Start The Year Off Right

January 2nd marks the end of the holidays’ onslaught of food and drink. As with most years, we tend to overdue and decide that we will worry about any weight gain after the holidays. The rationalization is easy, but the realization is not so easy. Starting the New Year off with a crash diet hardly ever works – especially after all of the over-indulging you did in December. Here’s how it often goes. On the first day, you decide to drink nothing but water. By mid-day, you have drunk enough water to fill a swimming pool, but somehow that craving for food is still there. By the time you come home from work you are ready to eat everything in sight but decide to take a brisk walk instead. As you walk, you can almost feel the pounds coming off. After the walk, you settle into your easy chair but your stomach is grumbling and starts sending messages to your brain that it needs FOOD! Before you know it, you are “celebrating” what a good diet day you had by eating the last piece of pie. But somehow that is not enough, and before you know it, the food-fest starts all over again. The next morning, instead of losing weight, you have added on two more pounds! What can one do? Do not get frustrated or do anything drastic – that never works. For anyone that wishes to lose weight there is no magic bullet – you must eat less, eat better and do some sort of physical activity. Here are a few simple steps to get you started: 1) Make an appointment to see your family physician; 2) Schedule a complete examination so you will be assured that you are healthy enough to begin losing weight; 3) Ask your physician to schedule an appointment for you with a dietician; 4) Learn good nutrition and portion control (the dietician can help you with this); and 5) Be positive. By using common sense, you will be able to start the New Year off with a healthier lifestyle and a healthier you. Diets don’t work – you must change your old habits. Good luck! You can do it!!