A Clean Slate, New Resolve
By now you’ve probably returned all those gifts that didn’t make the grade, taken down the tree and packed away the ornaments--not to mention a few extra holiday pounds.
So let’s chew the fat about that. It’s time to make that New Year’s resolution in order to regain your figure. And Venetta Campbell is gonna tell you how.
Campbell, a psychology lecturer at Mount St. Mary’s College, has guided many through the process with stress, finance, career and health management resolutions. (Here’s where those expanding love handles come in.)
How do you begin, short of wiring your jaw shut?
“You’ve got to think big and plan small,” Campbell says. “Set realistic expectations of yourself--goals you can accomplish step by step.”
Resolutions, after all, are made because they “are a way of reflecting on one’s life and experiences throughout the year and trying to bring some closure to that year.”
But too often, Campbell says, “People don’t know how to attain their resolutions because they don’t have a plan.”
To lose those extra pounds (or to quit smoking, cut down commute time, find more quality time for your family, etc.), Campbell suggests three things:
* Establish a timeline.
* Chart your progress.
* Develop a reminder system.
You wanna shave off some pounds. About 24. You need a strategy to remain focused so you don’t get sidelined by the smell of cream gravy.
Says Campbell: “Make the resolution: ‘I resolve to lose 24 pounds by Dec. 31, 1999.’ Divide the pounds by 12 months and you end up with two pounds per month to lose, which makes it more simple.”
Get a plan: Exercise, walk, jog, run, do whatever works. “Join a support group by entering an exercise program or losing weight with a family member, a friend or co-worker. Stay away from naysayers, people who will want to sabotage your goal,” she says.
As you make progress, reward yourself with “pleasurable activities,” she says. Instead of eating a 5-pound box of See’s, just have one chocolate.
Remember, she adds, the effort you put into keeping your resolution is as important as the outcome.