A new year and a whole new you

New year, new you is a bit of a cliche. It conjures up unrealistic expectations on how you should reinvent yourself for the year ahead. You may want to lose weight, get fitter, improve your dress sense or even vow to always take your makeup off before you go to bed, but unless you really want to do these things these resolutions will probably be long forgotten by Easter.

If you really want to change the way you look and feel you need to change your lifestyle for good. This means sticking to a balanced diet and taking regular exercise for the rest of your life if you want to improve your health not going on a crash diet for a week or two. It means setting aside five minutes every night to cleanse and moisturise your face if you want to improve your skin tone, and it means learning how to dress your body shape and sticking to the items that suit you if you want to always look stylish.

It's a tough challenge. To help you get started four lifestyle experts from Norwich give their top tips on how you can improve your looks and health.

The skin and beauty expert: Louise Thomas-Minns from U and Your Skin on Bridewell Alley.

Louise says: 'Detoxing has great benefits to the skin. I don't advocate extreme supplementation detox packages though, instead you should look at it as a healthier way of life not a quick fix. Try to stick to this 90pc of the time so that it leaves room for you to be a bit naughty from time to time.

'I recommend the follow ten ways to help gain a clearer and brighter complexion:

1. Drink hot water with a wedge of lemon and some grated ginger at the start and end of your day.

2. Take milk thistle supplement to support the liver.

3. Dry skin brush before every shower, upwards and towards the heart.

4. Visit the steam room in the gym – great for the face (Avoid if you have high blood pressure, sensitive/vascular skin or severe acne.

5. Obviously - reduce alcohol, sugar and processed foods. These are 'thieves of youth!', and moderation with help increase 'free radicals' within the body.

6. Eat your greens…and broccoli, spinach, berries, peppers, raw nuts and seeds. These are just some of natures best anti oxidants, free radical fighting foods.

7. Get a good nights sleep

8. Workout your face not just your body! There are 98 facial muscles all of which, if exercised in the correct way regularly can maintain definition and tone. You can even gain a skinny chin, plump cheeks and the perfect pout!

9. Drink green and white tea 2-4 times a day. These are packed with high levels of Polyphenols which protect the skin cells from damage.

10. Control your stress less. Over time your body will release hormones that are conducive to assisting in the ageing process with lines and wrinkles becoming etched onto the face. Those worry lines could become a permanent fixture.

The style expert: Janette Liggins, personal stylist janetteligginsstylist.co.uk

Janette says: 'Many people want to look stylish but after Christmas you have probably gained a few pounds in weight and lost more than a few pounds in cash. You can still look and feel great though. Here are my top tips to help you look and feel great in 2013.

1. Weed your wardrobe. Don't keep clothes you don't wear! Get rid of anything you haven't worn for a while. If doesn't fit now, it probably never will. Take all your unwanted clothes to your nearest charity shop and you will feel a whole lot better. Or why not ...

2 Swap or sell your unwanted clothes? Swishing parties are the latest fashion craze to hit the UK. You can swap the clothes you don't want, for some 'new' clothes you do want! But if that doesn't appeal, good quality clothes can sell well online. It can be time consuming, but you can earn money.

3. Charity shops. I've been saying it for years, but you can find some fantastic clothes in charity shops. And, of course, they don't cost a fortune. Give things a new lease of life, like sewing some funky new buttons on an old jacket.

4. Bag a bargain. If you have the energy, why not hit the Sales? But don't buy for the sake it. Have an idea of what you want (or better still what you need!) and look for that.

5. What shape are you? Some shops are better for certain shapes than others. It's true. If you're petite you might want to try shops like H&M or New Look. Curvy girls could try Marks and Spencer or Next perhaps? Tall and lean? Try French Connection, Warehouse or Zara.

6. Think about colour. Have you ever had your colours done? If you haven't, it might be a good idea. If you can't afford it, try a simple test. Stand in good light in front of a mirror, without any make-up on. Hold up a few dresses or shirts up to your chest. Do they make your face light-up or do they drain the colour from your face?

7. Buy quality if you can. In these hard times, it can be tempting to go for the cheapest option, but it the long-run it's rarely a good idea. Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. Quality should last.

8. Look after you've got. Okay, so now I'm beginning to sound like your worst nightmare, but if you store, hang, wash and dry your clothes well, it stands to reason that your clothes will last longer. Lecture over. You can relax now!

9. What's hot for 2013? White has been a big hit over this winter but it's going to get even bigger for spring and summer 2013. Buy in the sales now and be on trend until next winter. Remember flares? Well, if you're about to weed them out of your wardrobe..don't they could be back this year.

10. Prints are still big news. Think 'pop art', spots, stripes and bright colours or graphic florals. You know.. the ones that look like your grandma's wallpaper!

The diet expert: Nutritional Therapist Catherine Jeans from The Orange Grove Clinic on Maddermarket.

Catherine says: 'There are some simple changes you can make to your diet that can have a big impact on improving your health. The key is to implement these into your diet everyday throughout the year to really see a difference.

'My top five tips for changing your diet this year are:

1. Caffeine is one of the biggest energy robbers that can drain you of your va-va voom. It may give you a quick energy fix, but will leave you feeling even more tired just an hour or so later. Reduce your caffeine intake by swapping to naturally decaff alternatives, such as Redbush tea, herbal teas or you could even try a weak hot squash.

2. Dieting is not about feeling hungry - in fact you need to eat to lose weight otherwise your body will simply hold onto any excess fat. Eat plenty of lean protein, which should make up about a quarter of your meal and fill half your plate with non-starchy veg or salad.

3. Health begins in your gut. 'You are what you eat' is not as accurate as the phrase, 'you are what you absorb.' If your gut is working well, you're more likely to absorb all those health-giving nutrients from your food. One of the best ways to support gut health and your immune system is to take a daily supplement of probiotics, and eat foods such as natural yoghurt, leeks, garlic, onions, shallots, Jerusalem Artichokes, which help to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut and keep your gut healthy and happy!

4. Are you getting enough Vitamin D? The Department of Health launched a nationwide campaign in 2012 to help address the widespread vitamin D deficiency, with many groups such as pregnant women, the elderly and all children under 5 now being recommended to take a Vitamin D supplement. If you can't afford a regular trip to the sunshine, I recommend that everyone takes a daily Vitamin D3 supplement, which is vital for immune strength to help fight off those colds and flu, bone health, hormone balance and mental health.

5. For weight loss, are you doing the right kind of exercise? Although cardiovascular workouts can help you to burn calories, it's actually weight training that keeps you burning calories for longer, even after your workout has finished. By increasing your muscle mass, you'll boost your metabolic rate so that your body burns more calories, even while you're sitting in front of the TV!

The fitness expert, Evening News fitness columnist Julian Bynoe.

Julian says: 'As little as ten minutes increased physical activity each day on top of what you currently do really can transform how you feel as well as how you look going into 2013. Spread over a week you will be burning in the region of 1000 extra calories!

'Here is my seven day plan. Do it every week and say hello to a fitter and stronger you.

Day one: Skipping. This is tougher than it sounds and should definitely get you sweating.

Day two: Power walk/jog

Day three: Play a ball game whether it is volleyball, football, badminton or cricket the whole family can get involved.

Day 4: Shadow boxing. 4x2 minute rounds. Allow yourself 30 seconds break in between each round.

Day 5: Cycle. You'll probably want to do more once you have started this. If you do you will you will burn more body fat.

Day 6: Hula hoop. Whether you're male or female this is fantastic for working your core muscles and improving the flexibility in your back.

Day 7: The accelerator. Combine your two favourite activities from the week to burn twice as many calories. I'm relying on fact that at this point you should be having too much fun to notice that you have gone beyond ten minutes.