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Question: When I made my New Year’s resolutions my intentions were
really clear and strong, but now, just a few weeks later, I’m back to my old bad
habits. Why can’t I keep promises to myself?—-Marie in Orange
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DR. MASON
 Response from Dr. Mason
It’s been estimated that more than
80% of Americans make New Year’s
Resolutions but that less than 20% keep
them. The point being, it feels good to
say you’re going to do this or that and
to then imagine yourself in six months
but the truth is that very few are able to
follow through for the long-term. The
result is that a sense of failure is then
added to the problem you’d originally
hoped to resolve.
The most popular goals for this year
are the same as last year and the year
before that - Eating Less and Exercising
More. Clearly, these are two areas that
need greater dedication. However, on
the plus side, Giving Up Cigarettes
seems to have worked (only 17% of
adults still smoke) allowing Managing
Money Better to take third place.
It may be that the problem with Eat
Less/Exercise More is that both are so
vague. A better approach would be to
establish specific – yet attainable –
targets. Losing 20 pounds in six months
and exercising (at something you enjoy)
for twenty minutes three times a week
are realistic and achievable. Keep a
journal and track your progress. It
would also help if you enlist the aid of a
buddy.
Losing twenty pounds and logging
twenty-five hours of brisk movement
between now and summer will make an
enormous difference in how you look
and feel. Remember the tortoise and the
hare? The race didn’t go to the swift but
to the most resolute
Contact Dr. Mason at NBY! Dr. Mason,
PO Box 722, Brea, CA or email him at
92822DrSBMason@aol.com.
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KRISTIN
 Response from Kristin
We all want to do better in some areas
of our lives, My Dear, and in the
excitement of starting a new year…it’s
irresistible to think of total transformation.
And look how magazines and tv shows
promote that idea with compelling before
and after photos. Seeing them, we ask
ourselves, if others can loose half their
body weight, we have the will power to
do anything we want. Right?
Well…yes, if it were just a matter of
will power, but science has proven, in
layman’s terms, our minds love to burrow
into comfortable ruts, and the more often
we repeat a behavior, the deeper
ingrained the habit. That said, it’s not
hopeless so don’t give up. Try making
changes in small increments. Instead of
telling yourself you will loose 30 pounds
in a do or die pledge, try substituting a
piece of fruit for that bag of potato chips.
After 21 days (how long it takes to form a
new habit), add another healthy eating
habit.
Rather than weight loss and exercise,
I’ve noticed many wise seniors prefer
quality of life promises. One 95-year-old
told me her New Year’s resolution is to
entertain more often, opening her home
and heart to others.
As for my own resolution?
I’ve gotten so busy, I forget to put on
lipstick and look the worse for it. Check
back with me next year to see how I did
or, better yet, meet me at the cosmetic
counter.
Contact Kristin at NBY! Kristin,
PO Box 722, Brea, CA or email her at
92822
bettertimesafter50@hotmail.com.
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