How to Break Your Resolutions

Have you broken your New Year’s resolutions yet? Come on, be honest!

Did you ever wonder why January 1st compels you to determine to lose weight, start exercising, eat better, stop drinking, watch less TV, spend more time with the family, make more money, be more productive, or break off that wrong relationship, but then quickly leaves you flat? It’s because January 1st is no better than May 27th, in the same way that “Monday morning” is no better than Thursday afternoon! There is nothing magical about January 1st; in fact, it’s not really even the start of a new year. According to God, the true new year begins in the spring (Exodus 12:2) and, even then, it’s not a special day to repent of sin and change our ways. Assigning January 1st any special power is just superstition. As believers, we are called to approach change much differently than the world, so why would we wait for a future date to do what is right?!

Include the Lord
Though the Bible cautions us about the seriousness of swearing actual vows, it’s not wrong to make personal resolutions. It takes strong resolve to bring about significant changes, especially those involving lifestyle and health. But, if the results that most people achieve teach us anything, the odds of accomplishing actual transformations through New Year’s resolutions are not good at all. Research demonstrates that only 12% of those who make these annual self-commitments actually realize their goals. As believers, we should not strive to do anything merely for our own benefit, as our core motivation should be to glorify God. When we “seek ye first,” we stop struggling to accomplish things in our own strength, and his power can then help us overcome and follow through. The Bible says to “let your yes be yes and your no be no” (Matthew 5:37), so if you commit your ways unto the Lord you will succeed by his might, rather that struggle and fail in your own strength.

Pray, and anchor yourself spiritually and psychologically. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for me. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything (1 Corinthians 6:12). Break the bonds and be set apart.

Keep everything in perspective. Your successes and failures do not define you. God does! Focus on realistic goals with measurable results. Reduce objectives into small steps that you can manage. If your goal is too big, you may feel defeated before you even get started. The key to achieving even your most lofty goals is to take immediate steps toward them. It’s not effective to wish and dream without making an effort. Actions precede inspiration and motivation.

Long-term weight loss

• Write down what you eat so that you are aware of what and how much you’re consuming.

• Know your personal risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.

• Choose a nutritious diet that is high in healthy fats and low in processed starches and sugars.

• Eat smaller meals throughout the day rather than a few big ones.

• Lose weight slowly (1-2 pounds per week). It will be easier to keep it off and decreases the risk of rebound.

• Have an accountability partner; preferably someone you see in-person at least weekly.

• Plan a “cheat day” each week on which you eat your favorite not-so-healthy foods. This will keep you from feeling deprived.

• Watch your portion size. If you are eating out and the portion is big, cut it in half right away and put it in a to-go bag, or split the meal with a friend.

• Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes before your brain realizes you’ve had enough. That means the amount of calories consumed before you begin to feel satisfied can vary depending on how quickly you eat.

• Drink 8-10 glasses of water per day, as this both fills you up and allows for proper digestion and detoxing.

• Keep healthy foods on hand, and get rid of the junk so it won’t tempt you.

• Avoid fad diets, negative self-talk and emotional eating.

• Keep things in perspective. Make health and long-term change of habits, not physical appearance and quick fixes, your weight management priority.

Get out and get going!
Obviously it is in your best interest to engage in regular physical activity, but don’t think you need to spend all day at the gym or run marathons to stay fit. Just 20 minutes of any physical activity (aerobic or weight training) done in an interval style three times per week can produce significant benefits. Interval training is simply cycles of 10 to 30 seconds of intense movement followed by up to 90 seconds of rest, repeated until 20 minutes is complete. In addition you should include a simple, well-rounded stretching routine.

Keep moving all year long
• Choose activities that you enjoy and that fit your personality so that you will keep doing them.

• Make exercise fun.

• Start slowly and ramp up incrementally.

• Block out the time to exercise on your calendar.

• Keep an exercise log to set weekly goals and be encouraged by the progress.

• Find an exercise buddy who’s counting on you.

• Train safely to avoid injuries.

• Wear comfortable shoes with good support.

• Resolve to never have to make resolutions

• Leave the Monday morning “do over” club behind, because that Monday just never seems to come!

If you make a bad choice at any time of the day, month or year, repent and get back on track. Parents, what advice do you give your children about correcting a bad situation or negative habit? Do you tell them to wait until January? Congratulations, you’re now free to make positive changes that start today and last a lifetime!

Dr. Jeff Hazim is a Chiropractor and nutritional counselor practicing in Pompano Beach (TheBrowardCenter.com), and Executive Director of “Biblical Health Television”, the only TV network devoted to Biblical Health (BiblicalHealth.tv). Weekly Radio Broadcasts: BlogTalkRadio.com/BiblicalHealth.

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