Don’t make these New Year resolution mistakes, says expert.
It's the beginning of January and Milton Keynes gym floors are packed, supermarket shelves are stripped of ‘healthy’ foods and social media is full of promises of big changes.
Every January, thousands of Milton Keynes residents vow that this will be the year they finally get fit, lose weight and feel better. But by the end of the month, many health kicks have fallen by the wayside.
But nutrition experts say the problem isn’t motivation. Instead, it is the unrealistic and punishing way people approach change after Christmas. The biggest mistakes come every January, driven by pressure to ‘reset’ fast rather than build habits that last, says Jason Layton, founder of online wellness company Nature's Zest Nutrition.
“A successful New Year health kick is not about extremes or perfection,” he says. “It is about building routines that feel realistic, enjoyable and sustainable well beyond January. The best plan is one you can still live with in spring, not just one that survives the first few weeks of the year.”
Five ways your New Year health kick could be doing more harm than good:
1. Trying to change everything at once
Cutting out sugar, alcohol, carbohydrates and comfort foods overnight might feel disciplined, but it is one of the quickest routes to burnout. Extreme restriction can disrupt energy levels, mood and concentration, often leading to cravings and eventual rebound eating.
2. Letting the scales dictate success
After the festive period, weight can fluctuate significantly. Yet many people judge the success of their health kick purely by what the scales say each morning. Improvements in digestion, energy, sleep and immunity are often the first signs that the body is getting healthier, before dramatic changes in body weight.
3. Training too hard, too fast
Determined to undo Christmas indulgence, some people throw themselves into daily high-intensity workouts with little rest. While enthusiasm is admirable, overtraining can quickly lead to exhaustion, injury and a weakened immune system. Jason warns that exercise should enhance health, not punish the body.
4. Overlooking sleep and stress
In the rush to eat better and exercise more, sleep is often sacrificed. Late nights, early alarms and constant phone use can quietly undermine even the best nutrition plans. Poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones, increases cravings and reduces motivation, making healthy choices far harder to maintain.
5. Falling for quick-fix detox promises
From juice cleanses to detox teas, January is peak season for products claiming to flush out festive excess. But experts warn that these quick fixes rarely deliver lasting benefits. Supporting the liver and gut through proper nutrition, hydration and regular meals is far more beneficial than chasing dramatic short-term cleanses.
