It's that time of year again -- the holiday season! Time for cocktail parties, office functions, family gatherings, all with lavish meals and lots of drinks! That's right, it's Christmas time again, and as joyful a time as it is, Christmas can be the worst time of year for people like us who are trying our best to stay healthy and fit! We've been getting plenty of exercise, planning healthy meals, drinking lots of water and actually making some progress! Now along comes Christmas to sabotage your willpower and attack your waistline.

Well, it doesn't have to be so. Christmas does not have to mean weight gain.

This column and the next will offer you 25 tips for keeping your Christmas a healthy one.

Exercise 1: Start each and every day with some type of exercise. Daily exercise will give you more energy for the cleaning, the cooking, the parties, the shopping and everything else you need to accomplish in a day.

It will help you make better food choices all day because you feel like you're doing something healthy for yourself. Even if you only have time for 15 minutes exercise, do it! 2: Make it fun! Exercise does not mean torture. If you don't like running, don't plan to run as your form of exercise -- of course you're not going to want to do it.

Do something you enjoy -- if you enjoy aerobics, try some classes at the local health clubs or buy an exercise video that you like. If you like walking, get out regularly for an invigorating walk.

3: Buddy Up. You can kill two birds with one stone by finding a friend to workout with. Just knowing that someone else is counting on you to be there will motivate you to exercise when you may otherwise have decided to sit on the couch. And you will be able to spend quality time with your friend! 4: Pick up the pace. Don't just go for a stroll; get your heart rate up and keep it up. The body adapts to doing the same thing all the time, so try increasing the frequency of your exercise, or the duration, and why not try something new for a change.

5: Weight train. A good strength training workout two to three times per week will help keep your metabolism up so that you are burning more calories all day every day, and will also keep your muscles toned.

6: Stay active. Don't just veg out on the couch for the rest of the day just because you did an aerobics class or went for a walk. It is estimated that in the past 25 years, labour-saving devices have decreased the number of calories burned by 800 calories or more a day. So make some of your social gatherings active ones -- meet friends for a walk instead of going out for lunch, encourage family volley ball or cricket games in the yard instead of watching a movie or playing a video game.

Social Occasions: 7: Plan ahead and don't arrive hungry. Drink several glasses of water and eat something light like fruit, crispy vegetables or a yogurt before attending the party. If possible, find out what will be served ahead of time and plan what you will and will not eat. If healthy options seem limited, offer to bring a fresh fruit or veggie platter so you will have something healthy to nibble on.

8: Strategic placement is key. Don't stand near the buffet table. Serve yourself and then move to the opposite end of the room and mingle, so you won't be tempted to keep picking.

9: Cross-examine. Comment on how delicious the dishes look and ask what they are made with. Getting a little information on how the dish was prepared will help you decide how much, if any, you want to have.

10: Be a thoughtful host. If you are hosting a Christmas gathering, cut back on calories and fat in the dishes you serve every chance you get. Use low-fat alternatives in your cooking, and include healthy, low-calorie dishes in your menu 11: Switch hands. Hold your drink in your dominant hand (writing hand). This will help you be more aware of when you are reaching for another snack. By making it a little more difficult to grab food, you will likely eat less.

12: Limit or avoid alcohol. Alcohol slows your body's ability to burn fat and increases the amount of food you will likely eat. In one study, people who drank an alcoholic drink consumed about 200 more calories for 24 hours afterward than those who drank a non-alcoholic drink, let alone the extra calories in the drink itself. If you must have alcohol, here are your best and worst options: Best Wine spritzer (6 ounces) - 81 calories Champagne (4 ounces) - 84 calories Bloody Mary (6 ounces) - 87 calories White wine (6 ounces) - 121 calories Red wine (6 ounces) - 126 calories Worst Irish coffee (7 ounces) - 190 calories, 1.7 grams fat White Russian (4 ounces) -295 calories, 3.6 grams fat Pina colada (6 ounces) - 330 calories, 10.8 grams fat Rum toddy (10 ounces) - 334 calories, 11.4 grams fat Egg nog (6 ounces) - we won't even go there; you don't want to know!! Be sure to read the BodyWise column again on December 15 for more tips on making this Christmas a healthy one!