Welcome to Diet and Fitness Podcast, a free audio podcast sponsored by Diet.com. This is your fit, fun, and fabulous host, Lady Diet, ready to give you the skinny on the latest diet fitness health tips and news.

When you’re dieting, it’s important to maintain momentum through the winter – a time of year when we start feeling less and less like doing anything that requires exertion. Even the most motivated folks can start feeling like a couch potato when the snow starts to fall and the wind starts to blow. But don’t worry, because it can be almost effortless to maintain your dieting plans this winter. Here are four simple tips you can remember to push you through the cold and stay on track.

1. Hit the sack. Don’t forget to get enough sleep. Sleeping enough is one of the easiest things a dieter can do to improve their weight loss and health. There are tons of connections between getting enough sleep and weight loss. So pick your reason and get your Zs in.

2. Chill out with the winter beverages! A Tall Starbuck’s Eggnog Latte contains 380 calories! And can you believe that even with low-fat milk, a Grande Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with whipped cream has 530 calories?! That’s like drinking a Quarter-Pounder with Cheese! Yuck! But not all warming drinks are bad, so check out a new variety of tea or some delicious and hot apple cider.

3. Have a snack. Don’t forget to eat in between meals. Sometimes we all get busy and forget to have a little something to hold us over till dinner or lunch. Skimping on day-time eating will only mean you’re famished and ready to binge as the day winds down. Just be aware of your daily snacking and try to eat something every couple of hours.

4. Control portion size. Just watching your portions and only eating what you’re hungry for can dramatically decrease the amount of calories you’re taking in. Need help with portioning? You’d be amazed the difference the size of your plate can make. Use a smaller plate and you can feel like you’re having a feast without your diet being destroyed.

When you don’t feel like doing anything this winter, don’t worry. Because doing what you need to in order to stay healthy can be way easier than you thought. Keep these simple tips in mind and you and your diet will be sailing smoothly through the winter months.

If you have any comments or suggestions about today’s podcast or any fun health diet or fitness tip, please feel free to email me at ladydietpodcast@diet.com.

Stay warm, stay informed and stay focused with Diet.com... this is Lady Diet signing off!