New Year, new you

They are the promises that thousands, if not millions, make every January -get fit, start a diet or go to the gym.

And while, for many, New Year's resolutions might not last until the summer, let alone for a full calendar year, the healthy sentiments shouldn't be ignored.

In its annual review of the health and fitness sector, the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) revealed that Yorkshire and Humberside has higher than average obesity risk levels, yet lower than average levels of gym membership.

The FIA's 2009 State of the UK Fitness Industry Audit also showed that only 12.1 per cent of the UK population are registered members of a health and fitness club or publicly-owned fitness facility, with like-for-like membership growing by just 0.8 per cent over the last 12 months.

And with almost 90 per cent of the UK population living within two miles of a fitness facility, there really shouldn't be any excuses for not upholding our New Year's resolutions.

Incorporating exercise into your weekly routine and giving your body time to recover from the daily stresses of modern living will increase the benefits of a healthy diet.

Decades of research have proven that people who are usually inactive can improve their wellbeing by becoming moderately active on a regular basis, and that physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve these health benefits.

Regular physical activity helps the circulatory system to deliver oxygen and nutrients around the body and helps in the removal of toxins and waste products from your body. It also reduces the rate of bone loss, the risk of heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes, and it can alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety.

Exercise also stimulates the production of endorphins - chemical substances produced by the body that make you feel happy and exhilarated. So exercise is not only good for you; it also makes you feel happy!

Ideally, you should engage in moderate exercise for 30 minutes every day. Moderate exercise includes taking the dog for a walk, using the stairs or going for a walk in your lunch hour.

You can do the 30 minutes in one go or divide it up into a few manageable blocks of 10 minute sessions.
The important thing is to do it on a daily basis and to combine it with a balanced diet of proteins, complex carbohydrates, fibre, vegetables and fruit.

In addition, try to include aerobic exercise sessions such as swimming, cycling, brisk walking or running two or three times a week.

And keeping healthy needn't be expensive.

Many of Westfield Health's cash plans include a health club concession benefit, which offers special membership deals at a wide range of UK health and fitness clubs. In addition, policyholders can access a 24-hour GP telephone consultation service, where they can seek advice on all areas related to health including exercise and nutrition.

Further information is available on this website.