DO YOU feel your waistline expanding as the colder weather makes you avoid the gym and reach for unhealthy treats? Follow our healthy plan to beat the bulge and feel full of life throughout December.
Winter is fun-for all of the first five minutes.
After the initial thrill of gorging on comfort food fades, reality strikes and you realize that your party clothes no longer fit!
Luckily there's still time to shape up before the invitations start flowing.
"Many people believe they've left it too late to get fit or use it as an excuse not too bother,- says John Marsden, co-ordinator for Liverpool Active City. "But a few simple pre-January resolutions can help you look better and feel healthier during the festive season."
In fact, according to John, a daily walk, swapping the lift for the stairs or just dashing around the shops will not only help kick start your fitness routine but increase your blood flow and boost your lymphatic drainage system, which in turn keeps your immune system flushed - helping you stay fighting fit for the season of goodwill.
"Aim for five 30 minute activities a week and resist the temptation to eat fatty foods," says John. "Of course, when it’s cold outside we naturally want to hibernate and eat more for warmth but the fact is, healthy meals packed with vitamins and minerals will lift our mood and support our body without containing a lot of unhealthy sugar and fat."
Keep a selection of healthy snacks on your desk, such as fruit, nuts - it’s the ideal way to stop 'picking' at those Christmas treats in the office, according to Julie Curren from Liverpool’s Taste For Health.
"Fruit and vegetables are rich sources of health protecting vitamins and minerals, so they keep you in tip, top condition," she says.
If you’ve already have a cold, try eating elderberries. They contain substances that reduce fever and promote sweating.
Rich in vitamin C, they help prevent the flu virus from penetrating the cell walls.
Finally, be sensible when it comes to festive parties.
"Watching your waist line doesn’t mean you have to live a hermit like existence," says Julie. "It’s simply a case of knowing what to eat and what to avoid. So, choose dishes that have been baked, grilled, poached or steamed and say no to fried substances.
"If the portions look big, order two starters rather than a starter and main course. Choose fruit platters instead of sugar laden puddings and don’t forget - alcohol has calories too."
