Tips and tricks to a healthy lifestyle during the silly season

Caitlyn Davey • April 2, 2025

While there’s a lot of buzz around the holiday "silly season," not many are discussing practical ways to make a real difference. The sheer length of the holidays can feel daunting, often making it harder to get back into a routine once the break is over.

Ultimately, it's about understanding what truly makes you happy. Letting yourself go completely may feel good in the moment, but by Monday morning, regret often sets in.


Managing Stress and Alcohol Consumption

As a collective, people don't always deal with stress very well—and that's often where alcohol enters the picture.

Alcohol can feel heavenly in the moment, acting as a social lubricant that amplifies connection, conversation, and liveliness. However, the toll it takes on your happiness later is significant.


“For guys especially, if you remove yourself from social situations with alcohol, you end up not seeing your friends anymore,”
Sean Carroll, Rebuild Health and Fitness owner and certified coach

Start Your Mornings Right

Starting your mornings on a positive note can have a huge impact, especially if you know you have important plans for the day.

Simple habits can make a difference:

  • Soak up some sunlight
  • Make your bed early
  • Eat a healthy breakfast like porridge or a smoothie
  • Engage in a bit of training or physical activity
  • Do anything that makes you feel good physically and mentally
“Just do something in a day that your future self is going to thank you for,”
James Batey, Rebuild Health and Fitness owner and coach

Smarter Alcohol Choices

When it comes to alcohol, what you drink matters more than you might think.


Instead of starting with heavy craft beers, opt for lighter choices like gin and tonic, which typically contain fewer calories. By doing so, you control your calorie intake for at least the first few drinks. Later, even if the evening escalates, you’ve already mitigated some of the damage.


“Of course, it’s not the perfect scenario either, but it’s a lot better than starting the day with a dozen craft beers,”
Sean Carroll

Blend In Without Overdoing It

Often, it's the social environment that drives drinking habits. People naturally want to blend in.


The truth is, you can be just as happy with one drink in your hand without overindulging. There's no need to go all out to enjoy yourself. This way, your body and health won't suffer, and you’ll still feel socially satisfied.


Eating Smart During the Holidays

Even during Christmas feasts laden with roasted turkeys and rich desserts, it's possible to make healthier choices:

  • Choose leaner cuts of meat
  • Remove visible fats
  • Avoid red or processed cuts


It's crucial to prioritize high-nutrient foods throughout the holiday months so you feel energized rather than sluggish.

When hearty meals abound, aim to:

  • Ensure meals include protein
  • Control calorie intake where possible
  • Balance your week: If you have a big weekend coming up, keep your weekdays stable with healthier meals and habits.


Simple Trick: Use Smaller Plates

One small trick to cut down on calories during holiday meals: eat on smaller plates.


You can’t fit as much food on a small plate, and you're less likely to get up for multiple servings. As a result, you’ll feel full even though you’ve consumed less, helping you manage your intake without feeling deprived.


Final Thoughts

The holiday season doesn't have to derail your health and fitness goals. By making small, conscious choices around alcohol, food, and daily habits, you can enjoy the festivities while still setting yourself up for long-term success.



A little planning and mindfulness can go a long way toward ending the season feeling happy, healthy, and proud.

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July 22, 2025
A lot of people have completed a marathon but how many people have collapsed at 40km?

Sometimes you do everything right, and shit still doesn’t go to plan.
 Last weekend I ran in the Gold Coast Marathon, my first ever marathon. I trained properly, my body felt relatively good (all things considered when preparing to run 42.2km), I carb-loaded, and my race day nutrition was dialled in.
 I was ready.
 We set off. Jess and the kids met me at different points on the course with signs, the atmosphere was great. I loved seeing the kids with their signs. Pacing felt on point. The first 21km? Easy. I felt great. Maybe I should’ve drunk more water, but I didn’t think too much of it at the time.
 At 25km, I felt slower, but pace wise I was still holding well. I’d kept telling myself throughout the day "The race starts at 30km." And let me tell you, it does.
 By 30km, the sun was out, and I was starting to struggle. My watch started glitching so I had no real idea of my splits. I thought I was slowing down a lot (turns out I wasn’t), but the effort to keep the same pace suddenly felt 10x harder.
 I hadn’t taken on enough water. Usually, I can get away with lower fluids. Not this time. Dehydration crept in. hard.
 At 35km I was in survival mode, one foot in front of the other, flicking between moments of pain and little short lived waves of “let’s go.” But by 39km I was delirious. I could see the finish line, I hit the 40km mark (where I thought enjoyment might return to finish), and I collapsed.
 I was gone. Scary stuff.
 The last few hundred metres were a complete blur. All I remember is the crowd, the medics, and about five paramedics suddenly around me. I was vomiting, shaking, confused, in and out of it. I had this overwhelming, indescribable feeling, and honestly, for a moment, I thought I could die.
 My memory went. I couldn’t recall the day, the year, where I lived, or how to spell. I only knew who Jess and the kids were, and that I didn’t want them to see me with wires in me. 
 My temperature had hit 40°C. Blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, the medics and paramedics were incredible, I had a drip running into me within 10 to 15 minutes.
 As I already knew, I’m stubborn. I wanted to run it all. Not walk. Not stop and breathe and In hindsight, I should have. 
 Seems like my mind was just a bit stronger than my body on the day. I never thought I could push myself there in all honesty. 

Am I gutted? Of course, I was only 2km away but I gave it everything I had on that day. Heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration got me. 

I am always reminded here of the quote ‘The man in the arena’ look it up if you need. 
 Will I run 42.2km again? Yes, I feel I need to. 

Would I do things differently, now I’ve run 40km under race conditions? You bet, lessons learnt. Always lessons. Never be scared to not succeed. Be scared to never try in the first place. 
 We go again.
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