FOR MANY in the new year, the chilly realism of the bathroom scales throws the insouciant indulgence of Christmas past into a new and harsh light.

Warm memories of extra portions of roasted delights, doused in gravy or idle handfuls of jewel wrapped chocolates suddenly lose their charm and take on a corporeal form.

To redress the balance, some will throw themselves into unrelenting exercise routines, whilst others will adhere to a gruelling diet.

But one young Ponteland entrepreneur is hoping to teach people to appreciate their body for its strength and resilience, rather than berate it for gaining a few extra festive pounds.

Libby Hancock has launched the Love Your Body programme which aims to improve body confidence through fitness, nutrition and mindfulness.

As a teenager, Libby, now 23, suffered body image issues herself and hopes to steer people away from fad and yo-yo dieting.

The former Hexham Queen Elizabeth High School pupil said: “When I was in high school I started comparing myself to other people’s bodies, things I saw in magazines and on television.

“Everyone seemed to have that perfect body and I wanted to strive for that.

“But I didn’t know much about nutrition. Sometimes I didn’t eat enough and other times I would eat too much.

“I realised it wasn’t healthy and I needed to stop.”

Turning to exercise instead, when she started the sixth form Libby joined a gym and took a job as a lifeguard at Matfen Hall.

Through her job she ended up qualifying as a level three personal trainer.

After school, Libby began studying at Northumbria University, improving her personal training qualification through a part-time job at Speedflex gym in Jesmond.

Despite graduating with a degree in performance, Libby decided to pursue her fitness goals.

So with qualifications in nutrition and pilates under her belt, she set up her own personal training business, travelling to people’s homes.

She said: “I found that a lot of people didn’t feel as confident in the gym so I set up a mobile service.

“I enjoyed it; I enjoyed helping people and seeing the results and the difference and change in them.”

Inspired by her experience and keen to extend her reach to more people, 18 months ago Libby decided to create an online fitness programme.

The Love Your Body programme, which launched in January this year, is split into three four week phases featuring work-out videos, nutrition and meal plans, mindset journals and online email support.

Libby created the videos herself alongside fellow fitness expert Nathan Honnes.

The videos gradually increase in intensity to challenge subscribers as they progress and can be watched online or downloaded as a printed instruction sheet.

And with the help of her cookery teacher mum, and drawing on her own nutrition knowledge, Libby has whipped up healthy versions of every day classic recipes with balanced protein, fat and carbohydrates.

She is also keen to focus on mental wellness encouraging subscribers to complete a mindfulness journal and providing regular support online.

Libby said: “You can’t train your body before you train your mind. If you aren’t in the right mind frame you’re not going to eat right, you are going to comfort eat.

“I’ve been through it – when you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see – feeling uncomfortable in your own skin. I want to help people feel more body confident. I wanted to make it easy and accessible for people.”

For more information visit www.libbyalicefitness.com/