1. FLAVOURS AND SCENTS

Add flavours to your tea, coffee, and water that remind you of Christmas, use cinnamon and spices on your food and drinks and pick flavours related to the season, you don’t need to go for the big yule log or the gingerbread cookies to make the most of Christmas.

2. TIMINGS

Timing ahead gatherings is crucial for avoiding over eating. If you have a family dinner or a gathering with friends latter on that day, avoid eating anything that is not healthy and couldn't fit in your hand closed just enough to not feel hungry and avoid catabolism. Drink plenty of water throughout that time and control yourself when that time comes, you are still on a diet.

3. MINDSET

Others are eating everything freely and you just can’t, seems unfair. But their results are their results and what you see from them is just a small portion of their day. Many people control timings as said above. You simply don’t see it! I know that I and many girls like me are simply unable to eat if they are not hungry so we do our best to be hungry by the time we get to a gathering so that we can enjoy that exquisite food we don’t get to eat every day.

4. TAKE FAVOURITES ONLY

You don’t have to compliment your favourite food, you don’t have to fill your plate. Take what you prefer only, what is it that is worth another hour running like crazy at the gym? If nothing, then get a cup of tea or a glass of water and start talking with people, it is not meant to be about food. If there’s something at home that you’d rather eat, simply say “no thanks, I am a bit full” every time someone offers you something to eat. It is understandable since we have so much food around us during this season, no one will think you're just beeing picky. :) 

5. DON'T BUY IT FOR YOURSELF

If there’s a certain candy or unhealthy food you are dying to have this Holiday season the trick is to bring to a gathering. You get to eat it but because you are sharing it with others you won’t over eat and you won’t have it every single day till it ends. The best way, is to not buy anything at all that is bad for you, and be creative when bringing yummy healthy food to gatherings and setting the example. There are many desserts and Christmas recipes that are 70% (at least) more healthy than the common version. Everyone will appreciate a healthy guilt free bit. Because there is really so much going on, if you don’t buy it you will still have many opportunities to eat a piece of chocolate or caramelised almonds if not just by going in Selfridges or Harrods or simply walking on the streets. 

6. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WORKOUTS

You have more free time, don’t waist it to sleep. Imagine waking up the time you go to work/school/uni but instead, you went to the gym before coming back to get ready to spend the day with friends or family? Either watch movies, going somewhere nice, or talking for hours having a good time? Isn’t that more worth some less time a sleep? Plus, the feeling of getting in shape not after Christmas but during will set you ahead in that field. You will be back at school or work hearing everyone feeling guilty for that extra weight when you are just already picking up where you left. 

7. WHAT IT IS REALLY ABOUT

The most important thing to have in mind is the mindset, you are used to thinking this way during Christmas and the focus of most is around food, so a good thing to do is to keep telling yourself that "it is not about the food”. As many times as you can, repeat that to yourself. You will start giving more importance to the music, the decorations, the people around you, the little moments and the big memories that you are creating. Play with kids and talk with the elder, make interesting questions and laugh a lot, just enjoy it and let yourself find the true pleasure of the holiday season that goes beyond any flavour.