How to stay fit and healthy in December

Keeping active

Christmas shopping can be great cardio. Pounding the stairs of multiple department stores laden with bags is not entirely dissimilar to weighted lunges. Skipping your usual body-pump class in favour of drinks and nibbles doesn't quite balance out in the same way. If you are going to miss out on your normal exercise routine then find a substitute.

See my article on exercises to do in your lunch hour for some ideas.

Peer pressure

I believe there is a certain amount of peer pressure to join in and loosen your belt along with you comrades. 'Come on, have another slice/glass/sausage roll. What do you mean, no? It's Christmas!'. Think about it. How many times have you accepted just because of this gentle persuasion?

Just because something is offered to you it doesn't mean you have to take it. A polite 'no thank you' should suffice. However, if you are encountering the hardest of snack-pushers (there are some pretty ferocious ones out there, often found in the marketing department!) then a diversion can be your best course of action. 'Is that a reindeer in the corner?' might work or, for the less gullible, you can hit them with a counter offer: 'I'm just going to get a drink, would you like one?'

Food choices

There is a myriad of choice at Christmas so there is really no need to avoid altogether. It's sometimes difficult to know what is good and what's not. My golden rule of thumb is stick to the most basic forms of food, i.e. if there are nuts on offer go for the ones without flavouring or coatings.

Choose salsa over heavily processed creamy dips. A sausage on its own is going to do a lot less harm than one that's wrapped in pastry. Choose olives rather than crisps and fruit over a biscuit. I don't expect you to be perfect. Over the festive season there is more choice than ever so enjoy it. Choosing wisely doesn't mean denying yourself, it's about eating things that are good for your body. By consuming more positive foods you will be able to enjoy December and January.

Alcohol

Even with all the good-eating will in the world, if you are drinking alcohol this is likely to be the biggest pitfall of all. There are lighter options such as white wine spritzer, gin and slim line tonic or Champagne (hoorah!).

However, don't be lulled into a false sense of security by choosing these options. Drinking more does not mean you are having a better time, it just means you are likely to feel worse tomorrow.

I recommend you mix your drinks. Now before you get carried away, I do not mean this in the 2 for 1 cocktails way. I mean mix alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic ones. Sparkling water is my favoured drink of choice. Refreshing and light, with the added advantage of not necessarily looking like a soft drink, hence avoiding outcries from your fellow revellers as to why you're not having another g & t.

By alternating your alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks not only will you save a great number of calories but you are also less likely to end the evening kissing the office temp, your boss or the toilet floor.