At Thanksgiving, do you push yourself away from the table only because, as the meal concludes, your belly can't fit anymore?

Here are some sure-fire tricks to keep your commitment to yourself to get lean while still enjoying the festivities, including the tasty delights. Practicing one or two can help you save yourself a few hundred calories. Practicing all of them might save you more than 1,000 (nearly 1/3 of a pound of fat) and give both your stomach, and your self-esteem, a break:

1. If you're hosting, put out a veggie tray with hummus or dip made of plain, low-fat Greek yogurt mixed with french onion dry soup/dip mix. If you're a guest - bring it. Oh yeah, and you have to eat it as well.

2. Drink a big glass of water right before the meal and no caloric beverages during the meal. That can slow your speed of consumption enough to let you feel full before you've eaten twice (or more) what you should be eating. You'll enjoy it more if you take the time to notice and savor the tastes and textures you can't possibly fully appreciate when you're mowing through the food like a thresher.

3. Take bites small enough to avoid pushing out your cheek while chewing. Think you can't discipline yourself to do that? Watch other people around the table closely as they gobble their food. Attractive, isn't it?

4. Put down your fork between bites. Are you afraid someone's going to grab it off your plate? Don't worry - there's enough for everyone.

5. Start your meal by eating the turkey (the white meat is leaner but don't hog it!), the veggies and then the cranberry sauce.

6. Stuffing and mashed potatoes are loaded with fatty calories, so eat those last, and keep it to about three bites or less of each. If you followed the first five steps, that should be plenty.

7. Don't have your own dessert - mooch off someone else's plate. How much you can eat will be limited by their generosity (so don't eat Grandma's) and you'll both be better off. Hey - I know it's rude but this is a "get lean" article - not an article on social graces.

8. Go for a nice, relaxing walk after dinner. It will make you feel good and get the blood flowing in other parts of your body besides your (hopefully only slightly) overworked stomach lining.

If you think this is way too much to remember, or that it's just too hokey to try to do tomorrow, try this. Print out a copy and take it to dinner to show your family and friends. I guarantee you at least one other person there will think it's a good idea to follow these guidelines, too, but may not have felt comfortable trying it by themselves. The two of you can support each other by doing it together. Don't worry about the soon-to-be leadbelly naysayers who will try to sabotage you - that's their own deal - this is yours.  

Finally, remember what the day is all about. Not hoarding your bounty, but sharing your gifts and being grateful for having what you need.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.