New year, new you

They say you are what you eat. In fact, who remembers the TV lady who used to rifle through poo to make that point? 

If we are what we eat, a heavy Christmas period means that by late December some of us are 80% chocolate, booze and pigs-in-blankets … hence why diet and exercise are the UK’s most common new year resolutions [1]. 

But did you know two-thirds of people who strive to do better on January 1st will have thrown in the towel a few weeks later?[2] There are several reasons why they call it Blue Monday but science has calculated that it’s the most likely time a new year’s resolution will come crashing down. 

Lost resolutions

It’s no surprise many people abandon diet and exercise resolutions. Trying to rewire established habits and stay motivated on your own steam is a tough ask. January 1st is just an arbitrary date – it’s not like it has magical powers. 

And to coin a cliché, if it was easy you’d have done it by now. 

Plus, most of us probably know that fish, fruit and fibre are better than Coke, cake and carbs. The issue may not be knowledge - but motivation.

If your new diet and exercise journey relies only on you – with your ambition, your wiring, your habits, your triggers – then, well, it was you who got you here in the first place. 

A little help

Sticking to a new diet and exercise regime is not just a physical or practical effort, it’s a psychological one too. Most of us could probably eat well for a week or two … but what then? Blue Monday, that’s what. 

The key may be securing some expert help and support - and that’s why you need to check your life insurance policy for perks. Nutritionists and fitness services are common life insurance perks and, well, most likely they’re free. 

Also, it could be that you want to go for a full health check-up, or what they call a health MOT, before embarking on any major changes … and precisely that could be another perk in your package. It’s definitely time to check.

Engaging professional nutritionists and fitness experts means having a neutral third party, an expert, take a deeper look into your habits, triggers, patterns and how to wind a regime around you that has the best chance of working. 

The odds of success in any such project are greater if the approach is holistic; if it factors in your starting point, health, work patterns, hydration, sleep, home set-up and so on. It needs to work around your life, your routine, your psychology. 

For a plan that’s generic and promises the moon look to Instagram. Real people need real support.

The cost

The point is that you’re much more likely to carve out meaningful change in your approach to diet and / or exercise with expert support … which usually comes at a cost.
 
Depending on where you are in the country you may be able to access services on the NHS but, in many cases, you may need a doctor’s referral and spaces are prioritised by need. In other words, if you just want to make a change you’re probably not first-in-line for a slot. 

Private sector then, and some quick Googling shows the price of a dietician or nutritionist in the South East of England start at around £70 for the first consultation and less (£50) for follow-up appointments. Personal trainers come in at all sorts of price points but something similar (£50-70p/h) looks to be about average. 

Average sure ain’t cheap.

Nutrition support through your life insurance

So let’s come back to your life insurance. If you want to make a change to your diet, shed some weight or stick on a new exercise plan then exactly this lifestyle support could be part of your policy. 

Free support may be ready and waiting for you now, or could be included in the premium you are already paying.

Some insurers go even further and promote the use of wearables so you can dig into the real detail of your health. It may be possible to reduce your premiums if you record improvements, too.

So whether it’s a new year’s resolution or you’ve had a health-wake-up-call, you don’t have to change or rebuild your lifestyle on your lonesome. 

Free expertise may be on-hand. Professionals may be on your life insurer’s payroll and ready to get to know you, your habits, your routine and your triggers to build a practical plan that’ll work for the longer term … longer than Jan 16th anyway.

References:

[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1085562/gb-popular-new-year-resolutions/

[2] https://www.psychnewsdaily.com/most-abandon-new-years-resolutions-in-month/