'Tis the season to be jolly, but at what cost to your waistline? December can be a month-long festival of parties, dinners with family and friends and lunches and drinks with colleagues to celebrate a year's hard work. If you've been watching your waistline, the pressure to join in can make it all too easy to let things slide in pursuit of the Christmas spirit.

Winter isn't just about food, but the amount of time we spend planning, shopping, preparing and eating it means it sometimes seems that way. The average person can gain 5 -10 lbs between November and January. Here are simple tips to help you make it through the festive season without piling on the pounds.

Don't go to a party hungry - if you arrive hungry you're more likely to become a permanent fixture at the buffet table and overindulge. Set boundaries around Christmas foods like nuts and stilton that can trigger overeating. Eat them only when you go out - don't keep them in the house and if you are entertaining package up leftover "treats" for your guests to take home with them.

Avoid commercially produced hi-fat and hi-sugar items, like mince pies, chipolatas and cream-based soups. Buy lower fat options or make your own so you know what's in them. Plan your food shopping and avoid going to the shops hungry as you'll be bound to buy extra tasty treats if you do.

You should also keep an eye on your alcohol consumption and limit carb-heavy drinks like beer or sugar-packed sweet Sherries and liqueurs. Remember to drink plenty of water - alcohol, tea and coffee can dehydrate you.

Stress is a major trigger for overeating, especially at Christmas time. Take the time to get some air and go for a brisk walk. You'll come back with a much clearer head and burn off a few calories in the process!

Don't attempt to deprive yourself of your absolute favourite food, or you may go overboard! Instead, allow yourself one small serving of your preferred treat and really savour it.

Christmas shopping for presents can be tiring and can sometimes last all day so ensure you plan for a healthy pit stop to refuel and re-energise. Fast food doesn't have to be calorie filled food.

Lastly, remember the January sales and make sure that you feel in good shape to add lots of bargains to your wardrobe in the New Year.

The trick is to put things in perspective and aim for a little healthy balance to ensure that you enjoy the festive fun without sabotaging your waistline.

If you do go wild with Christmas pudding and all the other goodies that are in the house over Christmas, don't beat yourself up over it, but don't let one slip become a landslide, either or you'll end up needing to lose weight fast in the New Year. Instead of thinking, ‘I've blown it, I may as well carry on eating for today/this week/until the New Year', recognise it for what it is - one lapse - and think about how it happened and how you can deal better with such a situation in the future. Then get right back on your healthy horse and continue working towards those goals for a fitter, slimmer you - not just for Christmas, but for life!

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