Keep Your New Year's
Resolution
 Every
January millions
of
well-intentioned
Americans make
resolutions for
the New Year.
Among the most
common promises
are to lose
weight,
exercise, and
quit smoking.
All of these
resolutions have
to do with
leading a
healthier
lifestyle, but
for some reason,
we have
difficulty
sticking to the
goals we set for
the coming year.
Our motivation
seems to
decrease as time
goes by, and we
find ourselves
making the same
resolutions year
after year. Here
are some tips to
help you stick
to your plans
for a healthier
lifestyle:
Make gradual
changes. Make
one change at a
time until it
becomes a habit.
Small changes
can add up to
significant
results over a
period of time.
Develop a
detailed action
plan for
achieving your
goals. Don’t say
“I am going to
lose 20 pounds.”
Instead, specify
the actions you
will perform.
Say, for
example, “I will
make time to
exercise at
least three
times a week” or
“I will limit
consumption of
sweets to once a
day instead of
after every
meal.” Keeping a
log of
activities can
be helpful.
View your
resolutions as
opportunities to
try new things.
Try new low-fat
recipes. Sample
a new fruit or
vegetable each
month. Choose a
new route to
walk or try a
new exercise
video. Has it
been years since
you’ve gone
skating or
skiing? Give
these things a
try! You may
come to realize
you enjoy doing
something
different. You
might have so
much fun that
you forget that
you are
exercising!
If you are
experiencing an
occasional
relapse, don’t
beat yourself
up. No one is on
target all of
the time. If you
have a day or
week that is not
in line with
your plan, don’t
use it as an
excuse to
abandon your
resolution all
together.
Remember that
the changes you
make over time
are what counts.
Get back on
track when you
can.
Choose
activities that
you enjoy. If
you dreaded
running the
track back in
high school,
jogging may not
be your best
choice for
exercise. If you
like to cook,
try being more
creative in the
kitchen, look for
new ways to
reduce fat and
cut calories
without
compromising
taste.
Find a friend,
family member,
or coworker with
similar goals.
Exercise
together, trade
recipes, and
share successes
and failures. If
your resolution
involves
quitting a
serious
addiction such
as smoking or
alcohol, get
professional
help.
If you are
waiting for a
more convenient
time to make
lifestyle
changes, it
probably won’t
happen. Now is
as good a time
as any. If you
start now,
you’ll have a
jump start on
your goal. Don’t
put yourself in
the position to
have to make the
same resolution
next year. There
is no time like
the present!
For more
information on
maintaining a
healthy
lifestyle,
please contact
LifeCare’s
Wellness
Coordinator Dawn
Hedlund at (218)
463-4773
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