One option is always to indulge, but to plan to indulge. Put your evening’s excess in your diary ahead of time and work to minimise the impact with exercise and controlling your intake throughout the week to balance it all out.

If that’s not an option for your fitness goals, no problem, here’s a battle plan for you to follow:

Don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions: Salad or seasonal vegetables rather than fries, skipping the cheese, having the burger without the bun… there’s plenty you can do to make dishes healthier, and most establishments are willing to be flexible. 

Focus on fish: As long as it’s not fried, fish is a great choice for a healthy main course and is usually rich in protein, vitamins and good fatty acids.

Sauces and dressings can be secret weapons for diet sabotage: They’re too often filled with calorie-heavy oils or sugars, so ask for them on the side and use them sparingly.

Consider ordering an appetiser as your main course: By design starters are less substantial than main dishes, so consider having a starter dish as an entrée with a side of vegetables. Once you’re full of veggies, you won’t be craving the big main meal quite so much.

Ignore the bread, keep the butter: While the bread is full of starch and empty calories, milk and butter get a bad reputation when it comes to health; butter especially is associated unfairly with being overweight. Butter is, however, rich in vitamins and good cholesterol and in moderation is good for you.

Don’t trust the menu implicitly, especially when it comes to the ‘healthy’ section of their menu: Chefs will do their best to make tasty, healthy food, but it doesn’t mean it’s right for your specific health goals. Ask questions about contents and preparation if you’re not sure or the menu isn’t clear.

Share your meals with others: Sharing dishes with friends can give you the option of controlling what and how much you eat without having to make a fuss over substitutions.

There’s an almost shocking amount of calories and carbs in alcohol, so skip the plonk: While you’re at it, you probably want to avoid the dessert menu as well!

Look up the restaurant online before you go and try to put your plan of action together. This will allow you to plan a healthy meal and get all your substitution questions in order so you’re ready to blaze through them when it’s your time to order.

Lastly, enjoy yourself!

Find a gym buddy

There’s a common misconception that going to the gym is a solo activity; plug in a pair of headphones, drown everything out and get on with your fitness regime. While this can help you focus in the short term, you may become demotivated and bored as the months creep by. As other gym regulars start making better progress than you, you might start to feel frustrated.

Picking a gym buddy to train with could be the motivator you need to stick at it. Ideally, the person should be equally, if not more, motivated than you are. That way, you can spur each other on and have someone else to support you.

Develop a home fitness plan

If pounding electro-beats and long queues for equipment aren’t your cup of tea, you should consider exercising from home. A lot of people feel they need to pay extortionate gym fees in order to motivate their repeat visits. However, you’ll soon forget about that monthly charge as you swear off the gym each month.

To counteract this, you can exercise from home for fairly cheap if you order equipment from companies like Best Gym Equipment. For smaller budgets, aerobic equipment like steps, skipping ropes and pilates mats all have relatively low barriers to entry. If you’re willing to splash out a little, you could also invest in a single, more expensive piece of gym equipment. Technogym is a brand that’s become increasingly popular for fitness junkies who work out at home. From exercise bikes to cross trainers, there are plenty of options available to get your home gym operation off the ground.

Track your progress

A lot of people lose faith in their fitness plan because they can’t see the immediate difference it’s making. It’s important to remember that improved fitness, especially when it comes to weight loss and muscle gain, is a gradual process of incremental change. You won’t wake up looking like a chiselled Greek god after your first session at the gym.

To put things in perspective, track your weight and figure by recording it. This could involve keeping a written journal or taking pictures of yourself week by week. It’s also a good idea to seek advice and help from personal trainers to keep you on track and constantly challenged. There are also plenty of fantastic beginners guides to exercise to help you get started.