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jana Message from the Director

WHAT'S YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION?
When I did some Internet research on New Year's resolutions the other day, I learned some fun facts and figures. Among them:

  • The New Year celebration is one of the oldest of all holidays, starting in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago
  • The first New Year's resolutions were made in Rome in 153 B.C.
  • The resolution to lose weight has been among the top ten for years…and is the number one resolution, according to many polls

Making the decision to lose weight is a healthy one for many of us; as you've no doubt heard before, about a third of Americans are obese and this extra weight is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

What you may not know is that losing as little as 5 to 10% of your excess body weight can improve your health considerably by lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk for diabetes according to researchers.

So how do you get started losing weight in the new year? Working with a dietitian can really help. Instead of wading through cookbooks and trying new physical fitness plans on your own, do this:

  • Make an appointment with a professional who works with a medically-supervised weight-loss program
  • Sit down and make a plan
  • Start the plan
  • Start losing weight within the first few days!

If you feel comfortable making your plan known, talk with your family, friends and coworkers and ask for their support. You'd be surprised at how many people want to see you succeed and will go out of their way to help you.

Finally, revel in your success! As you begin to lose weight, you'll feel more confident in your ability to succeed. Then once you begin a simple exercise program like walking, you'll see rapid improvement as your stamina improves. You'll even make new friends on your daily walks around the neighborhood or mall. And if you become a regular at outdoor shops like REI, you can attend free slide shows where you'll meet adventurers who have traveled the world and free clinics to help you tune that old bike in the garage.

2008 can be a great year for you if you simply make some plans to start feeling better, looking better and improving your health.

So set your goals and find a way…or make a way…to accomplish them!