So the weather isn’t exactly great at the moment.

We have got Christmas to look forward to (I can’t wait myself) but still the cold, damp weather does take an effect on our mood.

More people’s diets go out the weather at this time of year than any other.

A lot of it is down to the Christmas Dos, boxes of sweets and chocolates and all of the other things that come with Christmas but just the onset of winter and the cold weather does play a major part.

Many people will feel like just hibernating through to spring.

It’s so easy when it’s cold to curl up on the couch under a blanket and barely move all day.

In the UK at this time of year, the amount of daylight we get is less than half of what we get in July, 8 hours per day in December compared to 16.5 hours per day in July.

Very gloomy indeed!

I myself find it harder to train sometimes in the winter, lack of sunlight can play a part (linked with vitamin D deficiency), my eating sometimes goes off course and motivation may seem that little bit harder to find.

So to help you out I have come up with a few tips to help beat those gloomy winter blues and keep you striding along to reaching your goals with tonnes of energy:

1. Watch What You Eat – This should be your main focus. Eat loads of foods packed with nutritional goodness like fruit and vegetables. Try things like vegetable soup to warm you up. Remember to try and have some form of quality protein with most meals, it’ll keep you full for longer and stop you snacking on the tins of sweets! Another way to suppress your appetite to to drink more water, make sure you are well hydrated throughout the day (especially if you have your Christmas night out in the evening). Your energy levels can suffer if you aren’t getting enough folate or vitamin B12 so foods such as leafy green veg, broccoli, spinach, eggs and fruits like strawberries and oranges will prevent this and keep your energised and able to concentrate throughout the day.

2. Get Outdoors – Although we don’t see that much sunlight in the winter make the most of it when we do. Wrapping up warm and going for a nice afternoon walk is great.

3. Stay Busy – As I said earlier the minute you slouch down on the sofa and get comfortable under the blanket you will find it hard to move. If you don’t make it to the gym or for your run stay busy with some housework or getting things ready for Christmas. Getting stuff done will also cheer you up and give you a sense of achievement.

4. Have a Party! – Invite your friends or families over and enjoy yourself. This will give you something to look forward to.

5. Exercise – Nothing in my opinion energises you quite like exercise. It may be cold but in my opinion getting some warm clothes on and going for an early morning run in the sun is great if you can go somewhere by the coast (which all of us in south Wales can).

6. Dress Appropriately – I read somewhere that a Dr from Sweden said ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing’. Stay warm and this will keep you from feeling down and gloomy. You lose loads of body heat from your head so remember to wear a hat.

So there you have a few tips to keep you going throughout the winter period.

It is the easiest time of year to forget about your healthy eating and your training so you have to try a little bit harder.

Don’t ruin all your hard work now and start again in January, yeah things will slip a little bit but the more you let it slip the harder you’ll have to work to get it back.

Stay warm and stay happy.

Jamie Stedman