Help for a healthy start

Leading a healthier lifestyle is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions yet most people have gone back to their old ways by the time February comes. But, local health officials are working together to make getting healthy easier. 

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Rochdale Borough Council and Link4Life have launched a new website to help borough residents improve their lifestyle, www.doyoufeelgood.org. 

Visitors to the site will find useful tips and advice on how to lead a healthy lifestyle by quitting smoking, losing excess weight, eating a balanced diet, regularly exercising and drinking alcohol in moderation.  Importantly, it also includes information about local services and activities that can provide help and support, as well as how to contact them. 
Public Health Consultant, Wendy Meston, said: “The simplest ways to get healthy are to stop smoking, eat a balanced diet including five portions of fruit and veg and take part in 30 minutes of exercise every day.

“Although it sounds easy enough, in reality it can be quite difficult to keep going and really make a difference to your health, especially if you’re doing it alone.  A good idea is to set a realistic goal and stick to it, even write it down as it helps to you to focus on what you want to achieve.

“You don’t have to struggle alone though; there are a number of local services that can help to keep you on track, which can be found through the new ‘do you feel good?’ website.  Using an NHS or local authority service as support can make a big difference to helping you achieve your goal.”


Top 10 tips for a healthier you:

1. If you smoke stop, or at least reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke to one or two per day.
2. Take part in regular exercise for at least 30 minutes five or more days per week.
3. If you drink alcohol, try not to drink more than three to four units for men and two to three units for women each day. 
4. Don’t go on faddy diets, they don’t work and are too hard to sustain.
5. Choose a realistic goal to work towards by using one of the health pledges at www.doyoufeelgood.org
6. Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.
7. Swap low fibre foods (white bread, pasta and potatoes) for wholegrain versions and pulses (mixed beans, granary bread and brown rice). This will keep blood sugar levels steady and keep you feeling full for longer so you don’t crave sugary treats.
8. Reduce salt as it encourages your body to retain water. Salt hides in everything these days, so read labels and watch out for high sodium contents.
9. Be a role model for your family and lead by example.
10. Don’t skip meals- eat three times a day including breakfast. 

 'Do you feel good?’ has also launched a series of leaflets which brings together relevant information for men, women, children, young people, older people and the Asian community on how to lead a healthy lifestyle. 

The leaflets are available in some GP practices, health centres and community areas or can be downloaded from www.doyoufeelgood.org.