Get a head start on those New Year's Resolutions

Yes it is that time of year yet again. A time of parties, too much alcohol and less time (or so it seems) in the gym.

If you have made exercise, health and fitness a habit then you should be OK. A couple of days off won't de-rail your weight loss progress too much. But if you have struggled to find the time to exercise then Christmas and New Year may be a problem for you. Not only are gym's closed and yes personal trainers like time off to enjoy time with families too - but the motivation (especially during a Perth summer) to get out and exercise on your own can be lacking.

So how can you ensure you don't de-rail your exercise, health and fitness program during the "silly" season?

Well we feel it comes down to a few areas which you need to consider:

• Try not to buy too many new and different foods / drinks from your normal diet / menu. We can all be forgiven for thinking Christmas is a time to pig out, but - just think about how much more exercise you are going to have to do to work those extra calories off.
• Try not to deviate from your normal exercise routine / days for exercising if at all possible. The gym might be closed for a day or two, but given the beautiful weather and time off from work then consider our A-Z of incidental exercise list as an alternative means of keeping those calories from adding to the weight creep on the scale.
• Make exercise a family event - walk together, cycle, challenge the kids to a game of twister, go dancing round the living room with the grandkids to the Chirstmas Carols.

You don't have to wait until the New Year to start to think about how to improve your health and fitness. If you start to think about your exercise plans now - who knows you may not need to set any New Year's Resolutions at all.