Year-Round Resolutions for a Healthy Life

  • Published
  • By Health and Wellness Center
"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas." - Anonymous

Once the holiday season is over, the cookies eaten, the presents unwrapped, and the champagne bottles empty, folks make promises to themselves to shed a few pounds, jump into a new diet or drop the cigarette habit.

That is, until Feb. 1. Then it's back to business as usual and old exercise, diet and smoking habits resume.

Why?

Because human nature craves instant results: "It takes time to change habits," said John Walters, Health and Wellness Center Fitness Program manager. "People get discouraged after two weeks at the gym when they don't see results. They turn to fad diets and extreme measures to drop weight gained during the holidays. They buy expensive supplements and weight loss products or starve themselves. I've seen it over and over again and my advice to people this time of year is to be patient."

"The healthy way to lose weight is to do it slowly and with patience," said Kate Jennings, HAWC registered dietician. "I suggest people lose one to two pounds per week, and one inch per month. There is no reason to starve. When we stop eating healthfully and calorie intake is severely restricted, the body conserves energy. Our metabolism is like a furnace, and it needs to be fed in order for calories to burn."

Similarly, stopping tobacco use takes time and commitment. "The base pharmacy sees plenty of patients who stop and start tobacco cessation medications constantly," said Nancy Zabaga, HAWC Health Education Program manager. "Tobacco users sometimes think they can take a pill and the nicotine addiction will be cured. That's not the case. The prescription and over-the-counter remedies for nicotine addiction available at the base pharmacy are helpful, but there is also a behavioral component in addition to the physical addiction to nicotine. The nicotine patch, nicotine gum, Chantix, and the generic form of Zyban all assist with the physical symptoms of withdrawal. Tobacco users must manage behavior if they are going to stay tobacco-free. For example, smokers may need to avoid people or circumstances that trigger smoking."


Some HAWC programs to help people meet goals for the New Year include:

THE BIGGEST WINNER
Mr. Walters and Ms. Jennings look forward to helping Team Dover shed unwanted pounds and increase fitness levels in 2011 by kicking off the year with "The Biggest Winner" contest. The competition takes place January thru March with teams competing to lose weight safely. Prizes will be awarded to the Biggest Winner team that loses the most weight.

JOHN & KATE MINUS WEIGHT
A program tailored to meet the specific lifestyle needs of each individual in this small and interactive class.

SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM
Personal, on-the spot tobacco education, group classes, and access to free over-the-counter and prescription medications to help tobacco users quit for good are available. Nicotine patches, nicotine gum, Chantix and the generic form of Zyban are all covered by Tricare and have clinical data to prove they assist with quitting tobacco.

The HAWC offers help to anyone interested in setting health goals. Call the HAWC at 677-3733, or stop in at the new location on the third floor of the Library, Building 262.