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Ah, the big day approaches. The day a foodie like me savors with long-awaited glee and anticipation. The day I can throw caution to the wind and indulge in all the sinful comfort foods that make Thanksgiving my absolute favorite holiday.

Eh, maybe.

My family has been on a weight loss journey (Ugh, did I actually just type that cliche?) and we've dropped major pounds and multiple clothing sizes. Personally, I am down 46 pounds since the end of May (Weight loss not typical, your results may vary) and I am feeling pretty good about it.

So this Thanksgiving, a day I normally whip up enough entrees and side dishes to feed an infantry division and I typically use enough butter to drown Paula Deen, I am planning to cook smarter and make our feast less sinful. Still hearty, but definitely heart-healthier.

And what has any of this got to do with pets, you may be asking? Good question, but have patience. My point is forthcoming.

Part of the reason we've had so much success with dropping pounds these past six months is we are following an absurdly logical plan: Move more, eat less. And this plan can also be applied to pets to keep them happy, healthy and living more quality years (See, got there pretty quickly, didn't I?)

Here's a link to yesterday's Happy Wag print column, where I wrote about what nibbles and bits you should avoid feeding your critters this Thursday, mostly with an eye toward preventing pets' tummy aches or other maladies, like the canine equivalent of sword swallowing. Yikes!

One thing I didn't mention was what a difference a little activity can make, and not only on Thanksgiving.

Want to keep the critters out from under your feet in the kitchen? Have someone take them for a long walk while dinner is being prepared. Or wait until dinner is done and get the whole family outside for a brisk stroll or a game of fetch or Frisbee toss in the backyard. We plan to do a little hiking on a nice trail about a half-mile from our house.

By spiking your heart rate a little, you can burn off a few of the excess holiday calories, spend some quality time with your pets, and help them stay active and trim, too. Winner, winner, turkey dinner.

And those table scraps? Well, I guess I should advise you to not feed them to your pets. And there are definitely some that should be avoided at all costs. But who am I kidding?

Joy Bauer, the nutritionist in the "Today Show," said yesterday morning that if you cut the crust off the rim of a slice of pie, you can save 100 calories. Thanks, skinny lady! Now I can fit pie into the menu and my pooches will be thrilled when those pumpkin- and pecan-laced pie crusts end up in their bowls.

Hey, after all, it is Thanksgiving.

Grab the leash, we need to go for another hike.