Thanksgiving is this week and here's our advice if you're worried about sticking to your diet: Relax and enjoy. When it comes to holidays, take a break from the nutrition plan and don't beat yourself up if you have a piece of pie or too much candied yams.

Holidays are meant to be celebrated. That means family, friends, food and fun. Too many people obsess about what they eat and it ruins the fun not only for themselves, but for their family and friends too. In our society food is part of the very fabric of socializing and the holidays, so if you try to avoid it you'll be depriving yourself. And deprivation leads to bitterness, anger and feelings of loss. Is that how you want to feel about the holidays every time they roll around?

We think the six-and-one program is a much better idea. Here's how it works: Stick to your healthy plan six days of the week and on the seventh day you can eat whatever you want-it's your cheat day. The six days of good eating must include healthy non-processed foods, and you've got to have a good balance of wholesome carbohydrates, proteins and fats. But then if you want to start day seven with chocolate chip cookies and ice cream, go for it. It's not going to hurt to get off the nutrition plan for one day. And no, you won't gain weight from cheating one day a week.

So go ahead and enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even New Year's. You'll notice, however, we did not say it's fine to fall off the wagon from Thanksgiving through New Year's! A month and a half straight of holiday eating will pack on the pounds. One day a week will not.

Book Dan Polimino to speak at your next meeting or event today. For program information contact us at info@BookDan.com, visit www.BookDan.com or call 303-683-4795.