Christmas can bring up some unsettling feelings about our routine.. we're not eating what we usually would, we're not training when we usually would, and then after the festivities are over it's the 'ah well I've already 'messed up' this week.. I may as well restart next week... or the week after.. or the week after that...' mindset that kicks in.

It is easy to slide into a pattern of overeating during the holiday season. But with some planning you can go into the New Year feeling healthy and happy with your body. It is possible to relax and enjoy yourself without undoing all your hard work.

To succeed it is important to avoid 'extremes' and focus more on a healthy balance. We certainly shouldn't be worrying about the food, nor should we be brutalising ourselves for enjoying it!

Here's some tips on how to make it a little bit easier for you this Christmas to make better choices

1. Plan ahead - If you know dinner is going to be a huge feast, opt for a smaller high protein breakfast and lunch option that day. Enjoy your event and go right back to your regular eating plan the next meal/day.

2. Be mindful of alcohol - If there is one thing that the festivities bring out, it's the drinks! Know your limits, especially if there is free alcohol involved. Sip your beverages slowly and enjoy them rather than binge drinking. Drinking water in between or chewing your ice also helps keep you hydrated and avoid hangovers. Being designated drive can also help to stick to non-alcoholic drinks.

3. Make a Christmas drink – On the topic of alcohol, instead of having wine after wine. How amazing would it be to get creative and make a cocktail jug (or a delicious mocktail). Get creative, chop up some fresh fruit and infuse a couple jugs of sparkling water. make your own fresh cold-brewed iced tea. If mocktails aren't your drinking preference...and you're all about cocktails...you could bring your own mixers like soda and lime, for you to use with vodka or gin.. which is another great lower calorie option!

4. Include all your food groups - Christmas lunches/dinner usually entail lots of amazing foods in the middle of the table, ready for us to absolutely feast over. It's a fact: the more choices one is faced with, the more one will eat. Some say this may be temptation's worst nightmare, but really it can be GREAT because it means that we can choose exactly what we want on our plates! Try to include on your plate your protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats.
Portion controlling is a big one to keep in mind when you're at festive get-togethers. So when in doubt, listen out for your body's natural hunger cues and stop when you're starting to feel full. Don’t get pressured into overindulging. Remember, there's usually always dessert later and you'll be able to enjoy it MUCH more if you're not sickeningly full before you eat it!

5. Keep moving! – Christmas is only one day. You should continue your daily routine leading up to Christmas and after Christmas as much as you can. These are just days that yes, we might be indulging a little more than we usually would but that doesn't mean all of our habits need to be thrown out the window. You should still wake up and start your day with some exercise to keep yourself in that normal routine to help make it easier to slide back into normal day-to-day life after Christmas too.

Lastly, just remember to breathe. It's Christmas! It's an amazing time for friends, family, good vibes and incredible food! Sustaining a healthy lifestyle in the long term depends on us learning to ENJOY life's festivities. Feeling guilty or that we've ‘fallen off the wagon’ after a glorious day with our friends our family during the holidays can be really damaging to our long term progress.

So take a breath, control how much you eat without going overboard, but most of all you should enjoy yourself. Don't torture yourself by jumping on the scales the day after Christmas. Focus on how you FEEL and let yourself enjoy finding a healthy and sustainable balance that you can adapt for years to come.
Remember: one healthy meal won't make you skinny, just like one unhealthy meal won't make you fat.

Tips to stay on track through the festive season!