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Revisiting
Your New Year's Resolution |
If you're like
many Americans, January 1 usually starts with a promise to lose
weight. Did you try the "short term quick fix" and become frustrated,
unsatisfied, hungry and crabby? Have you thrown in the towel and
reverted to your old eating habits? Has the weight returned? If
this scenario sounds familiar, you're not alone. Just remember it's
not too late to start on a healthier track.
In order to
begin a healthy weight loss regimen, one very important step is
to NOT view your effort as a diet. D-I-E-T, a four-letter word,
implies short term, usually unsuccessful with negative, and sometimes
very angry feelings. Instead, focus your efforts for a healthier
lifestyle.
Look at these
new efforts as just that, new. Viewing past attempts as failures
will set you up for another failure. Past attempts give the knowledge
of what did and did not work. Use your past experience(s) to develop
a new plan. When developing your plan, realize you will go through
feelings of deprivation. It's living through these feelings, without
indulging, that can make your new attempt a stronger one and increase
your success.
Establish short
term and realistic goals. To lose ten pounds in one week and to
keep it off is not realistic. It is not achievable, and failure
is pending. Short term goals are a better chance to feel successful.
Remember, short terms goals also apply to lifestyle changes.
You may encounter
situations where you will want, or feel the need to, indulge. By
planning, you can have that extra indulgence and still remain within
your eating goals it is difficult yet it can be done.
Check your
expectations. If you set yourself up with the rules of NEVER indulging
or having foods you really enjoy, then you will fail. Eating is
very social.
Exercise is
an important component of healthy lifestyles and any weight loss
plan. If you're not currently involved in an exercise regimen, it
is best to discuss this action with your physician first. No matter
what your physical limitations may be, there are exercise programs
available.
Making changes
in your lifestyle is difficult. A Registered Dietitian is a
health
professional who can assist you in making these healthy changes.
If you are interested in talking with a Registered Dietitian,
please
call Marquette General Health System, Department of Dietetics at
(906) 225-3221 or toll-free 1-800-562-9753, extension 3221 and
ask
to set up an individualized nutrition plan with the Outpatient
Dietitian.
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