I’d like to take the opportunity to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Kwanza or whatever you may celebrate… Perhaps you choose not to celebrate at all, but continue your regular routine.. it’s all good! I for one, will not be one of those fitness individuals that will tell you to “lighten up your Christmas meal” or “go for an extra run on Christmas Day” because I, for one, believe that once a year you can allow yourself to be “bad”without it meaning it will ruin your healthy habits.  Yes, overindulgence is not good in anyway, but one should not be so frantic as to believe that life does not include pleasures such as good food, wine, cocktails, whatever you decide to digest amongst friends and family during this time of year.  We are, after all, creatures of habit, following traditions and activities that correspond to certain times of year, and I think these are very important and wonderful additions to every day life.  After all, we are only talking about a couple of days – is it so bad? Not sure. I’m in the business of food and wine, and unlike a lot of other fitness individuals, don’t see food as “fuel only”, but also as enjoyment I can’t imagine a holiday where I couldn’t have a glass of champagne or a bite of cake; at the same time I will not go ballistic and eat myself silly.  In the fitness industry, many times people are very “black and white”.  One side goes “I will eat steamed spinach and chicken 24/7” and the other side “I am going to binge eat after my competition because I have been so deprived the last 16 weeks”. Either side as you can see, is not ideal. I strive for having a “normal” side, although I know I’m not average.  I still want to have my holiday, with the sight of a new show in the near future.

Point being: Tomorrow I will be eating pork belly, mutton ribs, potatoes and sausage… but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to present to you an awesome, RIPPED, physique the first quarter of 2012 – it’s only one day, and I will be right back on track, even hungrier than ever before! Enjoy your holidays, no matter how you choose to celebrate!!