I’ve been talking to my clients this week about the summertime and how all of the vacations and events have us all feeling a little fluffy.

In Bermuda most social events, especially in the summer are full of food and drinks. We are offered cakes, cookies and rich foods and sticking to your healthy intentions can be challenging.

When trying to shape up or slim down, it’s easy to feel annoyed with yourself or guilty after giving in to whatever’s on offer at parties and social gatherings.

All too often, we end up feeling that if we have one piece of chocolate we might as well have the whole bar or, if we have one drink we might as well have six.

Ultimately, the guilt sets in — we’ve enjoyed the food and drink; we’ve skipped a workout.

This mentality isn’t great however there’s actually nothing wrong with feeling guilty.

Being mindfully aware and accepting this emotion can actually be the start to getting you back on track.

The most important thing is to try and switch your mind back to the positive.

Try not to hold onto the guilt. Having a positive mental attitude creates an energy which makes you refocus on working out while allowing yourself to enjoy the weekend’s fun.

Try to think about your health and wellbeing long-term. Life happens and we’ll take breaks, whether it’s due to an unexpected late night out or time off island. If you’re thinking longterm you’re less likely to have any guilt.

So, the next time you feel bad about yourself because you think you’ve overindulged while socialising, don’t forget to give yourself some emotional support and encouragement.

Start noticing your wins and give yourself credit for them. Maybe you didn’t make it to the gym over the weekend, but perhaps you slept for eight hours each night, drank more water and added greens to your meals.

At the end of the day, life is about balance and moderation; some weeks are better than others. Sometimes there may be dinners out every night and other times thoughtful home cooking.

Sometimes we need to relax and enjoy the occasional indulgence without a side of guilt. It helps if you plan ahead — adapt your training regime and nutrition before or after a holiday, for example.

Planning ahead means you won’t feel like you’ve let yourself down or that you aren’t achieving your goals. Make peace with your choices even if they’re not a part of your original plan.

I can’t stress enough the importance of giving yourself a break, of accepting and enjoying being relaxed or less strict. After all, life is for living.

Strike a balance, eat some chocolate and B-Active For Life!

• Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Look for B. ActiveForLife on Facebook