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A local nutritionist is urging islanders to remember that 'new year, new me' shouldn't mean 'new year, new diet fad.'
As New Year's resolutions are being made left, right and centre - it's easy to be taken in by the latest weight loss fad.
Everyone wants a quick fix solution, especially after indulging a little too much over the festive period, but are these health trends worth their salt?
Express columnist, and registered Sports and Exercise Nutritionist, Kit Chamier thinks not. In his first column for Express, he separates fact from fad as he busts a few myths about dieting trends...
Pictured: Kit gives his take on some of the latest dieting fads.
"As we fast approach the end of 2019 for most of us indulgence is at an all-time high and we are hearing a lot of those well established and never questioned excuses such as ‘ah go on then, it’s Christmas!’ and another mince pie is demolished.
Or ‘diet starts January’ as third or fourth helpings become standard. And then there’s: ‘its party season’ and alcohol intake is reaching dizzying heights where our usually sound judgement on what is too much it’s no longer clear. Another glass of wine down the hatch! Cheers!
After such excess and waking up on 1 January feeling so incredibly rotten and engorged it’s no wonder we all turn to the latest fad to cleanse our bodies and our souls!
'If I just complete this ten day juice fast detox cleanse not only will I be 10 pounds lighter but I’ll be a much better more balanced individual for all of my abstinence, starvation and the surplus of vitamins running through my body.' Right? Wrong!
Pictured: Kit's 'home for nutrition' Bond Street Health Clinic.
As desperate as you are to undo the multitude of sins committed over the festive season do not be fooled by the latest fad this January and here’s why...
You are more likely to fail - fads such as juicing, fasting and detoxing are not sustainable in the longer term. Whilst you might lose a few quick pounds this often comes down to superficial water weight and is not a true reflection of weight loss. And let’s be honest, these kinds of diets are not very lifestyle friendly; not all of your friends want to consume purely liquefied fruits and vegetables, or have a shot of apple cider vinegar with you.
The fun that was had in the last quarter of 2019 is replaced with lonely morsels masquerading as meals, strange culinary habits that are rather unsociable and some rather unpleasant side effects. Clearly these fads can be impractical, isolating and rather miserable and so I do not encourage you to stick to them. Often people give up before any real results are seen.
Pictured: "The fun that was had in the last quarter of 2019 is replaced with lonely morsels masquerading as meals, strange culinary habits that are rather unsociable and some rather unpleasant side effects."
To add to the above, fads are just not good for you. Whether it’s an exceptionally low calorie intake or the fact that you are only allowing yourself access to a very limited number of foods you are depriving yourself of vital nutrients and energy.
Having said all of this, we do not completely disagree with the idea of making some New Year changes or to put it fittingly ‘resolutions’.
Let’s take a look at a couple of examples:
January is a great starting point to make some realistic and long term changes to your lifestyle to be happier, healthier and a little bit lighter if that is your goal. But what we would suggest and strongly advise, is to give yourself gradual and accumulating monthly goals, considering them seriously- is it achievable? Can I live with this change? Am I prepared to see it through?"
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Bailiwick Express.
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