As we head toward the end of summer and back into the season when it’s a lot easier to hide those few extra pounds, many of us will inevitably slack up on our fitness regimen.

Then, by the time the holidays roll around, we start thinking about all the delicious, decadent culinary indulgences that await us. Sadly, thoughts of dieting and weight management are all but forgotten until Spring.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. (and you don't need to pay for WW meetings to be reminded!)

Remember how hard it was to get back into your post-holiday or New Year’s resolution workout routine?

If you keep the momentum on fitness up even after summer ends, it will be a lot easier (and less stressful) to start bikini shopping once the warm weather begins its slow return.

Learn to think of fitness as an ongoing marathon to create a healthy lifestyle instead of just passing phases that routinely get followed up by a period of resigned disinterest. Here are a few tips to help you stay fit and fabulous all year-round:

Change Things Up at the End of Summer

Lazy days at the beach might be coming to an end and you may be covering up that beach body soon, but don’t use that as an excuse to slack off on fitness. It’s okay to slow down a little bit and give your regular gym routine a bit of a break, but don’t abandon it completely.

Decrease the amount of days you work out or switch to a less strenuous exercise such as brisk walking.

Create a timeline for how long you’re going to stick to this altered schedule and then gradually work your way back up to a more challenging routine.

This will help keep you on track without making you feel overwhelmed as the demands of school, work and post-vacation life begin to take over.

Stay Hydrated

For some people, summertime is the only time that they drink the amount of water they should be drinking on a daily basis. But ice cold water has a lot more to offer than just being refreshing on a hot day.

It’s great for weight loss because it helps to push out toxins in the body and, if you drink enough of it, it helps to make you feel full. Consequently, drinking lots of water can work to reduce the urges you may have to overeat or load up on junky snack foods.

Put the Kibosh on Late-Night Binges

Yes, summertime is a care-free time when many “regular” schedules go out the window. The kids are out of school, long vacations are planned and impromptu picnics or evening lawn concerts become the norm.

It’s easy to fall into a routine of eating random snacks at all hours of the night because, chances are, you’re staying up later that usual. In fact, snacking too much seems to be in our DNA!

Late-night snacking, however, is one of the biggest contributors to weight gain. By all means, enjoy the drinks and food at those outdoor concerts, but as you ease into the fall, start wrapping up the nibbling by 8 or 9pm.