You Can KEEP Those Weight Loss Resolutions! newsletter article

[Guest guest]

" and Friends Newsletter"Never Give UpVol. 6, No. 4January 2000

You Can KEEP Those Weight Loss Resolutions!

Hey, gang! It isn't just a new year - it's a whole new millenium! And how was YOUR New Year's Eve? Still a little bleary-eyed from all that eggnog? And, wait! In a moment of weakness did you actually make a resolution to join a gym, quit smoking, spend more time with your kids, and reach your goal weight - all in the same breath? Wow! You're gonna have a busy 2000!

New Year's Resolutions! Do you actually know anybody who's ever kept her past, say, February? (Remember, that's the Valentine's Day candy month!) Me either. And yet there's something so tempting about making resolutions, and I think I know why. Resolutions hold the promise of a brand-new, happier, healthier life. Keeping 'em? That's another story! That's the tricky part, and always has been.

So, I'm not saying you shouldn't make resolutions, especially ones that have to do with losing weight. After all, resolutions are really promises you make to yourself - and you should always try to keep your promise! but I know it's tough, so here are six ways to help you see your resolutions through - right to your goal!

*Start with a plan

It's great to make a resolution. But HOW are you going to accomplish your mission - so it doesn't end up being a mission impossible? By starting with a plan! Honey, it's not enough to say, "I'm gonna lose those 75 pounds this year if it kills me!" What, exactly, will you do to get those 75 pounds off you? Remember, the more specific you can be, the better. Your plan may sound something like this: "I'm gonna walk one mile a day, try one new low-fat recipe each week, and only snack on fresh fruit." Having a course of action - and following it! - will make your resolution come true.

*Break your resolutions into bite-sized pieces

Got a lot of weight to lose? Okay. You can still get there if you divide your weight-loss goals into small, manageable ones. So, instead of saying you'll lose around 10 pounds this month, plan on losing about two pounds a week, which will accomplish the same thing! Exercise - you know you've got to do it, but you may not have a whole hour to devote to it each day. Start by doing 20 minutes of sweatin' before your morning shower, then maybe take a 20-minute walk after dinner. That's 40 minutes right there! You can always add more minutes to your program later on. Little changes mean a lot! Don't defeat yourself by making your goals too big too soon.

*Focus on the do's, not the don'ts

Weight loss takes, work, yes, but you don't have to act like you're carrying a ball and chain every time you get on your exercise bike! Instead of thinking about all the things you can't do now that you're committed to losing weight - "I can't have seconds," "I can't eat any more of those delicious donuts at work," "I can't sleep late because I have to do my exercise" - why not focus on all the positive stuff?

Try thinking about things like "I DO want to lower my blood pressure" or "I DO want to wear a nice bathing suit on the beach this summer, and I can DO it by eating sensibly and sweatin' every day." It's a simple mental switch you can make - and it'll make losing weight so much easier!

*Share your resolutions with a friend

Sometimes, telling supportive people about our resolutions is a good way to make them seem more "real" and help us stick to them better. Why not try this? Tell a friend, your spouse, or your teenager, "For the next month, I'm making a commitment to get up a half-hour earlier and exercise for 30 minutes before breakfast." Let them know how they can help you, too. (Like by gently pulling the covers off you on a cold January morning!) If those people in your life really love you, they'll really want to help you succeed!

*Dream!

I love dreams, and you know you have my permission to dream the most wonderful dreams you can! How's this for a dream - a brand new you! What will keeping your resolutions do for you? how will you look and feel a year from now, after you've stuck to your commitments to yourself? "See" yourself following those good habits every day - eating carefully, measuring your portions, exercising - and picture all the positive changes they will make in you - in your looks, in your health, and in the way you feel about yourself. Dreams aren't just for nighttime, sweetie! You should be dreaming about - and working on - the New You when you're awake, too!

*Make "New Year's Resolutions" all year long

Who said resolutions were only for January 1? Hey - you're missing a lot of golden opportunities with that kind of thinking! If something is a good idea on the first day of the year, it's still gonna be good on March 7, or July 12, or November 16!

So why not pick out those special dates in your life - your birthday, your anniversary, the first day of spring, etc. Then mark them on your calendar and use them to reaffirm your resolution. If on those days you see that you've slipped up since January 1, don't worry - here's your chance to start fresh!

For that matter, there's no reason why you can't think of EVERY day as New Year's Day when it comes to recommitting yourself to your resolutions. And guess what, everybody? It's a leap year! You've got a whole extra day to work on those positive resolutions - so you can finally and forever lose that weight!