Snuggling up in front of the television or reading a good book by the fire are activities designed to foster mindless snacking, as we embrace our less active indoor lifestyles.

Our impetus to exercise decreases, caloric intake increases with holiday cooking and celebrations. Less exposure to sunlight often brings on a case of winter blues, which we attempt to assuage with more comfort foods.

Here are some tips to insure our scales will not tip out of balance this winter:

Instead of bringing exercise to a halt during the winter, plan to walk for at least 20 minutes a day at a mall or around the court of an indoor gym. Join an indoor swimming class, or play racquet ball at the local recreation center. There are a myriad of opportunities for indoor exercise. If your home has stairs, walk up and down multiple times. Take the stairs at work in lieu of the elevator. If possible, sign up for a daily or bi-weekly session at a local health spa or exercise class. Acquire a weight control buddy; commitment to exercise is greatly increased with a companion to cheer you on.