You can enjoy the season without going too mad and finding you're a bigger person come the new year.
AS WE enter into the festive spirit there is the usual wave of Christmas parties to attend with the constant flow of booze and endless trays of party nibbles and niceties to tempt you. It is no surprise, as we saw last week, that this is a time of increased inactivity, indulgence and weight gain.
Here is a list of simple tips which will allow you to enjoy the festive season without the guilt of piling on the pounds:
1 Start as you mean to go on:Stay active over the Christmas period. Although it is a busy time, most people are off work during Christmas week, therefore create time for physical activity and exercise. Aim for three bouts of 30 minutes' aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging or cycling spread out during the week.
2 Have the right attitude: For many, the idea of exercising over Christmas can be very dreary and unappealing, but it doesn't have to be a chore.
Not only is it a good way to regulate that winter weight gain but it's a great way to stay warm over the cold snap. The other good news is that winter work-outs actually burn more calories as your body is working that much harder in the cold to maintain body temperature.
3 Maintain your usual exercise routine over Christmas:Not only will it help to offset some of the additional calories consumed but it will help you stay in touch with the desire to stay fit and healthy.
4 Don't skip breakfast:It's the most important meal of the day. Start the morning with a low-to-medium glycemic index cereal, such as porridge oats or some protein like smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with wholemeal toast.
Not only will this elevate your metabolic rate by up to 10 per cent (meaning you will burn more calories at rest) but it will help stave off the hunger pangs until lunchtime. This means you will be less inclined to snack on the Christmas goodies mid-morning.
5 Avoid stress:Christmas, by its very nature, can be very stressful. Try to keep a sense of perspective as well as a sense of humour. After all, it is only one week out of 52.
"Control the controllables" - focus on the things that are within your control rather than worry about the things which are outside your influence. Accept that Christmas Day will never run completely smoothly, but people seldom notice the little things that go wrong so why worry about them?
6 Stay hydrated:Drink plenty of water throughout the day and in between each glass of wine. Not only will you maintain your hydration levels, but it will increase the feeling of fullness and reduce the need to overindulge. Remember that alcohol is a potent diuretic which means it causes dehydration which is the primary cause of hangovers!
7 Keep the mind active:Rather than vegetate in front of the TV after dinner, engage your brain by playing games such as cards, trivial pursuit or scrabble. This adds to the social and fun element of Christmas as well as giving your brain a work-out.
8 Get out, get active:Before cabin fever sets in, get out in the fresh air. It's an ideal time to try out those new Christmas presents as well as clearing the head.
9 Exercise should be fun:Choose activities you enjoy doing rather than what you think you should be doing. Create a list of favourite activities and try to incorporate them into the schedule for the Christmas break.
10 Be active as a family:Organise a family activity/ outing on Stephen's Day rather than repeating the excesses of previous 24 hours. Group recreation brings a social and fun element to physical activity as well as giving you quality time with the children.
You will also appreciate the hot toddy, turkey sandwiches and Christmas cake all the more when you get home!
• Dr Giles Warrington is a sport and exercise physiologist and lecturer in the School of Health and Human Performance at DCU