Am I brave or just stupid?

At the Serious Eats staff meeting this week, I announced that I was going to post about my diet on Thanksgiving Day instead of today, Friday, the day after, for obvious reasons. My pronouncement was met by derisive snorts and laughter. Everyone here at HQ knew I didn't want to face Thinner and all of you the day after Turkey Day, also known as Serious Dieter Armageddon.

But I am going to show all the HQ dwellers that when it comes to facing down what can only be described as public humiliation of the worst sort, I am not afraid. Serious eaters, I come before you and Thinner and my maker the day after Thanksgiving hoping upon hope that all will not be lost when I get on Thinner.

I was in decent shape leading up to Turkey Day. On Thursday morning I was at 219.

My plan: have a light breakfast and no pre-Thanksgiving-meal-snacking-while-standing-up. It's the pre-meal snacks, as well as the cook's tastes, that kill me in the aggregate. Spoonful of buttery, creamy, mashed potatoes, anyone?

I successfully executed my plan but with five pies staring me in the face (I would have gotten more, but my wife put the kibosh on further pie profligacy), my diet was set to be in a world of hurt come this morning.

But miracle of miracles, I managed to limit my pie intake to a total of one slice that consisted of mini-slices of the following: Yura's fine, fine apple pie, Citarella's sour cream apple walnut pie, and a truly seriously delicious fall medley pie from Two Little Red Hens, along with a mini-scoop of Grom vanilla ice cream. And somehow, some way, I didn't go back for seconds on turkey, gravy, stuffing, or sweet potatoes.

So you know what, serious eaters? Even if Thinner doesn't cooperate in a few moments, it was still worth it to weigh myself today and post about it. Why?

Because I didn't overeat on Thanksgiving as a result. Eating a little bit of everything worked wonders. No stomach discomfort, no food coma, and no food hangover at this very moment, the morning after Turkey Day. Now that's a concept I can get behind.

The Weigh-In

Still, it would be nice if Thinner would co-operate right now. Here goes: 218.

I beat Turkey Day. FIREWORKS! CONFETTI! KAZOO SOUNDS! No diet armageddon going down here. Erin just e-mailed me that I have defied nature with this weigh-in. Maybe so, maybe so. I am ready to declare the day after Thanksgiving Serious Eats Diet Day. Happy SEDD, everyone.