Tip 1 - Now is not the time to make promises about nutrition or
exercise - they will be broken too easily. Use this month to plan
the changes you would like to make in your life during the year as
you sit by a fire or when you go for a walk on a clear, cold bright
day.

Tip 2 – The most effective way to lose weight is to plan your meals
rather than shop without a list! In the long run it saves you time,
money and improves your waist line!

Tip 3 – Now is the time to make your 2008 New Year's Resolution to
be fitter, healthier and leaner. The stronger sunshine, lighter
mornings and evenings will give you more energy, help you stay
motivated and make it easier to achieve the results you are aiming
for.

Tip 4 – If you are lacking in motivation to exercise it could help
to know that for every kilo of body weight you lose your blood
pressure reduces by 1 mmHg and the chance of taking long term
medication is reduced. Still got excuses?

Tip 5 – Make sure every meal is an explosion of colour on your
plate. A variety of colour means you will be getting a more balanced
meal and heaps of nutrients and minerals.

Tip 6 – Being active daily can have dramatic results on your health
and fitness levels. For instance getting off the bus a stop early
twice a day could count for half your recommended daily exercise of
30 minutes, taking the stairs burns as many calories as jogging for
the same amount of time and regular cycling can give you a fitness
level of a person ten years younger! Where can you burn your extra
calories?

Tip 7 - Lose the belly fat! This fat pushes on your kidneys telling
them to increase your blood pressure. Lose the fat through exercise,
diet and less salt and the pressure is off - or at least reduced.
Looks better as well.

Tip 8 – Forget expensive face creams. Your skin – the largest organ
in your body – reaps benefits from your exercising. Increased
circulation brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin and removes
internal toxins from it. The result is a natural glow that is
associated with healthy looking skin. Go on get exercising - you
know you're worth it!

Tip 9 - With an abundance of food in our society its surprising you
can eat and yet be malnourished! Empty calories from easily
available processed, sugary foods and drinks may satisfy your
appetite temporarily but contain few of the necessary and essential
nutrients for an active, healthy lifestyle. Get colour on your plate
with a well balanced diet including fruit and vegetables, check
food and drink labels for hidden sugars - often listed by one of
these other names: sucrose, glucose, fructose dextrose, maltose,
honey, raw syrup, hydrolysed starch, invert sugar and molasses - and
the amount of salt or sodium. The salt we sprinkle on our food from
salt cellars accounts for only 10%-15% of our intake with processed
foods thought to account for around 75% of the average person's salt
intake! Time to get reading.

Tip 10 - Something to ponder as you sit at your PC. Latest research
shows sitting motionless at a computer for hours can lead to deep
vein thrombosis or `e-thrombosis'. To prevent this take a screen
break every hour to get a drink and avoid crossing your legs or
awkward leg postures as you are working.

Tip 11 – If you tend to lack motivation to exercise try this. Walk
30 minutes each day and then call a friend. The phone call is
crucial and a real commitment. Find a person that's supportive and
won't nag you but will call you if you haven't called. Women tend to
be better at being your buddy in this case.