It's officially winter, which means running shoes get replaced by slippers, salads get replaced with stodgy pasta meals and the threat of having to step into a bikini has disappeared. And the inevitable? A little extra padding around the middle.
In fact, a new survey commissioned by Special K has found that nine out of 10 women are in danger of putting on weight this winter, with 78 percent admitting to exercising less and 73 percent eating less healthily in winter.
Comfort food was the biggest temptation for women, with 45 percent craving more stodgy, warming foods when the temperature dropped.
And when it comes to skipping exercise, more than half blamed the colder temperatures, while 45 percent said the shrinking daylight hours robbed them of precious work-out time. 34 percent of women are generally just too tired.
Celebrity personal trainer Michelle Bridges offers her tips for overcoming our "but it's winter" excuses to stop our waistlines expanding in the coming months.
If you blame the weather for being lazy
Welcome a new wardrobe. Braving a winter morning in skimpy summer gear is no-one's idea of fun, so get yourself a new winter training wardrobe! Invest in some warm accessories, such as a beanie. If you're a regular exerciser, it will probably be time for some new runners, and if you run, it definitely will be! Be sure to get them properly fitted.
Do the robot. Lay out your training gear before you go to bed. This means you can switch into "robot mode" — getting dressed and out of the door without really thinking about it too much. This reduces the likelihood of talking yourself out of training.
Plan ahead before bed. Always know exactly what training you will be doing the following day before you go to bed. If you don't have your work-out planned you increase the risk of negotiating yourself out of it.
Don't hide from the outside. Train outside as much as possible. Getting out in the sun (if it's around) helps to keep your spirits up and your weight down.
If you're too tired to exercise
Buddy up. Find someone to train with over winter who has similar goals to you. When it's dark and cold you can help motivate each other. Try posting a notice on your gym or community noticeboard, or check out some of the boot camps and training groups in your area.
Do the loop with a group. Join a running or cycling club. Not only are both of these activities great for weight management, they both generally have early morning weekend events that keep you on the straight and narrow the night before!
Have your say: Do you use excuses during winter?
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