The holiday season is now behind us and for many the New Year means losing those extra pounds that have accumulated after having indulged on one too many slices of fruit cake. In my opinion the secret to shedding these lingering calories is to participate in winter hiking and camping trips. It’s one of the best ways to have your cake and eat it too! Literally!

Taking gender, height, age, weight and packweight into consideration, it’s estimated that one may burn between 600 and 800 calories per hour on a winter hike. And if the temperatures are below freezing, your body will expend more calories during the night just to stay warm. This means that you’ll need to eat and you’ll need to eat often. Be sure to balance carbohydrates, fats and proteins, but don’t worry about packing on the pounds because most of those stubborn calories will melt away before they have a chance to stick to your waistline. Cheese and chocolate, two of my favorites, fuel the body well. But whatever you choose, even if it’s the leftover fruitcake, head for the mountains and enjoy the winter.