From Resolution to Reality…
Making Healthy Choices that Stick
By Sonya Seufert
"I want to lose weight, eat healthier, exercise more." Do those words sound familiar? For most Americans
preparing for the New Year includes making resolutions to become healthier. Usually these affirmations are long
forgotten before spring arrives. As stated, they are too vague and general, and they do not include a plan. Turning your New Year’s resolutions into an action plan that you will actually follow and that will result in a healthier
you for the New Year may be done in a few steps: Make them more specific; have a time frame, and make them
measureable.
Let’s look at the desires stated:
1.
Lose weight. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self -control.
•
Set a reasonable amount of weight to lose. Most experts recommend one to 1 1/2 pounds per
week as a good goal.
•
Know that losing 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight can lead to lower blood pressure,
lower cholesterol, and improved blood sugar levels. Maybe you do not have to weigh what you
did in high school!
•
Keep a food diary. One of that most common practices of people that have successfully lost
weight is keeping a journal of what they eat. It makes it much simpler to see patterns of behavior
that need to change.
2.
Eat healthy. Psalms 73: 4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and
Strong.
•
Start with one simple change. Quit drinking anything that has sugar in it. Yes, this includes
carbonated drinks and sweet tea.
•
Make sure you eat breakfast. Our bodies do best when we nourish them every four to five hours.
•
Portion control. Committing to forgo seconds, eating a sandwich without the fries or chips, and
not eating bread before the meal are all great ways of cutting calories and still enjoying the meal.
Add fruits and vegetable to your meals.
•
When it comes to healthy eating, what you eat is just as important as what you do not eat.
Experiment with new recipes that include vegetables and try having a meatless meal at least one
per week.
14