Thanksgiving Calories Today

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Story Published: Nov 25, 2009 at 6:33 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 25, 2009 at 6:33 PM MST

By Danica Lawrence

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On average, today's turkeys are twice what they weighed on the dinner table 50 years ago. But unlike 5 decades ago, we're more aware of the thick, buttery marinades we douse them in. So, then why are American's still gaining weight?

"We eat partly with our eyes, so we find that it's a bigger amount that we expect on our plate," says registered dietician Becky Sulik.

Becky Sulick studies America's obesity problem. She sees a trend in the way we indulge.

"In the 1950's, they didn't have all the research about heart disease... overweight and obesity weren't as big of problems then and so their focus was more on nutrients and at the time there wasn't a lot of nutrition research."

Researchers out of Cornell University found that a typical Thanksgiving meal used to pack 2,539 calories, now... It's 2,057.

People's activity level used to be much higher too. Now we have devices that reduce our labor. So today, even though we are eating less calories, we are lazy and burning fewer.

"It really was aerobic to do laundry back then," says Sulik.

Conditioning specialist, Hayley Jones agrees.

"We eat so much at one time, and we are a fast-paced society that we gobble it all down and 20 minutes after we're all done we're like, oh, I ate way too much," says certified strengthening and conditioning specialist Hayley Jones.

Both women have some tips for the feasting tomorrow.

Drink water throughout the day- and throughout the meal.

Don't skip breakfast, that way, your metabolism will get a good kick start for later.

And be sure *not to continuously snack before the big meal.

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