We've just got over Christmas, and New Year's Eve, we've got Australia Day just around the corner, and you can throw in all the other friendly barbecues in-between just for fun.
While the police remind us of the dangers of drink driving, we've also got Michelle Bridges who wants to remind us that alcohol is also not your friend when it comes to shedding kilos.
"Alcohol is full of empty calories unfortunately," she tells AAP.
"And it does dissolve your willpower - so you tend to overeat when you're drinking," says the personal trainer who has become a household name since appearing on Channel Ten's The Biggest Loser.
"Not to say that I'm against alcohol - I love a glass of wine, but I think that if you're drinking every day, you need to take a good hard look at yourself and think `Do I really need to drink every day?'."
Bridges, who has just released her new book, 5 Minutes a Day, Simple Tips for Weight-loss and Wellbeing, says every single healthy choice we make improves our overall health - immediately.
In fact, her book is filled with short, sharp messages designed to kick those who need a kick up the butt, as she likes to say.
"I think it's good to have a clean week and then have a couple of drinks on the weekend."
It's a good time, says Bridges to start replacing old habits with new habits.
Time to strengthen your willpower muscle, she writes in her book.
Nothing, but nothing, packs on the kilos like alcohol she says.
Think about it, she urges, when was the last time you were queuing for a kebab at 2am, sober?
Set yourself some rules before you go out, and intersperse alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones.
"If you know you make dumb food choices when you drink, then don't drink - be the designated driver instead. When you know yourself, you can save yourself a lot of torment."
And for those who mix business with pleasure, she has some words of wisdom.
"Avoid evening drinking sessions when travelling for work. Be a grown-up. Be wise. Leave the big nights out for the loser who'll be late and hung-over at the first meeting, unable to string a sentence together," she says in 5 Minutes a Day.
Bridges also doesn't have much sympathy for using work as an excuse for ignoring your wellbeing.
"I'm always hearing `But I travel for work' as the reason why someone can't get their act together with health and fitness," Bridges writes.
"Honestly, I have to say that I actually find it easier when I travel. I can order nutritious meals that someone else cooks, and I'm not at home doing everything that `needs doing', giving me more time to train.
"It's actually the best time to get into it.
"If you're travelling for work and staying in a big hotel, always order breakfast delivered to your room. The all-you-can-eat buffets are ridiculous and way too tempting, especially if you're going to be sitting on your butt all day in meetings."
* 5 Minutes a Day, Simple Tips for Weight-loss and Wellbeing by Michelle Bridges is published by Penguin and available now. RRP $12.95
By Julia Carlisle
