16 New Year New You • Health, Fitness & Nutrition


10 ways to quit smoking and lose weight


New Year resolutions often fail, but that’s not a reason to quit quitting — especially when your health’s at stake. Words: Sam Lewis


1/ Make a concrete plan — don’t fall into the trap of setting a long-term goal without creating a plan of how to achieve it.


2/ Don’t be over ambitious and unrealistic. Set modest, gradual changes, such as cutting down the number of cigarettes a day or using elec- tronic cigarettes, or slowly reducing the number of calories consumed or forgoing takeaways. Remember, a slip-up is inevitable: forgive yourself and immediately get back on course.


3/ Understand your goal. What will be the effects of quitting smoking? If you lose X number of pounds, will it help you fit into your favourite dress or reduce your chances of becoming diabetic? While it’ll be good for your health, don’t expect it to transform your life.


4/ Join a support group, make a public announce- ment or seek the help of a mentor. Some people like to shame themselves into


Smoking and weight loss will once again be top of many people’s New Year’s resolutions in 2018, with health the priority among those commit- ting to a change. But while our intentions may be good, the


outcome is seldom positive. Around two-thirds of the UK’s nine million


smokers want to give up, according to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), but most people fail at least four times before they successfully quit. And, when it comes to losing weight, studies


show that of the people who start dieting in the New Year, most generally last only a matter of weeks, with lack of commitment and a loss of motivation among the main hurdles. However, while changing behaviour that’s


become routine and habitual is difficult, it’s more detrimental not to try. Studies show that those who set themselves


goals and resolutions are more likely to achieve them than those who don’t. So, what can be done to increase your chances of success? Here are our tips.


New Year New You recommends...


Feel supreme in 2018 ChemistDirect.co.uk When it comes to making a change this new year, we all know that willpower alone may not be enough. Whether your New Year’s resolution is to finally kick those cigarettes or perhaps lose some of that extra weight from an indulgent festive season, ChemistDirect.co.uk have the products you need to help make success a practical reality. To make sure you start 2018 in the best way, visit chemistdirect.co.uk/new-me


succeeding while others prefer to ask for support from friends and family.


5/ Make a list of triggers and create a plan to avoid them. If you can’t have a drink at the pub without a cigarette or a packet of crisps, avoid it and give yourself an alternative treat.


6/ Track your progress or, as some experts say, ‘ink it, don’t think it’. Highlight your successes and keep track of how much cash you’re saving.


7/ Cut down alcohol and stay well hydrated. Some cravings and hunger can be alleviated by slowly drinking a large glass of water, while alcohol can trigger the craving to smoke or eat.


8/ Chew gum to help you lay of cigarettes and food. 9/ Exercise. It’ll boost endorphins and also burn calories. 10/ Reward yourself. Replace smoking or eating with an alternative source of pleasure. You deserve it.


Finding the right therapy for you FHT Alongside standard medical care, complementary therapies are a great way to help you manage your family’s health and wellbeing. Whether you’re looking to simply relax at the end of a stressful day, or you need support with a long-term health problem or sports injury, what’s really important is choosing a therapist you can trust. Find a professional therapist near you on the FHT’s Accredited Register, independently approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. fht.org.uk/findatherapist


Help navigating healthcare policies Medischeme Medischeme appreciates how difficult it is to navigate through, and understand, the hundreds of healthcare policies on offer from the UK’s insurers. Medischeme works for you and not the insurer, listens to your requirements, and then uses its extensive experience and sophisticated software to match the correct policies to your needs. Then, Medischeme will present your options, enabling you to choose an arrangement that satisfies your needs. medischemehealth.co.uk


For your health. For Living. Bupa A Bupa health assessment builds a clear picture of where your current health is and identifies any future health risks. Following your assessment, you’ll be given access to a wide range of support tools plus a Bupa Lifestyle Coach who’ll provide guidance and check your progress. Whatever your lifestyle, book your Bupa health assessment today and get on track to a healthier you. 68% of Bupa customers had lost weight by their first coaching call, and an impressive 27% also gave up smoking. bupa.co.uk


Saturday 6th January 2018


Seven ways to keep fit and stay motivated


keep going when you feel like giving up. And it’s not as expensive as you might think.


It’s time to rekindle that childhood feeling that made it so hard to stop activities and come inside when called — that feeling that kept you playing football or riding your bike


A recent MINDBODY survey found that 25% of adults living in Britain never exercise or exercise less than once a month, but that 22% of these say they’d be encouraged to attend fitness classes if it felt less ‘like a chore’


lists, but few people stick to it past those first few weeks. The secret is to find a fitness activity you actually enjoy, one that keeps you going back time and time again. It’s time to rekindle that childhood feeling


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that made it so hard to stop activities and come inside when called — that feeling that kept you playing football or riding your bike as the sun went down. Here are seven activities to try that might just put the fun back into fitness:


Aerial fitness Ever fancied learning a circus skill? If you’ve got a head for heights, aerial fitness might be just the thing for you. Whatever the exercise — yoga, trapeze, hoops, corde lisse or silks — the key thing here is that everything you do is done high up, while suspended in the ceiling space of the studio, attached to various bits of equipment. Aerial fitness works almost every muscle in your body and gives vent to your creative side.


nything can become a chore if you don’t change it up once in a while. Getting fit is at the top of most New Year’s resolutions


Dance (including pole) Dance provides a full-body aerobic workout. It’s divided into different tracks that provide peaks and troughs of intensity — the overall intensity of a class varies depending on the style you’re doing. And one of the great things about it is that you only need a pair of trainers and loose, comfortable clothing to get started. Pole fitness combines dance and acrobatics on a vertical metal pole to provide a fun, low-impact workout.


Pilates reformer This provides similar benefits to Pilates — improved strength, posture, flexibility and toned muscles — but uses a piece of stretch and resistance floor equipment developed by creator, Joseph Pilates. The reformer is so named because it brilliantly transforms and corrects the natural imbalances that arise from daily repetitive stresses, like sitting too much.


Personal training Live like a celebrity and have an exercise programme that’s completely tailored to you. Personal trainers motivate you to set goals and


Barre Is a gentle, ballet-inspired workout that keeps limbs long and lean, stomachs flatter, waists trimmer, and is used by Victoria’s Secret models, among others, who want to create definition and sculpt their muscles. The idea behind barre is to exercise muscles like a professional dancer, but without the need for pointe shoes.


Boxing Classes take a variety of formats, but typically involve shadow boxing, skipping, hitting pads, kicking punchbags, press-ups, shuttle runs and sit-ups, rather than actual boxing. It’s a totally safe and fun way to release stress as well as channel your more aggressive side.


Bootcamp Is based on army-style training regimes, but tailored to be a little more ‘civilian friendly’. While most classes are led by former or serving members of the military — generally the fittest group of people on the planet — expect some- thing more akin to the PE classes you had at school. The idea is to get everyone involved, so expect push-ups, star jumps and team games, as well as circuit training.


Be inspired to find your ideal workout by downloading the free MINDBODY app to find, book and pay for fitness classes near you. uk.mindbodyonline.com/get-the-app or search for ‘MINDBODY’ on the app stores.


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