Our top 7 Fitmastips - ON IN LONDON

Tis the season for The Little Black Dress to sashay her way around an array of holiday festivities. She is famous for lifting our spirits, nip/tucking our wobbly bits and highlighting our finest features. But what happens when she comes off? Do we end up shedding our cape of confidence?

Here are a few tips to keep your body confidence rockin’ throughout the hols, with or without or LBD.

1. Stay hydrated.The combination of central heating, frigid temps, festive beverages and eating calorific foods leaves us feeling parched. Up your water intake to keep your skin plump, harness your food cravings and maintain good bodily functions.

2. Plan to sweat on purpose! Commit to fitness sessions in your diary. Call up your girlfriends, pre pay for classes in advance, sign up for a challenge… whatever it takes to get your heart rate up and sweating up a storm! Getting high off of endorphins is the easiest way to get your holiday glow on!

3. Alcohol. The bitchy best friend of the Little Black Dress. Alcohol initially provides us with a surge of confidence but can also lead us to the flood gates of despair: looking and feeling traggic. Moreover, it is ram packed with sneaky calories! I won’t be ditching the booze altogether this holiday season, but I will be making better choices using Women’s Health UK’s drinking tips.

Beverage, Calories

Bailey’s Irish Cream, 145 cal

Champagne,76 cal

Chocolate Martini, 438 cal

Eggnog,343 cal

Hot Toddy,122 cal

Mulled Wine,180 cal

Prosecco,74 cal

Red Wine,119 cal

Regular Martini,135 cal

White Russian,257 cal

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4. Don’t skip meals. If our metabolism is only starting to function at noon, or worse, at Christmas lunch, we are just asking for trouble. When we skip meals, we slow down our metabolism which makes burning fuel more difficult. Our blood sugar also takes a nose dive, triggering cravings, leading us to over eating and consuming things that we might not have otherwise.

5. Stock up on healthy snacks. The holidays are a time for lounging and basking in the company of your loved ones. It also serves as the perfect opportunity to overeat unintentionally. Bonus: If you sneak protein into snacks, it will keep you and your guests fuller for longer! Here are some healthy protein rich snacks:

Raw vegetables with hummus
Edamame
Sliced apples topped with nut butter, cinnamon and a squirt of lemon
Whole grain toast with avocado, lime and sliced apple
Halved pears with cinnamon and ricotta cheese
Baked tofu bites
Smoked salmon over cucumber slices with dill and lemon
Chia seed pudding with almond milk and berries

6. Get enough sleep. Sacrificing our slumber leads to overeating, irritation, lack of energy and poor cognitive performance. Not to mention, we look and feel more beautiful without the bags and bloodshot eyes!

7. Be kind to yourself. I am as guilty as the next to self-sabotage after making bad health choices. Do not beat yourself up after ploughing your way through truffles and then think that all is lost. Keep your chin high, make better choices throughout the day. It is a healthier mentality to have.

Ladies, I hope that you dazzle this season, like the shiniest bobble on the tree. Happy Holidays!

xx. Areta