Holidays are happy, hectic times filled with parties, shopping trips and get-togethers with family and friends. Busy lives just seem to get busier as the weather cools and the spirit of the season fills the air. For many of us, sticking to our exercise schedule doesn't make the list of holiday activities. But, keeping fit while being good to your heart doesn't have to be a casualty of the season. Here are some tips to help you maintain your exercise routine:

• Make your list and check it twice - add a time to exercise to your holiday list of "to do's". If it's viewed as a "must attend" holiday event, chances are you'll show up at the gym to keep the appointment.
• "Walk around the clock" - take every opportunity to get up and move! Buy a pedometer and keep track of how far you walk each day. Use your lunch hour to walk to nearby stores to do your shopping. Don't compete for the nearest parking spot to the mall entrance. Park a distance away and use the opportunity to add the benefits of walking to your shopping spree. Take the stairs, not the escalator or elevator, whenever possible.
• Get outside - depending on the weather, rake leaves, plant a seasonal garden, shovel snow, ski, ice skate, play with the kids, ride your bike… just get going and keep moving!
• Have a party nutrition plan - don't over-indulge or over-imbibe. Easier said than done, right? Step away from the buffet -- avoid the high-fat foods on the buffet table. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats such as turkey or chicken, low-fat dips such as humus (chickpea dip). Skip the fried foods, cheeses, desserts… anything that could tip the scales the wrong way. When it comes to liquid refreshment, sparkling water or club soda with lime are excellent choices. You may choose to give yourself a present by drinking one glass of merlot or cabernet sauvignon. You can even add to the healthy aspect of party food selections by bringing a heart healthy food item to the party hostess or host (ask first, of course!).
• Find a holiday fitness buddy - sticking with your commitment to keeping in shape during the holidays is easier if you share the experience with a friend. Whether it's a spouse, significant other, neighbor, colleague, or friend, having a fitness partner is fun and provides an excellent way to receive encouragement when your willpower may start to waver. Consider it one of your gifts to each other!
• Create a "Couch Potato Free Zone" - why do television and movies seem to getter better during the holidays?  If you have to watch that favorite holiday movie for the hundredth time, do it from the seat of a stationary bike, or while walking on the treadmill. If you do find yourself sitting in front of the TV, keep healthy snacks handy - avoid chips, dips, candy, fruit cake and other heart-hazardous foods. Choose bite-sized raw vegetables with a low fat dip, fresh fruit, air-popped popcorn, or a low-sodium trail mix with nuts and dried fruit. Stir up a pitcher of sugar free lemonade or light cranberry juice and serve it "on the rocks" with a citrus twist to make it more festive. Budget your time for TV or movie watching and keep to your schedule.