The festive period is a time associated with excess; most notably on the food front. It’s a time for letting loose a little, enjoying time with family and friends and of course eating some seriously hearty meals! As a result of the ever present chocolates, snacks and other tasty morsels it also tends to have a pretty negative impact on the waistline. This needn’t however be the case; a bit of effort here and moderation there can leave you feeling full, festive and fit...without taking the merriment out of Christmas:

Keep Up Your Existing Exercise Routines

Just because your daily routine may be slightly different at this time of year doesn’t mean you should drop your usual exercise. In fact, if you’re off work then there’s even more opportunity to pop down to the gym or go out for a run. Remember that regular exercise invigorates body and mind, with extra food and alcohol likely to be on the cards, getting your regular dose of exercise in can help to stave off lethargy and fatigue.

Don’t Give In...Too Much

We all need to treat ourselves on occasion and Christmas is the ideal time to do it...everyone else is for a start! The key is not necessarily saying ‘no’ but more so knowing when to say ‘stop’, a chocolate or two is an inevitability, just make sure you don’t get carried away. As with most things, moderation is the key here.

Hit the Veggies

One of the saving graces of Christmas fayre is the consistent presence of vegetables. Yes Christmas dinner may be an unrelenting hulk of a meal but it is laden with sprouts, carrots, parsnips, peas and other fibrous, nutritious titbits. Be sure to help yourself to a hefty portion of vegetables and you’ll feel full, content and less guilty on boxing day. 

Walk it Off

Following the heavy Christmas dinner many families exercise the festive tradition of going for a walk. This is a great idea for all (provided you wrap up warm and wear appropriate footwear), it will not only prevent the post-dinner slump but also invigorate you and help to burn off some of those excess calories- an hour long walk at a leisurely 2 miles an hour pace will typically burn off around 200 calories.

Take it Easy with the Alcohol

Many of us enjoy a tipple at this time of year, it is however vital to once again consider the importance of moderation. Not only is binge drinking harmful in itself but alcohol is also highly calorific. There’s no use in holding off on tasty morsels if you are then going to drink yourself into oblivion- for many reasons. A glass of wine here and there is certainly going to do you no harm, (provided there’s no risk of drink driving as a result) just bear in mind that even these occasional glasses add to your calorific intake.

The festive period is a time for merry revelry and with this liberal good cheer comes a risk of excess. Excessive eating, excessive laughter and excessive snow are all part and parcel of a jolly good Christmas and excessive alcohol consumption will often also feature. Although I would never venture to condone too hefty a tipple at any time of year, I’m a realist and as such acknowledge that hangovers aplenty are on the cards between now and the New Year. With this inevitability in mind, here are my 5 top tips for negotiating your way home following a session on the sherry:

1. Don’t Under Any Circumstances Drive
Drink driving is a reckless, dangerous and selfish act. You should never, under any circumstances drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or get in a car with an inebriated driver. If you are not sure if you are fit to drive then always err on the side of caution and find an alternative means of wending your way home following an evening of joviality. Keep Christmas merry – don’t drink and drive.  

2. If Your Wallet Permits: Call a Taxi
Taxi drivers are a noble breed who give up their time to safely escort others from A to B, if you have the funds available then make use of their generous services. Only ever use a licensed taxi (even if it does mean waiting a little longer), licensing exists for a reason and is in the passenger’s best interest. 

3. When and Where Available, Chance Public Transport
Public transport is one of those things which makes Britain truly ‘Great’. Come rain or shine, wind or snow (well, some snow) trains, buses and if you’re lucky: tubes and trams are at your disposal for a meagre fee. If you have a snazzy ‘Smartphone’ then you can access timetables from the comfort of your armchair and plan your departure in advance to avoid getting unnecessarily chilly. I understand that there are people who have an unjustified dislike of public transport, if you are amongst that number then just give it a go, before you know it you’ll be selling your car and buying a bus pass. 

4. You Have to Walk then Plan Ahead
What in your slightly tipsy mind may seem to be a 2 minute jaunt could well end up being a two hour hike if you don’t adequately prepare. Double check you know where you’re going, actually, to be certain of a successful trip; get a sober friend to draw you a map. Wrap up warm, check your phone has battery and set off with confidence. 

5. Watch Your Step
Snow and ice can be a pedestrian’s worst enemy...particularly if said pedestrian is slightly ‘merry’. Try and avoid compacted snow, ice or metal grids when walking (they’re as frictionless as Teflon) and be sure to walk as far away from the kerb as possible (without trampling flowerbeds) so as to minimise the potentially tragic repercussions of a slip, trip or fall. Avoid running, look both ways before crossing roads, don’t steal any traffic cones, oh, and I’m sorry to say that making snow shoes out of tennis racquets is much less effective than you may have imagined. 

Get home safe and have a magical Christmas.