The average Brit consumes over 5,000 calories on Christmas Day, which would take the equivalent of two marathons to burn off.
But according to one fitness blogger, you can still enjoy a little festive indulgence without piling on the pounds.
Mother-of-five Simone Gately, 34, from Halifax, insists that with some careful planning – and a little cunning – it’s possible to enjoy yourself without the dreaded festive bulge.
One of Simone’s unorthodox tricks for avoiding over indulgence on Christmas day is to avoid clothes with elasticated or loose waistbands.
Simone, who maintains her morning routine of a 5am run throughout the festive season, also encourages choosing ‘outdoorsy’ presents that the recipients will want to road-test immediately.
Simone Gately, 34, from Halifax, North Yorkshire gets her family to run around outside on Christmas day to burn off calories
‘A fitted waistband will give you a benchmark of tightness. If the waistband fits in the morning, it should still fit by the evening,’ said Simone.
‘It’s a harsh wake-up call when you need to undo your top button to cram in another helping of roast potatoes or mince pies.’
Simone is sharing her tips in the wake of a recent study by Forza Supplements, which found that the average person eats up to 5,241 calories on 25 December when snacks and alcohol are factored in – more than twice the recommended daily allowance for both men and women.
Guests may not be too keen to spend their Christmas day running around outside with the children – especially after dinner – but fitness enthusiast Simone says there are subtle ways to twist their arm.
Simone pictured with her children who she and her husband encourage to walk long distances daily to keep fit and healthy
She says that she buys presents like scooters, bikes, in-line skates that can be specifically used on Christmas day as a way to burn off calories
‘You can increase the chances of getting guests outside in your favour by buying gifts that are just begging to be road-tested,’ she says.
She buys her children toys like bikes, scooters, in-line skates, footballs and frisbees to encourage them to keep active.
While for many families across the country the after-dinner activity is often snuggling up and watching a festive film, Simone’s tradition is to get all five children outside for her treasure hunt.
She says: ‘I distract the children from the exercise element by taking them to a local park or trail and ensure plenty of running and raised heart rates.’
She takes her troupe of children to the local park for a treasure hunt in order to get them to run around
She wants to be a role model to other mums who are looking to shift baby weight
If the idea of leaving the comfort of your home is too much like hard work, Simone suggests encouraging the family to take part in an indoor game – like a virtual console where you can play virtual tennis with the family.
This should always be done after dinner according to Simone, as post-prandial exercise attenuates the glycaemic effect of food – minimising blood sugar spikes and dips and reducing the likelihood of further snacking later on.
During the festive season, the busy mother typically starts her daily routine at 5am with a gym session, followed by a dog walk or hike, and even uses her children as weights for squats and press ups.
Simone, who has more than 50,000 Instagram followers, claims her impressive physique and fitness regime does not rule her life and says she is on a mission to show other women that exercise doesn’t have to be hard work.