Preparation

It’s all in the preparation! Start preparing for all your Christmas indulgences now. Eat clean and train hard for the last few remaining weeks leading up to Christmas. Counter balance those units of alcohol and block of chocolate now so you can enjoy them guilt free over Christmas. By preparing now, you’re also saving some of the hard work you need to put in over January to get back to your best.

You only need 15 minutes to stay healthy in winter. Please read these fantastic tips from Alex Harris, commissioning editor of Men’s Health magazine. Survive winter and emerge healthier than ever!

Don’t shop on an empty stomach

It’s a well known saying and it’s true. We can’t avoid and nor should we, the Christmas parties and drinks. It’s a time to let your hair down and enjoy yourself and we can help ourselves at home by not shopping on an empty stomach. If it’s not in your cupboard, then it’s not going in your mouth! You’ll get plenty of people buying you boxes of chocolates and bottles of wine anyway so save your cash and your waistline by only buying the essentials.

Do plenty of walking

Sunlight is good for fighting off winter fatigue. We all feel it – all you want to do is curl up on the sofa and watch Miracle on 34th Street! Before you do, open those blinds and maybe have a brisk walk around the block to shake off those cobwebs. Also make your home environment as light and airy as possible so turn on those Christmas tree lights.

Get plenty of Vitamin D in your body

Vitamin D gives us healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin D also helps us fight off winter fatigue (see tip above). The sun is a good form of Vitamin D but it’s limited over the Christmas period and in the UK in general! Foods like fish, eggs and cereal are all great sources of Vitamin D so stock up now.

Please follow these four simple tips and enjoy your festive break. Merry Christmas!

As Suzanne Nottingham, a spokesperson of the American Council of Exercise, put it to Weightwatchers: “Walking outdoors in winter is extremely invigorating and almost meditative. It’s like you’re part of nature, walking in the midst of howling winds, blowing snow and a bright sun.”

Make your winter hike as comfortable and enjoyable as possible by following these handy tips:

Kit yourself out in appropriate clothing

There is a good chance that you will be caught in a rain or snow shower while exploring the great outdoors throughout the winter.

Be prepared for such changes in the weather by wearing appropriate clothing for the time of year. A thick fleece will keep you cosy no matter how low the temperatures dip, while thermal clothing will give you that extra layer of warmth.

A little more thought will have to go into your choice of boots though. You will want the footwear to be suitable for climbing steep hills and traversing muddy terrains and streams, while also keeping your feet warm and dry. Merrell boots achieve all of this, on top of looking extremely stylish, and are available in a raft of designs at Millet Sports with free delivery.

Ensure you are seen

The days are shorter during the winter, with very little daylight when the sky is grey or the weather is misty and foggy. Therefore, it is very important that you are always seen when out on a hike.

Attempt to stay on paths dotted with streetlights or clearly marked tracks if you are heading out into the countryside. It’s recommended that you take a jacket with reflective strips or a hi-visibility vest to ensure you catch the eye.

Check your route

While you shouldn’t need to worry too much if you are just walking to a local park or around a neighbourhood, you will want to check the weather forecast before hiking across one of the UK’s mountain ranges.

Fortunately, the Met Office regularly updates its online mountain area forecast chartto ensure you know when it’s a good time to head on a trek and when it is best to plan a different walking route.