Health: How to stop that New Year diet from crashing

GP Dr Zahid Chauhan

If you have resolved to lose weight, exercise more and finally give up cigarettes in 2017, then you have my wholehearted support, says Dr Chauhan.

However, beware, statistics show that just one in ten New Year’s resolutions are actually kept, with well over half being broken within the first month.

Many don’t stand the test of time because they are knee-jerk, unrealistic and focus too much on punishment rather than encouragement and enjoyment.

Take for example, going on a crash diet. Depriving yourself of food and even skipping meals is dangerous for your metabolism and means you miss out on important vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists argue that some supposed fat-shrinking diets actually raise your cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.

A failure to instantly shift the pounds can also trigger the very issues that caused weight gain in the first place – for example, comfort eating to ease anxiousness.

The secret to longevity in improving your health is a bit of thought and planning – and finding the resolutions that suit you best. Balance is the key to a good diet and the NHS offers some superb tips on everything from cutting down (not altogether giving up) on salt and sugar and getting your five-a-day dose of fruit and vegetables on a budget.

See www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/Goodfoodhome.aspx

Preparation and proper goals are also important when it comes to exercise, too. High intensity schemes promise the perfect body - but can actually damage it. Joint wear and tear and even the possibility of heart incidents can occur if you push things too far, too fast.

Better to start slowly and make exercise a part of your daily routine. You may even want to take time to find the activity that you like best – that way, you will want to do it. Again, the NHS offers sound advice on climbing from the couch to running five kilometres at:

www.nhs.uk/livewell/fitness/Pages/Fitnesshome.aspx

We are all individuals and finding the best solution for you, applies when it comes to stopping smoking, too. As with the gym equipment adverts and the crash diets that saturate our screens in New Year, smoking cessation products promise to cure cravings and bring us the benefits of a cigarette-free life. I am not disputing that some do indeed work but so do support groups and other therapies. So, explore all the options at:

www.nhs.uk/livewell/smoking/Pages/stopsmokingnewhome.aspx

If you want to make a radical change to your health – including reducing your alcohol intake – it is always a wise move to visit your doctor and discuss drawing up a plan, first. The NHS now has a myriad of services to support weight loss, promote exercise and good nutrition, examine some of the issues that lead to addiction and enable smokers to kick the habit. Best of all, with our support, you can do this safely and build up your resolve to ensure that 2017 is indeed the year you take control of your health and your wellbeing.