If you lead a healthier lifestyle, you are more likely to live longer and less likely to develop serious illnesses and health conditions.

Dry January, dieting and weight loss are words often mentioned during the month of January, but Kathryn Thomas of Kathryn Thomas Personal Training advises people of Penarth to explore more realistic, achievable alternatives instead of such drastic measures.

Kathryn said: "Every January is full speed for people, they make quick decisions about their fitness and health.

"Some start going to the gym every day, cutting out rubbish in their diets, giving up certain food and drink choices entirely, and while some people do in fact keep it going, within a couple of weeks most revert to their old habits. This drastic approach simply isn't realistic or sustainable.

"To see positive outcomes and achieve a more active lifestyle, you need to set yourself realistic goals that fit into your lifestyle and they need to be enjoyable and fun. If you don't like going to the gym, then don't do it, there are so many other options available."

Dinas Powys resident Esyllt Green said: "I'm an all or nothing kind of person. I don't really do things in moderation; if I want chocolate, I'll easily eat a sharing bag to myself, or if it's wine I fancy, the bottle can quickly disappear.

"I am also guilty of letting my emotions dictate when I reach for these things. The last two years of surviving a pandemic has given me plenty of emotional ups and downs and the excuses to reach for those treats.

"This has resulted in the inevitable weight gain and generally not feeling like the best version of me. So, my aim for 2022 is to be more balanced and do things in moderation. Enjoy those treats as part of a normal balanced lifestyle and ensure I am kind to my body and mind.

"I am going to start with cutting down on my alcohol and chocolate consumption as I feel my body needs that element of detox and to reset after the Christmas indulging.

"I have a few goals for 2022, and training for the Cardiff Half Marathon is one of my main aims. But more generally I want to feel good in my own body and mind."

Kathryn also suggests training with a friend is a great way to keep going and achieving a healthier lifestyle: "There are so many activities you can do with a friend or family member from social running groups, to swimming and walking.

"Whatever your level, by doing it together you're keeping each other accountable and ensuring the fun element. Often it won't even feel like exercise, and more like a catch up.

"In Esyllt's case, she is making the right decision to reduce her consumption of alcohol and chocolate, rather than removing them entirely, as by doing that, it could cause her to want them more.

"The other thing she will benefit from is getting outdoors as much as possible. We all need some 'me' time and with busy working days, often from home for many, and family responsibilities. It's really important we get fresh air as it does wonders for our mental health and gives us that positive boost.

"Set yourself some realistic goals, which could be as simple as just increasing your fruit and vegetable intake. My top four tips are: find something you enjoy doing with a partner to make it fun, get outdoors more, build your exercise levels up gradually so you don't run the risk of injury, and set realistic small changes for a healthier lifestyle."

To help to enable everyone across Cardiff and the Vale to move more, Sport Cardiff, along with Cardiff and Vale Local Public Health team and Vale of Glamorgan Council have introduced a dedicated digital platform that has been designed to alleviate some of the barriers to accessing physical activity sessions.

Developed to support everyone, whatever their age or ability, to move in a way that suits them, Make Your Move helps individuals to access activities in their local area by bringing together activity providers from across Cardiff and Vale in one place.

Physical activity has a number of short and long-term benefits for both the body and the mind. Make Your Move has been introduced to provide a database of providers for activity sessions, to help alleviate some of the accessibility barriers that individuals experience when trying to find activity sessions that they can comfortably partake in.

Further information about Make Your Move can be found here www.makeyourmove.org.uk.

If you want to kickstart your journey to a healthier lifestyle, but don't know where to start, go to the Living and Feeling Well pages on the NHS 111 Wales website for tips and advice. Every change you make will help us help you.