1.            Buddy up

Grab a friend, partner or even work colleague who's interested in keeping off the bulge binge this winter. Having someone you're accountable to helps keep motivation high, and for those with a competitive streak that extra challenge goes a long way! Just no early morning cancellation texts otherwise you may soon find your exercise buddy trades you in for a zippier more reliable model!

2.            Prepare for the cold but take advantage of it

Exercise is so much easier in cooler environments - and winter is certainly some of the coolest environment you'll get all year! It's actually much more pleasant working out, outdoors during winter and autumn than in midsummer for example, and you'll be able to work harder and burn more calories as body heat dissipates faster (gyms are supposed to be airconditioned for this very reason). The biggest hurdle is usually just getting to the starting line. Remember to layer, wearing your warm stuff up until a good 10 minutes into your exercise - by that time you're already warm and raring to go. You never really have to go cold if you prepare with the right clothing.

3.            Keep your summer schedule

Guess what ? Nothing about the number of hours in your week has changed, so why should your summer activity schedule? Just 'cause there's a little more cool in the air and a little less light at the beginning and end of the day...

4.            Buy a men's fitness or health magazine

Something pictorial, possibly even from the opposite hemisphere, with tips on keeping fit and healthy. Keeping positive images of healthy active men and women around works wonders for subconscious motivation - just make sure you read the articles!

5.            Soups and stews

Oh yes, there's nothing better than tucking into a hearty, warming liquid meal at the end of a cold day. There's also no better opportunity to load up these slurp-fests with veggies, low-calorie stock, and tender cuts of lean meat. Soups, stews and casseroles done well, with minimal fat and light on the carbs, are the bee's knees when it comes to filling up on what are then very low-calorie dinners - the ultimate in keeping lean this winter (just no desserts!).

6.            Weights keep you warm

Ok so this is a bit more of a stretch but bear with me here! Of all exercise types, resistance training (weights) which is intense enough to build muscle, keeps your metabolism up the longest afterwards. Higher metabolism means more calories burned, which goes along with heat generation in your body - hence ... well ok just do some weight training!

7.            Great sleep

Oh gone are the sleepless toss-and-turn basting-in-your-own-juices summer nights! Hello cool rooms, snuggling and heaters, and plenty of darkness. As I mentioned last newsletter, sleep is best when it's regular, plentiful, in near-complete darkness, and temperature-controlled. Winter is the ultimate time for these elements, so get snoozing! People who are better-rested tend to eat less, exercise harder, are less stressed and feel generally happier through the day.

8.            The great indoors

There's a wealth of reasons to stay indoors when it's cold and wet out (well ok those are the two main reasons) - but what better way to spend that time than in any number of active indoor activites? Gyms, sports centres, indoor rock climbing, large-scale window-shopping, pilates and yoga are all great sources of indoor, sheltered, and active pursuits. Most have parking too, so there really is no excuse no matter what the weather or temperature outside!

9.            It (sometimes) takes two

Speaking of indoor activities, there's one that's particularly enjoyable especially with all the indoors-ness and snuggling-ness in front of warm fires or under warm doonas. No, it's not crocheting. Sex is a physical activity all in itself - putting in the effort pays off! (Though please, no vulgarity here). With variations of intensity, duration, frequency and type of activity, you burn off significant calories whilst boosting a whole plethora of mood-enhancing hormones and switching on some key fat-burning ones (like testosterone).

10.            Just do it

Not just a slogan, a simple wake-up call - winter ain't the devastatingly, old-person-freezingly cold, nothing-but-animal-pelt-to-keep-me-warm kind of occasion that our ancestors used to face. They could get away with excuses like "it's too cold out" or "if I don't stay in bed I'll get hypothermia", or "a saber-tooth tiger ate my foot". You, with your warm clothes, ample transport and safe, climate controlled home and exercise environments, have none. So nyahhh...