’s safe to say that most of us were stuffed for the days following Thanksgiving. How could you not with all that gravy, turkey, stuffing, pies, cookies, and mashed potatoes, and not to mention all the leftovers? Though these foods sound amazing, in retrospect this classic Thanksgiving menu is a heart attack waiting to happen. In translation, our delicious and irresistible Turkey Day feast consists of saturated fats (butter and animal fat), simple carbohydrates (white-flour breads), sodium (salt), sugar, and excess protein. No wonder we are feeling slow, lethargic, and tired–the typical Thanksgiving menu can have up to 4,000 calories in one sitting!

Here are some tips to help kick that turkey to the curb and start to feel better:

Green Tea

Green Tea is a natural metabolism booster and filled with antioxidants. A faster metabolism means your body can efficiently process and burn the fuel (food). Try a hot cup of green tea (without sweetener) once a day to really give your body a jump-start. This will help detox your body and help you feel like yourself again.

Exercise and sweat

It wouldn’t be surprising after a long workout to sweat out pure gravy (joking!), but sometimes that’s how we feel after a high saturated fat meal. Not only will a good jog help you burn off those excess calories consumed during Thanksgiving break, but also it will also release and get rid of all those toxins from any alcohol (tisk tisk) consumed during the break. If you’re not ready for a long jog just yet, don’t worry! Remember, a 20-minute walk is better than doing nothing. Keep those legs moving!

Less protein and more veggies

Believe it or not, the average American consumes way more protein than needed. There’s no doubt about it, we love our New York steaks, hamburgers, and hotdogs, which don’t help our over-consumption of protein. Continuous intake of excess protein can lead to kidney failure and dehydration. Only 20 percent of needed calories should come from protein. Those who are working out vigorously should worry about protein deficiency (if this applies to you, talk to your doctor), but other than that, most Americans are getting way more than the daily requirement for protein. Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals, which are needed after that high-fat meal. Veggies are full of fiber that will fill you up, are low in calories, and are filled with antioxidants. That means eat as much as you want, all while replenishing your body with vitamins and minerals to help with the fatigue after all that turkey!

Water, water everywhere

A teaspoon of salt contains 2000 milligrams of sodium. The USDA advises, “everyone, including kids, should reduce their sodium intake to fewer than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day (about 1 teaspoon of salt).” Excess consumptions of sodium can cause bloating due to your body retaining water to compensate, leaving you feeling highly uncomfortable.

These four tips will definitely help with that Thanksgiving turkey overload. A jog, some veggies, a cup of green tea, and lots of water will help you kick that Thanksgiving gorge. Hope everyone had a happy and thankful Thanksgiving.

Some links for more advice on healthy eating and living:

• http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/297375-how-many-calories-does-the-average-american-consume-on-thanksgiving/