The Christmas Holidays are a challenging time to avoid temptations, be true to your lifestyle savvy and make time for what should come first all year round…Your Health.

Here are a few strategies to help you be successful right through till the New Year.

1. No day but today to Take Charge. If you have a solid routine of fitness and healthy eating practises ’stick with the plan’. If not, spend an hour looking at the week ahead of you and figure it out before it disfigures you! Follow the golden rules: exercise, eat right and get plenty of rest! Take charge of your thinking, your schedule and your behaviour. Every choice you make has a consequence. Manage your choices well and the consequences will be favourable to your waistline, energy and sanity.

2. Be present. You need to be ‘in the ‘now’ to make decisions about the now. Take care of each day as it unfolds. Be conscious of distractions that challenge your consuption of food and beverage.

3. Know the right choice and make it. Yes, that means keep learning what is what about the food you consume, the impact it has on your health and weight and the tactics of activity that will allow you to keep your temple energized and stoic to the stresses of the season.

4. Learn to say NO to the excessiveness the holidays tempt you with. However, when you do choose to participate, bring the grown up to the party and invite him/her to stay. When the child appears unannounced take him home early and put him straight to bed.

5. Be prepared. You don’t want to wake up with a coulda, shoulda, woulda hangover. Arriving fashionably late and eating before you leave has you avoiding the lavish foods that set you backwards and wear clothes that fit so you’ll feel it when your full. Plan your course for the evening , do not succumb to peer pressure and have an exit plan. If you are the host, let your guests dictate their own agenda and don’t pressure them, have low cal options avalable and non alcoholic choices for the DD.

These will get you started. Stay tuned for the Part II.