A lifestyle medical physician says she doesn't recommend New Year resolutions to her patients as she thinks they can often put more stress on people to succeed
Dr Kate McCann advises those who are starting new regimes on January 1st to seek expert guidance, set realistic targets and not to over-exert yourself too suddenly in any exercise, to avoid injury
"You don't have to make a New Year's Resolution. Many of my patients have to make changes because of health problems, and have chosen New Year's Day as their start date to reduce alcohol, quit smoking, go plant predominant or add in a new physical activity," she said.
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Helping patients and families succeed in these using evidence-based medicine is exactly what docs like me do. So while, I don't recommend New Year's Resolutions to my patients, I know it's a thing so plan well
"The most common New Year’s Resolutions are about getting healthy – but that’s not just diet and exercise. Consider ones that bring you joy and support your mental health
"Restart an old hobby, schedule regular time for friends and family and try something new. Volunteer for a charity, add in daily meditation or sign up for a new class
"If you want to make healthy changes but just aren't ready, that's ok. Don't be pressurised by the calendar. Choose a later date to reconsider it.
"If you want to make big changes, plan to do it over weeks in steps or stages. Don't make drastic changes all at once on January 1st because it simply won't work
"If you make changes that don't make you happy, you won't succeed in your goals. Don't make promises to yourself that you can't keep. It can cause you more stress.
"Try and make a play with the whole family. You're likely to have more success and less stress if you are doing changes or activities together.
"Avoid pseudoscience and marketed 'quick fixes'. This time of year is peak time for marketing detoxes, supplements, vitamins and all kinds of fad diets, most of which don't work. If money is tight, get impartial expert advice first
"Nutrition isn't easy and if you need to make changes to your diet, get qualified help from a registered dietician.
"If you are doing Veganuary, try to use it to add in vegetables or new meals to your regular family menu. Avoid just swapping for highly processed meat substitutes. If you are doing dry January, consider longer term changes to low-risk alcohol drinking.
"Physical activity is essential for health. Getting more active can be a good idea. Make it something that you enjoy and can afford.
"Weight is not beauty. Avoid any resolution that involves getting weight-loss procedures, injections, medication or medical tourism offered by aesthetic or cosmetic clinics. Obesity is a complex, chronic and recurring disease and deserves qualified medical care.
"If you are going to quit smoking, don't go vaping instead. Ask your GP, pharmacist or HSE for expert advice and support."
Dr McCann is a lifestyle medicine physician and creator of the social media project 'Emdoc Health' with the goal of promoting health education and health literacy for parents.
She is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the British Society for Lifestyle Medicine and is an Irish Medical Council registered doctor with more than 15 years clinical experience. She is also a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and works at Remedy Clinic in Dublin.
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