As the New Year gets underway, you may find your mind begins to switch from thoughts of chocolate Yule log, basted turkey and other Christmas indulgences to plans for improving your fitness. And if you’ve overdone it just a tad on the booze and brandy butter this festive period, you might be thinking it’s time to get detoxing… Well that’s great news! As far as we’re concerned, focusing on your overall health and fitness as one of your New Year’s resolutions is the way to go. As long as it doesn’t fizzle out by mid-February. So how do you achieve a fit and healthy lifestyle that lives on long after the January sales? Here are our top 5 tips to get you on the right track… 1. Say no to fad diets Along with the New Year comes the inevitable stream of fad diets. But if one of your goals is to lose weight healthily and improve your diet in the long-term, the answer is actually far more straightforward than a complicated eating plan – simply eat 3 healthy meals a day, making sure you include plenty of energy-fuelled fruit and vegetables. This way, your body is kept energised and means you’re far less likely to grab a Mars bar mid-morning due to a skipped breakfast. [caption id="attachment_20" align="alignnone" width="300"]Strawberries Include plenty of fruit and vegetables in your diet[/caption] And remember - this doesn’t mean you can’t have the odd treat if you fancy it. In fact, completely denying yourself something you enjoy may mean you get fed up and ‘fall off the wagon’ entirely. The key is moderation. 2. Find a work out regime that suits you To keep up a regular exercise plan, it’s essential you find something that suits you. Running on a treadmill is not necessarily for everyone. You may want to join a gym and try out some classes to motivate you, take up jogging with a friend or work out at home. The choice is yours. Working out at home is becoming increasingly popular with more and more people opting to invest in home fitness equipment. The great thing about it is that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home, you can create your ideal gym space – and you never have to suffer that frustrating wait for your favourite abs machine to free up! [caption id="attachment_38" align="alignnone" width="300"]Home fitness and gym equipment Home fitness equipment[/caption] Whatever you prefer to use, be it a cross trainer, multi-gym or free weights such as dumbbells, there are loads to choose from to suit your needs. And if you’re worried about space, you needn’t fret - lots of larger equipment on the market nowadays is compactible and can be stored away, such as folding treadmills. Choose your equipment, select your favourite workout music and you’re away! Quick tip: Whatever you enjoy doing, do try to get some variety into your work out to make sure you don’t get bored as well as to keep your body guessing. Don’t be confined to the exercise bike, for example – maybe get the mountain bike out and hit the fresh air, or try out a fitness class? 3. Don’t overdo the alcohol units Many of us like a drink. It can help relax us and feel better after a stressful day. But overdoing it is definitely not good for your overall health – or your waistline. If you regularly drink during the week, try to limit yourself to drinking just at the weekends and try to avoid lots of beer and wine which are high in calories. Stay hydrated: It’s so important to ensure you’re drinking enough fluid – alcohol not included! The European Food Safety Authority recommends that women should drink about eight 200ml glasses of fluid a day and men should drink 10*. And you should remember that that amount increases with the more exercise you do. Rehydrating your body is one of the most important things you should keep on top of. And you can’t beat good, plain old water! Depending on your fitness goals, you might also want to consider introducing protein drinks and/or sports supplements into your diet. These can help with a variety of fitness targets from weight loss to promoting muscle gain and enhancing overall performance. 4. Lower your stress levels We all have moments of feeling stressed and it’s important to find ways to combat this. One great way is to stay active. Physical activity can really help reduce stress intensity so you can actually think more clearly. Cardio fitness equipment is really good for burning calories and stress by releasing endorphins, which trigger positivity. 5. Stay on track with targets… With a hectic schedule, it can be easy to get distracted from a fit and healthy lifestyle. To help avoid diversion, do set yourself some goals you can keep track of. For example, if you have a target weight, make sure you monitor how well you’re doing. Seeing your progress and having something to train towards will help spur you on! If you’re worried about skipping workouts, keep a strict workout schedule, setting exact amounts of training you have to complete each week. Perhaps you could give yourself a reward for keeping on track? But make it calorie free, such as a massage or a new DVD you’re after, rather than a slice of carrot cake! We’ll be bringing you more health and fitness tips and advice, but do get in touch if you have any questions. Send us your comments below or speak to us on Twitter or Facebook. *Source: NHS.co.uk