Overeating at Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year - so relax and enjoy it
'What's the point of refusing yourself a mince pie, then feeling miserable,' says Kate Cook. 'It's absolutely OK to have occasional treats. I call it the 80/20 per cent rule - 20 per cent isn't worth beating yourself about, as long as you're eating healthily 80 per cent of the time. It's far better to indulge in a mince pie, savour every mouthful, and then stop, than think, "I've messed up - I might as well really overeat now" and keep gorging for the next two weeks.'

Have a little of what you love
Kate Cook suggests that rather than just mindlessly hoovering up the party buffet or dipping into the box of chocolates every five minutes while watching the Christmas film, choose a treat you really enjoy. 'If you love chocolate, get the best quality you can and eat it slowly, so your tastebuds have a proper treat.'

Party tricks
'Make sure you've drunk two or three glasses of water and you're hydrated before you go to a party,' advises Kate. 'If you arrive thirsty, and you're offered a cool glass of wine, you're going to down it far more quickly. By the second glass, your resolve will be slipping and before you know it you'll be grazing on the party food. Try and intersperse alcoholic drinks with soft drinks.'

She also recommends eating before you arrive so your blood sugar levels haven't dipped. 'Have a 'snack attack pack' containing oat cakes and fruit in your handbag if you're going out straight after work and make sure you have a proper lunch. At the party, stand away from the food so your hands won't stray.'

Stress and stuffing
'Accept that Christmas is a stressful time, try to delegate and not make everybody else's happiness your responsibility,' says Kate. 'Carve time out for yourself, away from the kitchen and its temptations, and take a long soak in the bath or go for an invigorating walk.'

Don't be a party pooper
'Try not to look on different foods as good or bad - view food as neutral,' says Kate. 'Keep focused on why you're trying to lose weight. If it's for health reasons, visualise yourself fit and achieving some physical feat. If it's to look better, imagine yourself confident and wearing the dress of your dreams.'