As the nights get cooler and holiday jingles liven up the air, it can only mean one thing: That time is coming around again when most everyone piles on the pounds!

With a week to go before Christmas, it is tempting to put off those weight-loss plans and fitness resolutions in favor of lunch-a-thons, beer runs, and other belly busters. After all the merriment, however, people rarely get to shed off the excesses of the season, so more weight piles on year after year.

It is for this very reason that the best way to put off those gains is to avoid overindulging and keep on moving. There is simply no excuse to skip exercising nowadays, since there are already many options available when it comes to fitness equipment and accessories, home gym setups, and work out routines.

A visit to a complete sports and fitness store will open your eyes to a wide selection of sports gear that will keep you engaged in an active lifestyle to keep unwanted kilos away.

“Maintaining exercise discipline and keeping fit is certainly more challenging during this season,” Toby Claudio, Toby’s Sports president, tells The Manila Times. “Nevertheless, our store is as committed as ever to support your training and fitness needs, so we urge everyone to battle the bulge over the holidays.”

Setting up a basic home gym allows you to work out in the comfort of your home. Since running is one of the sim-plest and most effective forms of exercise for burning calories, having a treadmill will allow you to burn the most calories in the least amount of time.

A great cardiovascular workout that also tones leg muscles can also be had with stationary bikes, which give the benefits of running with less strain on your joints.

Dumbbells, by far the most popular piece of exercise gear, are suitable for improving health and fitness and developing muscle endurance. But for best results, incorporate weight lifting into a circuit workout, which can help with body toning and sculpting.

While it is tempting to indulge in the spirit of the season, it is best to always work out everything you put in. So eat to your heart’s delight but hit the gym—whether home or way—the very next day. It will save you from doing double time on cardio in the New Year.

Toby’s Sports has new outlets at Ayala Harbor Point, Robinson’s Place Manila, and the Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna. For more infor-mation, call 642-4414 to 15 or 628-1282 to 83; or visit www.tobys.com