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I was going through a fitness chat forum this week and one person’s comment caught my eye. The person wrote, “I’ve gained 10 pounds already since the cold weather started!” I could just see the sadness and pleading for help in that comment and I wished so very much to reach through my laptop and hug them.

I mean, gah! 10 pounds!? Winter doesn’t even begin for another couple of weeks!

After my own fear dissipated, all I could think of when I read that was just how easy that actually is!

It all starts with Thanksgiving week and if you were honored to be the cook this year, then it, too, means days afterward of all the leftovers you’re blessed to have still sitting in your fridge. (I have a version of the Thanksgiving sandwich that looks something like the actual Thanksgiving dinner itself sandwiched between two pieces of bread that  I am pretty sure that does nothing to help my thigh region. Thankfully this post comes after you’ve probably thrown away your leftovers, so I’m not giving you any ideas!)

Then it’s onto the Holiday Party where the cheese cube usually makes its entrance. I thought I was being so very healthy last year filling up my plate with cheese cubes, but little did I know those tasty, tiny, cute little nuggets were 1,000 calories on my plate (and that was only for a few of them!) and I hadn’t even gotten to the buffet part of the dinner yet!

Then with all of that holiday hustle and bustle, there’s no time to work out. I mean, how does one plan and attend all these holiday parties, festivities (and in my case 4 birthday parties!), inevitably get a cold or flu, go shopping, eat healthy AND find the time or more importantly, the motivation to exercise?

In the face of such adversity, how can we possibly expect ourselves to stay on track?!

Yes, it’s downright hard, but if you don’t want to have to undo all of that holiday mess on January 1st, here are some tips to stay motivated.

1. Set some lofty goals for the spring. No, you probably will not be an Olympian by springtime, but you can keep your eyes focused on a goal and get ready for it, even in the winter months. All you have to do is use your feet andget some warm clothing or have access to a treadmill. Find a race in your area for sometime in February, March or April and start training for it! There are running plans all over the internet for people of every exercise level. If you don’t run, there are challenging fitness games for game systems like the Wii. Having your eye on a goal will give you that little extra push to get out the door or pass on that doublefudgecheesecake-extravaganza, with whipped cream.

2. And speaking of Olympics, did you know that the Winter Olympics begins in February? When the Summer Olympics was on, I had just begun my fitness journey and watching Michael Phelps and the amazing Dara Torres inspired me to keep focused on my little ol’ goals (I mean, they didn’t get to the Olympics by eating fattyfriednesses or complaining about working out, right? I know, I know, they have sponsors and trainers and all of that, but they did have to start somewhere!) Find some inspiring videos like the 2010 Olympics to watch, or a DVD about the Ironman World Championships which follows the tough roads and challenges the athletes had to face to get there, or watch Lance in an old Tour de France, anything that might fuel the fire. (I know someone who has to watch Rocky to get pumped up, so to each his/her own!) And while you’re at it, update your workout playlist (a little Eye of the Tiger, maybe, or perhaps a little “Lose Yourself” by Eminem…)

3. It’s that time of year when people are in a giving mood, so when they ask, tell them you need some new cold weather gear! Don’t let cold weather keep you inside; get some new gloves, running tights, sweatshirts, windbreakers, and gear specifically made to keep all your heat in. Plus, everyone feels better about working out when they have some cool new duds on!

4. Somewhere in your home, create a Wall of Motivation. Post inspiring and motivational quotes and stickers, “before” pictures, pictures of athletes, anything that moves you to keep going. Mine is a cork board on the back of my bedroom door, so every time I leave my bedroom, I see a picture of Chrissie Wellington, three-time Ironman Champion! Gosh she’s ripped. I love her.

5. As I always say, there’s safety in numbers! Connect with other moms on Twitter, forums like the one here at MomActive, find a running group or running partner in your area or virtual group of people who are trying to stay motivated together. The more people who are in the same boat with you, the easier it will be to dig deep and find your motivation this season.

6. Finally, make today your New Year’s Day. Every January 2nd, you walk into the gym and all the treadmills and ellipticals are taken. That’s because everyone is starting on their “new me”. They are all feeling guilty for what hath transpired during the holidays and they all waited until after they packed it on to start moving. They’ve all made resolutions that this will finally be their year. (And I truly hope it is!) But don’t wait until January. Go now. Make the time. You still have about four weeks left to get a jump on all the gym-crashers. Besides, starting now will help you battle the holiday bulge and some of those indiscretions, and it will give you that much-needed “me-time” you need in between all of the holiday madness.