By the way . . . ditch the diet for common sense

GOING vegan, ditching the fags or giving up the drink are top of the resolutions list for many. Couple this with exercise, avoiding junk food and committing to going to bed early and you are practically a saint.

My January consists of a strict no-bread, no-meat, no-alcohol mantra. I’ll admit, I don’t actually start on the first day of the month. I postpone Doomsday until the first day back at work. As New Year fell midweek this year, a full seven days had passed before I started my healthy resolutions.

To be honest I was full to the brim with fizz, fat and all sorts of beige food so I was quite pleased to get back to work and eat salad for the week. The festive lack of routine is most definitively the driver when it comes to bad behaviour. We are creatures of habit and when we are removed from our regimented lives we get naughty, lazy and ridiculously hungry.

That, I guess, some would say, is the whole point of holidays — we kick back and we relax.

But here we are in January and our waistbands are tighter, our wallets lighter and we have nothing but a big bloated face to show for it. So what better thing to do than detox? Remove all the toxicity of Christmas and cleanse your mind and body. And the great thing about this is that it is free. You don’t need fancy supplements, you have a pair of kidneys and a liver who are willing to do the work for you. There isn’t any robust scientific evidence to support detox diets. In truth, the benefits of faddish diets are short lived and they are often so restrictive they result in a whole host of horrid side effects, such as halitosis, flatulence, fatigue and bloating.

The best remedy to rid yourself of Christmas is to give your body what it needs, and not deny it. Opt for a healthy, balanced diet, hydration, sleep and exercise and you will soon be back on track.

And for those who have not yet made strides, don’t worry — remember, better late than never. Just avoid what you know is bad for you and you will be back on track in no time. Happy New Year!