Surviving the silly season...

Traditionally the silly season is one of over indulgence and lots of fun.  Its also a frequently used excuse for not continuing with fitness routines.

Everyone is so busy with preparations, buying presents, and endless functions we seem to drop off the exercise sessions..

Christmas being one of the most stressful times of year, its even more important to stick to our routines to lower our stress levels.  Exercise releases endorphins which help with an overall feel good mood.

With family holidays, kids off school and many other distractions to consider it's ok to modify the routine a little, but so important to keep up the activity.

I have listed some simple and achievable tips to help you stay on track over the season.. You've worked so hard to date, all the hard work is so easily undone.  When the new year comes around many people tend to have added a few kgs and lost a little of the fitness strength gained throughout the year..start feeling a little down about it and find it harder to motivate themselves and jump back into it.

The simplest advice i can give is to eat in moderation, (try to make healthier choices) and try to be consistent with your exercise. Even a 20 minute walk is better than nothing.  If you do manage to spend Christmas Day with all this out the window...don't despair..tommorow is another day, aim to get back up and back into your routine..

  * Stick to a regular routine of exercise.. if its too hard to stick to your normal activity, then just walk..if you haven't read my earlier post on the power of walking..please do so..

  * Watch your alcohol intake.  Alcoholic drinks have "empty calories" with no nutritional value at all.  Alcohol is also a huge culprit in excess weight gain over this season.  We all want to enjoy a drink or two with friends, perhaps try having a glass of water or mineral water between drinks to try and curb calories and to keep you hydrated.

  * Dont mill around the food table.  By standing around all the nibblies etc you're more likely to pick at it  most of the time quite unconsciously.  Walk around and keep busy, chatting and helping out.

  * If you are hosting Christmas Day, ensure the menu also has healthy alternatives and snacks.  Fresh salads, fruit platters, vegetable crudites.  This will ensure you have alternatives for you and your guests.

  * Eat slowly.  It takes around 20 minutes for the stomach to register a full sensation and register the brain that its had enough.  So take your time, slow down and enjoy the food, the company and the day.

  * Eat little meals throughout the day.  Don't starve yourself in anticipation of the big meal to come, as you'll tend to overeat.  By skipping meals, in effect you're really just slowing down your metabolism and allowing the body to store fat if your calories are too limited.

  * Keep hydrated.  Most people who think they are hungry are actually dehydrated.  So make sure you are getting at least 1.5 litres of water a day, more if it's hot.

  * Watch your portion sizes.  Make sure you carefully choose what you really want to eat.  You can try all the beautiful Christmas food on offer, just don't have half the ham or the entire pudding with all the trimmings.  Most menus these day include lots of fresh seafood and salads, so there's always a healthy alternative.

  * Try to go for a walk after lunch or dinner, or play a game of cricket or footy with the family.  Any activity is better than none.

  * Lastly, enjoy your break.  Don't be too hard on yourself if it all goes out the window.  It's ok to indulge a little this time of year.  Life is all about a healthy balance, if you've been training well all year and hitting your goals, then its ok to enjoy yourself a little.  Its all about choices...if you try to follow at least a couple of the tips I listed then it can't be all bad.  Just remember if you do slip up a little it's ok we just pick ourselves up and start again the next day.

Enjoy !!