6 weeks until Christmas!

With the festive season just six weeks away, you're probably panicking that you've ran out of time to lose those extra pounds. No need to worry! With these tips you’ll be in that little black dress before the Christmas party season starts.   Exercise in chunks

• You need to exercise for at least 30-40 minutes four times weekly until Christmas, preferably at a moderate-intensive pace.
• Of course it is up to you what your favourite exercise is whether it’s swimming, walking (fast), cycling or at the gym.

  Celebrate without sabotage

• Make sure to have some food before the festive event (whether it’s fruit or some soup) so that you are not starving when it comes to the party buffet.
• When you are at the party, avoid the deep-fried fingers such as chicken nuggets and cocktail sausages and snack on vegetable batons and a salsa dip.

  Daily Diet Plan  Breakfast Ideas:

• Porridge with fruit (blueberries)
• Two poached eggs on toast
• Smoothie from a Banana, blueberries and low fat yoghurt
• Bowl of low fat cereal and skimmed milk

  Lunch Ideas:

• 3 ryvitas topped with 1 tbsp houmous served with salad and a 150g low fat fromage frais for dessert.
• One portion of fruit, wholemeal pitta filled with vegetable chilli, low-fat yoghurt
• Jacket potato with cottage cheese and chopped red pepper - no butter.

  Dinner Ideas:

• Grilled chicken with green beans, spicy tomato salsa and avocado salad
• Seared tuna steak with anchovy and boiled egg salad
• Chicken and mixed vegetable stir-fry
• Poached salmon with creme fraiche and dill, steamed asparagus and broccoli
• Cod baked in tinfoil with lemon and mediterranean oven-roasted vegetables

  Snack Ideas:

• Handful of nuts
• Fruit
• Plain rice cakes with marmite

  What to do and what to avoid:

• Avoid carbs in the evening – You will have fewer calories to burn in the evening when you are fast asleep. Having carbs at breakfast and lunch means you will have lots of energy during the day.
• Plan ahead – With the hectic amount of shopping that must be done and endless party invites (we hope) piling up, staying on top of your shopping list couldn’t be more important. Having something in at the end of the day means you won’t go for a takeaway instead.
• Don’t cut out the treats entirely but try halving your normal intake so that you can reward yourself over Christmas.
• Protein, protein, protein – Having more lean protein will help you feel full for longer.
• Get menu savy – We eat out a lot over Christmas so it’s best to choose salads or low calorie options so that you can still enjoy yourself over the festive period.
• Think before you drink – Alcohol has a lot of calories so it’s best to reduce or limit yourself to a certain amount a day. A bottle of wine has a massive 500 calories!