If you have serious fat loss goals, a maintenance period is a necessary part of your fat loss journey. If you have spent considerable amount of time in a calorie deficit, you should plan on taking periodic maintenance phases to add in more calories and give your body (and brain) a little break.

With the holidays around the corner, there’s no doubt that our calendars will start to fill up with extra social events these next two months. And whether you’re at a family gathering, a work party, or a gift exchange with friends, chances are food will be involved. Here are some strategies to help you stick to your goals through the holidays.

If your goal is to achieve optimal health, you should focus on finding balance in your diet. Optimal health means something different to each of us. To me, it means learning to find the balance needed in your diet to maintain a healthy body and build sustainable eating habits that will serve you long-term. Being lean is great, and getting strong is cool, but what good are those goals if they leave your health compromised?