Make It a Different New Year's Resolution This Year

We all feel we've got to make those New Year's resolutions. And why not? It's such an exhilarating feeling to know you’re starting with a clean slate. You allow yourself the privilege of forgiving your mistakes of 2008, promising you won’t make those again. It’s very possible you won’t. But that doesn’t guarantee you won’t make some new ones. Always keep in mind that if you’re not making mistakes, you’re not growing. So, view what you did wrong last year from a different perspective. Evaluate what worked, what didn’t work and what you’d like to change.

I’m sure many people will have, right at the top of their list, to lose weight. Considering that almost 65% of Americans are overweight or obese, you’d expect some of them to want to come to terms with how much they weigh. But wait — before you jump to that resolution called “I promise to lose so many pounds this year”, let me suggest a new approach. Forget the number of pounds. In fact, forget discussing weight at all.

Restage your thinking. Instead of stipulating that you want to lose weight or want to lose a certain number of pounds, consider the alternative resolution: I’m going to do whatever it takes to become a healthier me. It’s not the weight that’s the issue as much as resolving to change your not-so-healthy lifestyle habits that have led you to wanting to lose the weight. When you appreciate “why” you’d want to make some changes, you’ve got a resolution taking shape.

What you really should want is a good quality of life. For example, if you’re too heavy, walking upstairs is a struggle. Wouldn’t it feel so much better to walk up those stairs without huffing and puffing? Now that is a good goal — being able to walk upstairs comfortably. Once you’ve set yourself a goal such as this, you’ll figure out what is required for you to reach that goal. And not once will you moan over having to make those changes. In fact, you’ll embrace the changes, always keeping that picture of the “new” you in your mind’s eye.

Most of the relatives on my dad’s side of the family died of heart disease. For me, staying as heart-healthy as possible is my resolution. Then I ask myself what steps does that take? I get on the treadmill in the morning for 30 minutes, not because I enjoy jogging, but because to be heart healthy, exercise is right there on the top of the to-do list. I eat foods that I know will foster a healthy heart — fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, vegetables, fruits, and grains that are high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and drink plenty of fluids. I’m not eating these foods because I’ll lose weight with them. I’m eating them because I know they’re good for me. Instead of using the scale as my judge of how well I’m doing, how I feel is my guide. Having more energy, feeling more alive, keeping my sense of humor all will tell me I’m on the right track.

Your resolution should be in terms of how you want to feel this year. For me, it’s to be the healthiest I can be, whatever that takes. How about you?

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