The holiday season does not lend itself to making substantial fitness gains. It tends to be a time when we are thankful for all we have achieved in the past year, re-energize for the New Year, and strive to maintain all our 2008 achievements rather than have a setback. Most of us have many distractions during this time of the year. Shopping, office and family parties, an increase in traffic, and events that are completely out of our control tend to up your stress level and cause you to make choices that are not always the best.

That is where this survival guide comes in handy. Follow the parameters for making time to eat right and exercise and you will not fall back into old habits or gain one ounce this holiday season. Good luck. I look forward to helping you make your New Year’s Resolutions come true.

To get started, click on the following link to download and print a calendar for this month.

• First, list all the holiday events you have on your schedule from now until the end of the year.
• Next, see if there will be a conflict with exercising on the day of the event (you must fit in some form of exercise that day).
• Now check to see if you can exercise the day before the event (get the metabolism going early).
• Fill in when you will exercise and how you will train during the session (intervals, cross train, cardio, weights).
• Finally, find a pair of pants that fit now. Try them on every Sunday and make sure they still fit. If not, less partying the next week.

Rules for Holiday Scheduling

• I must exercise the day of an event.
• I will eat clean the day of and the day before the event.
• I will exercise either the day before or the day after the event.
• I will allow myself to enjoy the event.
• I will stay away from two of the following three items: 1) dessert, 2) appetizers or 3) alcohol.
• If the event is something that does not have significant meaning, I will behave myself.