A health coach has revealed red flags to look out for when it comes to New Year diets — and says one popular method is akin to showering for one week and expecting not to smell for the rest of the year.
Vanessa Sturman, 37, is a health and behavior coach with 10 years’ experience and has warned dieters of fads to steer clear of.
In the first few days of January, she says many go about implementing their New Year’s resolutions, but Sturman claims more than 80% of people who set them will fail.
To stick to a New Year’s resolution, Sturman says you must incorporate it into your everyday life gradually instead of cutting out certain foods or food groups completely.
“A lot of people set unrealistic goals for themselves,” said the coach from Barnet, London. “A new goal or action is only going to be sustainable if it is built into your life. You have to change habits.
“Say you want to start doing some exercise — you need to make sure you have the time to get up and do it, making sure you have no barriers in the way.
“When it comes to the New Year diet, there is so much information out there and some very dangerous fads and diets that are not sustainable.
“The reason some don’t last is because people are doing these detox and juice cleanses and when they stop they have no idea what to do after.”
Sturman said one of the biggest red flags she sees when it comes to diets is ads that promise to change your life with one key ingredient or product.
“Someone that promises to just take this one thing and every single thing in your life will transform is a red flag,” she argued.
“For example, an expensive powder that says it is everything your body needs, yes, people might see some results but one thing will not change everything.
“Our health can’t just be transformed with one product. It is made up of many factors including nutrition, mental health, movement and much more.
Sturman stressed that it is important to invest in your health, but you need to ensure it is in a sustainable way. For example, supplement subscription might be $150 per month, but she asks whether anyone needs $150 worth — and if they’ll be able to keep spending that in the long term.
“Having a supplement can be fantastic but you need to concentrate on your food and make those changes,” she said.
“You need to have an understanding of your weight barriers and make foundational changes to what you are doing. Whatever you are putting your money into, make sure it is not wasted.”
Sturman said people should be mindful of words like detox, cleanses and reset and said they can be “dangerous” and “lacking scientific evidence.”
“What are you going to do when that detox ends? It is like saying I am only going to shower for a week and not smell for a year,” she said. “You have to make small changes to your every day rather than making one massive change all at once.
“If someone is asking you to throw out all the food you have and enjoy, not only is it unsustainable but it is unnecessary.”
Whether you’re getting advice from a nutritionist or a lifestyle coach, she stressed that it is important to consult a medical professional.
“I am always telling people to go speak to your doctor about the changes you are making,” she said. “Having different professionals in different fields will give you the best result, please discuss any changes with your doctor.
“You must talk to your doctor about any worrying symptoms and it is a huge benefit to have different specialists in their areas to help solve your problems.”
