Let’s face it, during the holidays it takes an truly committed person to pass up the parties for the gym (or even think to wake up a little earlier to squeeze in both). I know it’s a love-hate relationship all through December for me; I love to celebrate with friends, but then I feel like I need to run 11 miles to redeem myself—suddenly that extra glass of wine and tiramisu weigh on my shoulders like Santa’s sack of toys.

So here’s what I’ve been doing to stay somewhat on track this season (and for those of you who have asked how my abs stay so lean, I’m about to reveal the trick):

I DO WHAT I LOVE, which for me is dance and martial arts-inspired workouts, and then I tack on a little extra. I’ve added only fifteen minutes of sculpting onto my cardio, 3 days a week and it’s just enough to keep me balanced and in good shape this month.

As for the abs: part of it is genetics, the other 75 % is discipline. Whether I am dancing or walking, I’m always holding my core tight (that IS NOT the same as holding your breath!) and I stay away from too much dairy and starchy carbs. That being said, my weakness is cheese (and French fries), so I’m not going to kid anyone by pretending I don’t indulge from time to time. I’m hyper conscious about my stomach muscles as a dancer and that really contributes to why it’s toned. You don’t need to do a million sit-ups and crunches a day to have a nice abdomen, just hold your center tight and you’ll see an improvement. A ballet instructor once told me that if you tighten your stomach muscles, you increase the range of motion in your legs (for the ronde de jambes and developes) and I’ve been fixated ever since…

But if you’re really feeling guilty about holiday treats and looking for something more than a measly fifteen minutes, here’s my regime post Christmas: 45 minutes of cardio (usually running) and light weights in the morning and a dance class at night after work (5 nights a week). I do this for about a month before I easy up and return to my 3-4 day a week gym/dance commitment. And with that schedule I end the day feeling like a champ, which motivates me to keep eating healthy…until next December anyway.