I hope you had a brilliant Christmas and enjoyed all the excesses that often comes with it. But your thoughts are probably already turning to the year ahead. New Years resolutions…..useful to some but not to most. They come with with unrealistic pressures that generally fizzle out far too quickly. Instead, create some stepping stones. Small steps that you can build on rather than a giant promise that generally fades to nothing and can leave feeling like you have failed.

If you are looking at losing weight then what you eat needs to be your first priority. Be honest with yourself. Write a food diary for at least a week and spot the trends that you can work on straight away. If you have a sweet treat daily, cut it down to two or three times a week. Same with wine or beer, reduce your current intake.

Increase your activity level. This can start by introducing a daily walk to your schedule. Go and explore your local area and find the hidden footpaths. Always loved swimming/cycling but not gone for years. Make the decision to fit it in to your week and regain your enjoyment of being active.

And this is where I come in…I enjoy strength training so my classes focus on getting the body stronger which is vital whatever your age. I run a beginners ‘Rebuild’ class and an indoor or outdoor ‘Repair’ class both of which are good starting points. If you are already familiar with many of the bodyweight and weight exercises, then try the Circuits class as this can easily be adapted so that your fitness levels can build without affecting other members of the class. And if you want something a bit more rough and ready and a bit more challenging, then try the boot camp. This can also be adapted to different fitness levels but it is the most intense of the classes that I run. Or if you have specific requirements or really on a mission to reach a target, then Personal Training is a good option.

Not sure about working out outside…. yes it’s quite cold and wet out during the winter months and getting out of bed is the often the hardest part but you honestly can’t underestimate the health benefits that you get from being outdoors and facing the elements. Dress for the weather, layer up, as you will warm up quickly and enjoy then mental boost that follows. It honestly can help to combat anxiety, depression and loneliness more than working out indoors.

These classes are ‘Rustic’. I cannot offer the frills and comfort of a gym but then not everyone wants that. This is a friendly option, especially if you are unconfident in yourself or your own ability where you can work on these areas without judgement.

So lastly have a very Happy New Year and choose a couple of small stepping stones to put into place and then instead of giving up before the end of January you can instead add a couple of more steps to build a healthier lifestyle which you can stick with for the rest of year and beyond.