Experts issue warning over common New Year’s resolution that could seriously damage your body

A nutritionist has warned that the most common new year's resolution could actually be doing you more 'harm' than good.

Choosing whether or not to set some new year's resolutions is a point of contention.

Some people think that big goals are simply not worth setting, as most likely by the third week of January they're out the window anyway.

Others believe it's a good time to reassess and note down things you want to improve on.

Whichever way you view it, there is always one New Year's resolution that's more popular than anything else.

There's one resolution that's more popular than any other. (ilona titova/Getty Images)

Gyms all across the country start rubbing their hands together as the new year sees a drastic increase in new sign ups.

Exercise and fitness is well and truly at the top of people's priority list by the time 1 January rolls around, but one nutrition coach has some words of caution for anyone wanting to vastly switch up their lifestyle.

The dangers of excessive exercise

Speaking to the Daily Mail, nutrition coach and personal trainer Danielle Gray said that easing yourself in gently is absolutely vital.

She said: "It is possible to end up with mental and physical issues due to nutrient deficiencies and changes in your metabolism.

"This can then spiral into fat gain and muscle loss, mood swings, and harder-to-fix hormonal issues."

You shouldn't hit the gym too hard (Getty stock image)

Gray also warned that exercising too much everyday is particularly risky without working with a nutrition professional, who can sufficiently increase your calorie intake in line with your workout plan.

She added: "Pushing the body too hard with prolonged and intense workouts could lead to overuse injuries, impacting tendons, muscles, and joints.

"Abruptly changing your exercise regimen can be counterproductive, causing harm rather than progress, potentially leading to extended periods of forced rest due to injury."

Gray noted that 'healthy approaches' are always 'gradual' and never 'drastic', so it really doesn't have to be all or nothing.

In fact this mentality may increase your chances of giving up sooner, because it's rarely ever sustainable for a long period of time.

So, what counts as 'excessive exercise'?

The expert categorised 'excessive exercise' as upping your running distance from five miles to 20, or spending more than an hour at the gym several times a week.

Opposite to what people may presume, Gray said that throwing yourself into a new diet plan could actually result in more weight gain in the long term as a result of burning out and giving up completely.