From going vegan to banishing booze, experts reveal how to make New Year’s resolutions you can ACTUALLY stick to
Avoid falling off the New Year's resolution wagon with these full proof plans...
CHRISTMAS is over and a New Year means a new you, right?
In 2016, living a healthier lifestyle and losing weight were in the top three most popular New Year's resolutions, but while we all start off with good intentions, sometimes sticking to that January health plan can prove tricky.
So in an effort to avoid falling off the wagon faster than you can say "turkey leftovers", we ask the experts what January detoxes to start that you'll actually be able to stick to.
Here are their top picks of New Year's resolutions with staying power...
1. Go Flexi
"Veganuary" will be in full swing once again this New Year and while lot of us like the idea of going vegan, it is hard to stick to full time.
But that shouldn't stop you.
A new lifestyle trend is the flexitarian diet, where followers adopt a vegan diet Monday to Wednesday and then eat normally the rest of the week.
But why try it? Going vegan can mean that your diet is rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, according to Shona Wilkinson, nutritionist at SuperfoodUK.com.
She said: "In particular, excluding animal foods can mean consuming more of the all-important vegetables and fruits which, as well as providing vitamins and minerals, are excellent sources of a wide assortment of antioxidants that can help to protect our cells and tissues and have been found to have a role in supporting our immune system.”
If you're worried about missing out on protein, then adding a vegan protein powder to your morning smoothie can help give you a boost.
Martina Della Vedova, nutritionist at Natures Plus recommends Sunflower Protein Powder, because, "it provides all of the essential amino acids and it's well known for it’s ability to support health muscle growth and strength".
2. Dry January
With Christmas parties galore it's no surprise if you feel like you've gone into prosecco overload.
So giving up booze in January can do wonders for your well-being, plus if you sign up for Cancer Research's charity challenge, you'll be raising money for a good cause too.
Last year, a survey of those who took part in the month long sobriety challenge found that 79 per cent saved money, 62 per cent slept better and 42 per cent lost weight... so it really is win-win.
If you're not sure you can stay off the sauce for the whole month, Shona recommends giving yourself constant motivation.
She said: “Another small change you could make at this time, is to all your passwords.
"Try a powerful new reminder system whereby you have to type 'Gosober15' or 'Idontdrink' each time you log in to your social media, email or workspace.
"This will subtly give you a reminder of what you are achieving every day."
Shona added that checking your social media profiles to cut down the amount of pictures or references you have to alcohol.
She said: "Is your profile picture always that one of you holding an alcoholic drink? Do you Instagram photos of that exciting looking cocktail?
"Time to find a new photo of you doing something different and show the world that drinking is not the most interesting thing about you.”
3. Get back to the gym
You can ask for a fancy new gym membership for Christmas, but that's not going to get you out the door and on the treadmill when January rolls around.
Motivating yourself is too hard, so get someone else on board to share the burden.
Bradley Simmons, fitness guru and personal trainer, said: "There are so many classes and exercise programmes around that knowing who to train effectively can be very confusing.
"Personal Trainers offer quality assurance and can adapt exercises to you, to make sure you don’t injure yourself through poor form, strain an already dodgy knee or push yourself too much trying to keep up with the person next to you!"
If you're not ready for a PT but still don't want to go it alone, then a social fitness app can help you connect to fitness buddies in your area.
Bradley recommends trying Fitssi, which will help connect you with new workout buddies at professional lead sessions near you.
4. Athleisure
It turns out that just popping on your work out gear can help encourage you to do more exercise.
In fact, just wearing your trainers is a great place to start as a good reason to not avoid the gym.
But be careful that your feet don't suffer too much.
Dave Wain, expert podiatrist at Carnation Footcare, said:"If you’re taking up cycling, proper shoes are the most important piece of cycling equipment.
"Cycling shoes must have a stable shank to efficiently transfer power from your feet to the pedals.
"Wearing incorrect shoes can lead to foot pain or numbness, whereas specialist cycling shoes have stiff soles that can distribute pressure evenly over the pedal.
"This will also help you to pedal more efficiently.”
Dave recommends trying the Carnation PediRoller, which helps to reduce inflammation of the affected tissue and strengthen muscles in the sole of the foot.
And make sure you rest as much as possible and if the problem persists, visit a podiatrist.
5. New Years Cleanse
Overindulging over the festive period can leave you feeling the need to detox in the New Year to kick start your health.
And green juices are the perfect place to start.
If you get a Nutribullet for Christmas and have no idea what to do with it, try starting with two key ingredients: chlorella and spinach.
Chlorella helps to improve circulation as well as skin firmness.
Nutritionist, Cassandra Barns said: “It is also thought to help with decreasing cellulite on your skin and make it more elastic – this is due to the toxin removal properties and the ability to remove fat deposits from the skin.
"Try Natures Plus Ultra Green Juice Powder packed with super-algaes including not only chlorella but also organic spirulina and Irish Moss."
But if you need to clear your head, spinach is your best bet, Shona explained: “Spinach is a good source of folic acid and vitamin C, both of which are needed for production of neurotransmitters in the brain (substances that transmit nerve signals).
"Like other green vegetables, it is also a source of chlorophyll, which may favour the absorption of iron and promote red blood cell growth, to improve oxygen transport around the body and to the brain”.
6. Go Au Natural
Late nights, extra drinks and big meals can wreak havoc on your skin in December, so it's no surprise if your skin is looking less than clear when January comes knocking.
So if you're skin is showing a multitude of sins, experts recommend starting by detoxing from the inside out to get back to that glow, but organic skincare can also offer a boost.
Skincare expert at What Skin Needs, Sonja Dymalovski, recommends using a skincare that includes natural oils such as jojoba oil, as they calm the skin and reduce the chance of breakouts.
Related Stories
She said: “Natural oils tend to be much gentler on the skin which is why so many people favour organic skincare.
"Jojoba oil is easily absorbed into the skin, which is wonderful for people who might have drier skin.
"I would recommend using a organic serum like What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum as it also contains Plantolin which has anti-inflammatory properties.”