I was at a big event last week and was reminded how important it is to have strategies for this season of high-calorie parties and busy schedules. But I get ticked off by the tired old suggestions you find on the Internet or in magazines like Woman's                          World. 
                     Often the suggestions are lack any substance, because the writers                       don't want to imply you actually have to make a sacrifice to                        succeed. They make fat loss sound easy, as if all you had to do was                       park at the far end of the parking lot and you'd burn all the calories from 5 shortbread cookies.
                     Well it doesn't work that way...So here are my politically incorrect, unique Turbulence Training strategies to help you keep                        off the holiday pounds.
                     By the way, I "borrowed" a few ideas from contestants in my Turbulence Training Transformation Contest. The Transformation is                        rocking with social support and success stories right now, even                        while the rest of the world struggles with weight gain, these TT                       users are losing fat over the holidays.
                                          Strategy #1 - Green Tea & Almonds
                     One of the most common tips you'll hear is to "fill up" before you
                     go to a party where there will be lots of goodies.
                     Unfortunately, most people I talk to have no luck with this tip.
                     Most people still go to a party and eat everything in sight. 
                     But recently TT users have told me that having a cup of Green Tea                        and one ounce of almonds has helped them avoid holiday cravings                      better than anything ever before. 
                     The fiber from the almonds reduces appetite while the small amount                        of caffeine from the Green Tea seems to increase mental alertness                      and keep you "energized" at the party.
                     Hopefully that might work for you...
                     Strategy #2 - Don't waste your time on any fancy cardio programs
                     Listen, the bottom line over the holiday season is that your success                       depends almost entirely on your nutrition. 
                     You can't expect to hit the cardio confessional and burn off last
                     night's 2000 calorie smorgasboard. That's a 4-hour workout. Instead,                       don't get into that situation in the first place.
                     Here are more nutrition tips:
                     - Focus on portion control (and if you have no discipline, forget
                     even trying to eat just one)
                     - Nix all drinks mixed with calorie-containing beverages, or better                       yet, just stop getting drunk. Period.
                     - Write down everything you eat to identify your problem spots. Then                       do whatever you need to do to eliminate your weaknesses. If you                        don't record your nutrition, chances are you'll miss big
                     opportunities to change your diet and lose fat.
                     Strategy #3 - Take care of yourself first.
                     My friend Holly Rigsby (of http://www.fityummymummy.com) is always                        reminding busy moms to take care of themselves first, and I think                      that suggestion applies at this time of year to everyone.
                     So take a deep breath. Ask yourself as you're running around to
                     please everyone else, "Have you set aside time for yourself" 
                     Be selfish. Make sure you have had some exercise time, some good                        nutrition, and some rest before overextending yourself and doing too                       much for other people when you haven't taken care of yourself and                       your goals first.
                     Strategy #4 - Get on a roll
                     This one comes from a TT Transformation contestant who is too busy                       losing fat to get off track over the holidays.
                     Don't procrastinate till January 1st. Get started now. Dozens of
                     men and women are doing their Turbulence Training Transformations                       right now - through the heart of the holiday season.
                     They aren't waiting for Jan. 1st to show up. They are taking
                     control now, and getting on a roll, and not letting anything (from
                     work parties to peer pressure) get in their way.
                     Strategy #5 - Exercise in short bursts whenever you can
                     Don't be afraid to dance at your Christmas party. Don't worry, there                       is bound to be at least one worse dancer than you out on the floor.                      Have fun and get down!
                     On a more serious note, here's how to avoid falling off the fitness
                     program during the busy holiday season. 
                     Get your butt out of bed 15 minutes early so you can have 3 minutes                       to wake up and 12 minutes to do the December 2007 Turbulence                       Training 12-Minute Workouts.
                     Get this workout as part of your bonuses when you start using
                     Turbulence Training today: http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com
                     Stay healthy and fit over the holidays,
                     Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
                     Author, Turbulence Training