New Year's resolutions are made but seldom kept

Intermountain Catholic

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Members of Xcel Fitness in Bountiful begin the new year increasing their exercise with a multi-step aerobics class. Instructor Torrie Layton (center), said since she already works out daily, her New Year's resolution is to learn sign language.IC photo by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — Many of us make New Year’s resolutions, but few of us keep them. Setting the right goal is everything. Too often, we set our expectations too high. The result is, it is harder to meet them and we become discouraged and disappointed, lose our motivation, and do not succeed.

A recent New Year’s resolution poll conducted by the General Nutrition Center (GNC) discovered that 25 percent of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within the first few weeks. Ten is the average number of times a New Year’s resolution is made. Those who make a resolution that lasts for six months or more have often tried five or six times before finally succeeding.

The top 10 New Year’s Resolutions are to exercise regularly, lose weight, quit smoking, enjoy life more, quit drinking, get out of debt, learn something new, help others, get organized, and spend more time with family and friends.

The GNC poll found that more than 50 percent of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year.

St. Olaf parishioner Kirsten Mele, said her goal is to spend more quality time with her husband. When she is not working, she spends most of her time caring for their three children ages 10, 7, and 4. Mele has already applied her resolution and found it to be beneficial for their marriage.

Laura Landward, a clinical social worker for Catholic Community Services, tells her clients to pick goals that are obtainable when making New Year’s resolutions or setting goals in general. She has them set small goals rather than large goals.

"An example would be setting the goal to pay off a debt," said Landward. "The best way to approach such a goal is to figure out how much of your paycheck you can afford to make in payments toward your final goal. In the meantime, I also advise my clients to cut up their credit cards. That way they gain control and feel better about themselves, which motivates them to reach their goals."

Many New Year’s resolutions are for health-related goals. St. Olaf parishioner Kevin O’Connell said he would like to lose 20 pounds this year. Lisa Jensen, an auditor in the finance office of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, is giving up soda pop. Michael Lee, director of pastoral operations for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, has decided not to eat fast food during 2007. If he does eat fast food, he said he will order something healthy like a salad or low-fat menu item.

According to the American Heart Association, you can eat out and eat healthy, too. Many restaurants offer meals that are low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. That’s good news for your health because a diet high in saturated and trans fats raises blood cholesterol. High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, and it’s also a risk factor for stroke.

When eating out, ask which type of fat the restaurant uses. Try to replace the saturated and trans fats in your food with more healthful unsaturated oils. Canola, olive, and corn oil are among the most desirable.

Health related changes feel like deprivations. When people try to give up foods they like, stop smoking, or stop drinking, it is hard to maintain motivation. It is more rewarding to focus on what we are going to do rather than what we cannot do.

"A client weighing 200 pounds may say he or she wants to lose 50 pounds, which at the time seems obtainable until he or she tries to reach that goal," said Landward. "It is better to say you are going to lose five pounds a month until you reach your goal of 50 pounds so that you have small successes along the way and feel better about yourself. Losing weight must become a lifestyle change in order to maintain your goal once it is reached."

Ryan Forsey, manager of Xcel Fitness in Bountiful, said December, January, and February are the busiest months for selling new memberships to the fitness club.

"Memberships to a fitness club make good Christmas gifts, and people become conscious about improving their health around the holidays when they are attending parties, eating more, and exercising less because it is cold outside," said Forsey.

According to the American Heart Association, regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else. Regular exercise reduces the risk of cancer, increases longevity, and helps achieve and maintain weight loss. Exercise also lowers blood pressure, helps improve arthritis, and enhances moods by releasing endorphins or the analgesic properties which occur naturally in the brain.

Make this year the year you make good on your New Year’s resolutions. Set appropriate expectations, learn what you need to do to be successful, focus on what you want to do, and have a great year.