Find the new you in 2008

Find the new you in 2008

If 2007 wasn't your best year ever, or you simply overindulged at Christmas, or you want to look good for that special occasion, then now is the time to find the new you in 2008. Make this the year you kick those bad habits and keep to your New Year resolutions for good!

Whether you want to give up smoking, lose weight, get a new job or just feel fitter and better about yourself, here are some rules to follow.

Get slim!
This morning I saw a lady on TV who had bought her wedding dress four sizes smaller than her current size. Four sizes smaller! She had just six months to lose the weight and fit into that dress. Well, good luck to her I say, but is that a realistic goal?

Any diet which promises a weight loss of for instance 10 pounds in 10 days is doomed to fail from Day One. As well as putting a strain on our bodies, such a low-calorie regime will leave us starved of food and essential nutrients and struggling to keep up with work and chores. And to cap it all, the body goes into starvation mode and the metabolism slows down, making long term weight loss even harder.

The British Dietetic Association recommends a weight loss of just 1 or 2 lbs per week (sounds depressing I know) to ensure we stay healthy and keep off those pounds for good. Visit the site at http://www.bdaweightwise.com/ for more information.

Get Fit!
Some of us love exercise and some of us hate it and that is a fact! But for those who hate going to the gym and pounding away on the treadmill, the music thudding away in the background like some form of water torture, face like a beetroot and calories still only racking up at about one a minute, it's time to reduce the intensity and increase the enjoyment.

Exercising 3-4 times a week for about 45 minutes will keep your fitness levels high and it needn't be punishment.

Try yoga, pilates, dancing (see our article called Get strictly fit and gorgeous), swimming - or if ploughing up and down the pool is too tedious then Aqua Aerobics is great for anyone with joint injuries as the water supports your body weight.

Get Happy!
Don't be so pre-occupied with your body that you forget your mental well-being. Set aside time for yourself each week to relax, whether it's in the bath with a good book, surrounded by scented candles, in front of the TV in your dressing gown and slippers with your feet up or by getting someone else to do the cooking and the washing up for you! Whatever you choose, just make sure it's a bit of 'me-time'.

Declutter your house. Getting rid of your junk can be quite cathartic and make you feel less like you are living in a constant muddle. Of course your home may be perfectly de-cluttered already, in which case, some retail therapy may be a much better option. Both work well for me!

Find an evening class. No, not the gym or pilates, or thrashing about on the squash court, we are talking about your mind now, not your body. Try water-colour painting or learning a new language or creative writing. There are lots of classes all over the country, often held at the local school or college. But make sure it's not too competitive or stressful or you will defeat the object of going.

Quit smoking!
Well that goes without saying, doesn't it....

Happy New Year!

Veronika
Health & Beauty Editor

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