Ways to kick start your New Year to a new fit and healthy you........

Choose an exercise you enjoy.

Find an exercise buddy or get a personal trainer.

Set yourself goals and make sure you write your goals down.

Don’t let a bad day or week throw you off track.

Sign up for an event.

Nutrition

Firstly, clear out all the junk food and alcohol from Christmas and New Year so you have no more temptations.

Don’t choose a fad diet because you want a quick fix. Choose a healthy balanced diet that you are able to maintain.

Count calories or sign up to weight watchers or just eat a healthy balanced diet combined with exercise.

Tips:

Write a food diary

Do your measurements

Don’t skip breakfast

Don’t allow yourself to get too hungry.

Don’t go shopping when you are hungry because you tend to want to buy everything and it is normally all the “naughty foods”. Write a list before you go and make sure you stick to it.

Eat more fruit and veg

Reduce the portion size of your meals

Stay away from processed,fatty,sugary and starchy foods

Plan for the day ahead so you don’t find yourself grabing a chocolate ect. It may take a little extra effort but will be worth it. Try carrying around plastic pots of fruit, nuts and seed to nibble on in between meals. If you work long hours try and cook food and freeze it so you have healthy ready prepared meals.

Try  to eat little and often.

It is important to sit down and eat your meals and try not to sit in front of the tv. Chew your food slowly and this will help send signals to your brain to say you are full.

If you are still hungry after a meal, wait 20 minutes before grabbing some more food. Your body can sometimes take this long to register it has had enough. Also you could mistake hunger for thirst so have a glass of water instead.

Try and identify when you are more likely to want to overeat. Then find alternative things to do to keep you occupied, go for a walk, go to the gym, have a relaxing bath.

Most importantly learn to say NO…..do not give into temptation. Your friends and colleagues should not be encouraging you to eat sweets and desserts but should hopefully be supportive.

Be aware of the calories hidden in starbucks and costa coffees. Ask for the skinny version.