Don’t give up on those resolutions yet

by Melanee Tiura, RD, CDE

Melanee Tiura, RD, CDE

As the New Year begins, it is a time to reflect on where we are now and where we want to be in the year to come.

Many have set their resolutions for the year to come, and many have already broken them, discouraged, throwing their hands up in futility. "Why?" we may ask.

Well, because change is hard. In the health care setting our patients regularly share with us their personal health goals for the year: losing weight, lowering their cholesterol, quitting smoking, etc. In support of these efforts, you may want to consider a few tips to help you with your changes in the year to come:

You must DO something different!

If you are desiring different results from those you are getting right now, you must DO something different. Note I didn't say "everything," but "something."

Most people set extreme goals to get extreme "success" and then last about 48 hours at best. A more gentle approach will have more lasting results. For example, reducing concentrated sweets to no more than one small serving three days per week rather than "no sweets for me, ever."

Focus on the positive!

The very moment that you set a goal to avoid a certain thing, it will become the only thing you desire. Instead, look at what you can include such as having two to three servings of monounsaturated fats per day (olive oil, canola oil, avocados, nuts, nut butters) or including two meatless dinners per week (quite good for lowering LDL cholesterol).

Solid planning is NECESSARY for success!

Do the research required to know all your options. For example, if your desire is to lose weight, consider metabolic testing, meeting with a registered dietitian or participating in a grocery store tour or a cooking demonstration to break out of your usual shopping/food prep ruts.

If improving your cholesterol is the primary goal, know your numbers and what they mean to find out what types of interventions affect which of your risk factors. You may find that the options are numerous and that you can easily do many of them!

Build up support!

Enthusiasm is infectious and face it we all need a dose every now and then. Pick how you spend your free time and who you spend it with when possible. Get involved with people who take care of themselves (consider Lake Effect League, taking a fitness class or joining a gym).

Small changes make big differences when we assess the influence they have on our health indicators. Don't get discouraged yet, you've got another 50 weeks of opportunities to go.

Portage Health will offer a Healthy Cooking class from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 at its new Portage Health-Houghton location. Cost is $10, which includes a light meal focusing on healthier ways to prepare traditional comfort foods. Call 483-1149 to register.

Melanee Tiura is a Registered Dietitian in the Community Health Department at Portage Health. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 483-1149 or (800) 573-5001 (toll free).

posted on: 01/14/2010 10:56:00