It's that time of year again already, the silly season is fast approaching...

Do you promise yourself every year that you won't lose sight of your goals, that you won't go overboard, that you WILL continue your exercise regime???

Here's some tips that I use to ensure that I stay on track through the busiest time of the year...

1. Plan ahead - Before I attend any parties/functions I always ensure that I eat beforehand. I enjoy preparing my own food and knowing what I'm eating and eating beforehand also ensures that I'm not famished before I arrive, preventing too much snacking. This is not to say that I don't enjoy a treat or two, I just plan in advance.

2. Go easy on the alcohol - Besides being loaded with unecessary calories, alcohol also dehydrates the body and depletes the body of important vitamins and minerals. Try not to consume too much alcohol, 3-4 drinks throughout the night (www.drinksmarter.org) and also aim to include one glass of water in between every alcoholic drink. An electrolyte drink is beneficial to help prevent a hangover the next day and I also like to have a glass of coconut water before I go to bed. Try to include a few alcohol free days over the festive period.

3. Keep up your B vitamin intake - Be sure to include lots of foods containing B vitamins in your diet - nuts, seeds, wholegrains. A supplement can help to boost your vitamin B levels, keeping your energy high at this busy time of year.

4. Don't skip your exercise - If you're a gym goer, grab a Christmas timetable and plan the sessions you're going to attend depending on your fitness centre open hours. Group fitness classes are a great way to stay motivated by training with like-minded people creating a great, fun atmosphere. This is also a great time to mix up your exercise regime and try some outdoor training, grab a friend/family member and head to a park for a quick circuit

eg. 1 minute Burpees, 1 minute Squats, 1 minute Pushups, 1 minute Crunches, 1 minute Reverse Curls - Repeat 4 times