Making resolutions is part of the new year ritual. Many people like to start a new year afresh - with hopes for a healthier year than the one just past. However, with nearly 80% of resolutions failing each year, there is a high chance that the healthier you won't eventuate. Here are 5 tips on how to make sure your new year resolution is a success.

The Christmas holiday period can be a difficult time to fit in a workout; with family visiting, kids at home, travelling, and inconvenient gym opening hours. Below is a short workout you can do to keep up your fitness regime during the holidays. You can do this workout anywhere, all you will need is a small area and a chair/step/bench.

Hummus is a great dish if you are looking for a healthy, yet tasty snack. Hummus' main ingredient is chickpeas. Chickpeas, like all legumes, are a valuable source of protein and are low in saturated fat. They are a good source of fibre, complex carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals; such as B1, B2, niacin, calcium and iron.

Healthy diets tend to go out the window at Christmas, and it is the time of year when many people gain a few unwanted kilos. Below are seven healthy eating tips to keep your diet in check, without having to deprive yourself of Christmas treats.

Along with my top songs and top workout songs of 2009, here is a list of my favourite albums for the year. If you haven't got these albums, I strongly recommend putting them on your xmas wish list.

2009 proved to be another good year for music. I wanted to put together a list of my top 10 songs for the year, but there were so many great songs that I had to broaden the list to 20. The songs in my list are those, that no matter how much I have heard them, continue to excite me.

I was recently asked to put together a program for a male in his late 20s, who competes in triathlons, including the mega Ironman – 4km swim, 180km bike ride, and 42km run. Competing in an Ironman is no mean feat, and a very high level of fitness is required to even consider competing in such races.

Music plays an important role in my workouts, and there is no doubt that a good song can push me through a tough boxing workout, keep the pace up in a cardio session, or push me to my limits in a strength and conditioning workout.

I love bananas. I have at least one every day with my breakfast. Bananas are loaded with vitamins and minerals. They are a particular good source of vitamin B6, and also provide folate, potassium and soluble fibre.