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I have a love-hate relationship with New Year’s resolutions. On one hand, anything that causes us to take a moment to seriously reflect on where we’re headed in life is a good and valuable thing to do. The end of the year is a perfect time to take an honest look at the status of our health, spiritual life, financial status, family relationships or any other major aspect of life that will determine much of our long-term happiness.

But as we all know, resolutions can also be a not-so-serious attempt at healthy and positive changes (changes that we never really intended on keeping in the first place). Studies have found that 60 percent of people who set a New Year’s goal give up on it within three months. So what does take to be in that ever desirable 40 percent club?Here are some key strategies to make your new habit stick:

Have a positive attitude — By focusing on the “I wills” instead of the “will nots,” you put yourself in the right mental attitude for successful change. If you remind yourself of all the things you shouldn’t do or can’t do, it makes your effort a negative experience, which is not what you want to invite into your life.I recommend that you write a few of your “I wills” on a sticky note and post them on your fridge and car dashboard, in your wallet and on your computer monitor. This keeps the positive change ahead of you at the forefront of your mind and in focus throughout your day. When moments of weakness strike, you will be armed with a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, and that negative thought will be busted before it has a chance to ruin your new, healthy quest.

Gain control through learning — If weight loss is your goal, learn everything you can about healthy eating and exercise. Simply taking a diet pill or jumping on a fad diet is not going to teach you to live a healthier lifestyle or keep that weight off for a lifetime. There are many great online resources available to help educate you on the ins and outs of healthy eating and exercise.www.fitday.com — a free online diet journal and calorie counting tool.

www.foodnetwork.com — go to the healthy eating section for great recipes.

www.eatright.org — American Dietetic Association Web site that has great references and articles.

www.prevention.com — everything you want to know about exercise and healthy living.

www.lifechanginghealthysolutions.com — this is my own site. I have free healthy living information for you there.

Keep your eyes on the prize — It’s one thing to want to lose weight, but don’t make that your entire focus. Also remind yourself that if you lost weight you’d lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. You’d also increase your energy, boost your confidence, feel more attractive and fit easily into your clothes.If your goal is to stop smoking, you can add reducing your risk of lung cancer and heart attack to your list — not to mention that you will no longer have “smoker’s breath” (yuck!), your clothes won’t stink like smoke (you might not be aware of the smell the smoke in your clothes, but everyone around you notices — trust me) and you’ll save money by not having to buy cigarettes anymore.

Now, that’s what I call a life-changing prize.

Well, it’s been a particularly hard week, well, actually 2 weeks. Many of you received an email from my husband asking for thoughts and prayers due to a CRAZY illness that has me flat on my back and miserable. I felt I needed to explain a bit, so here goes…

When I had Spencer in 1999 (my now 8 years old) I developed a strange “rash” but due to the fact I was nursing no one could treat me. I dealt with the pain and itch and it eventually went away. Since then I have developed the same “rash” each and every year, mainly in the winter.

Last year was probably the worst bout and I was forced to see 4 different doctors, each telling me it was some sort of strange case of hives and I was treated with Steroids and Allergy meds. Funny that none of them tried to help me figure out where it was coming from but rather just treated my symptoms, like a band-aid really (but I’m not bitter).

It lasted for over 2 months last year and I have to say was the absolute worst thing I have EVER dealt with or experienced. Even having 2 babies without so much as a Tylenol was NOTHING compared to this! Last time we thought we had made a connection to my hormones and after going on a particular birth control that took away most of my periods it seemed to go away. Guess that was coincidence.

Well, like clock work, the hives have returned…with a vengeance. This time the pain and itch are ten fold. I just really don’t think I can put into words how difficult it is for a “healthy” person to struggle with doing even the smallest, most mundane job, like doing the laundry or grabbing the milk at the grocery store. I’m the do all person, the daily exerciser, the never sits her butt down type of gal. I literally spend most of my time lying flat on a Lazyboy chair covered with bags of frozen peas (don’t laugh, they work). The cooling pea packs are like a savior from the fire that brews under the skin surface, the hot, red, swarming effect that these histamines carry are just excruciating and at times relentless. At the moment the hives have grown to cover all of my stomach, from hip to hip and breast line to bikini line and now have started on my back. It’s crazy really and let me say not so attractive. LOL

The only breakthrough I have had was that I tested very high for a thyroid disorder called Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder. Nice huh. It doesn’t explain the hives but it would explain why I have struggle with fatigue, “female issues” and a strange lump in my throat. Bad news is that I couldn’t get in to see the doc for this until January 7th. Geeze, can’t get a break.

My last hope is with an allergist this Thursday. The only connection we have made to this hives thing is the time of year. The last few years it has hit me almost exactly at the first of January and this year at the beginning of December. One connection…Christmas stuff. I got the hives a few days after putting it up and it would have been just after taking it all down in years past. LOL…Sounds like some CSI/ House episode huh. I did find several stories of mold and pollens that form on the Christmas stuff when in storage. It’s a long shot but enough we stripped most of the Christmas stuff down a few days ago. The kids understand but it’s been a little hard on us all.

It really has been very humbling and I have to say I WILL NEVER take my health for granted again. Not that I ever did but my heart really goes out to people who struggle with their health on an ongoing basis. It has sort of a snowball effect on your self-esteem, emotions and everything just feels WRONG! Let me tell you…that SUCKS! (sorry).

Well, I felt the need to fill you all in. I have received SOOOOOOO many emails and I appreciate each and every one of you. Many of you I have never met, but in a way, I consider you family. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. It really has helped and this season too shall pass. I promise you I will lick this thing. There IS an explanation and we WILL get to the bottom of it. FOR SURE!

As for the New Year….You guys had better hold on to your seats. I have a lot in store and once I’m back on feet there won’t be ANYTHING gettin’ in my way of helping ALL of you reach ALL of your goals for 2008!

Best of Health and Merry Christmas!

PS. If you haven’t received your FREE copy of my “Surviving the Holidays: Your “‘No Fail’” Plan of Attack for Staying Healthy and Fit” be sure to go to www.lifechanginghealthysolutions.com and download it. It’s a goodie!

If you are anything like me, you are still scrambling to find last-minute gifts for the loved ones in your life. Why not go a little above and beyond and give them the gift of good health? I know it sounds a little corny, but compared to another sweater that they won’t wear or a CD they will just end up exchanging, this is something that will actually make a difference in their lives. I know you don’t have much time left for shopping so I have searched locally and on the web for the best healthy gifts that you can still get before December 24th (hurry most online orders are due today)!

Gift: Great Harvest Bread

One of my favorite and most inexpensive gifts to give (and receive) is a healthy and wholesome loaf from Great Harvest Bread. There are many great local bread companies but I love Great Harvest because they use freshly-milled whole grain wheat flour and they have some of the healthiest breads in town. I suggest you go with their gift pack which gives your recipient little cards that they redeem for 1 honey loaf, 1 loaf of their choice and a jumbo cookie, all for only $12.

Gift: a Subscription to a Healthy Magazine.

Some of my favorites are Cooking Light, Prevention, Shape, Fitness, Health and Men’s Health. Most will be around $12-18 for a year’s subscription and it really is a gift that gives all year long.

Gift: Gaiam Walk Fit Kit Pedometer

This little gem keeps track of daily steps and calories, plus it includes a stop watch and distance counter. Anyone trying to improve their health and stay more active will love this easy to use pedometer available at www.target.com for only $24.99.

Gift: CalorieSmart

I always say that weight loss is all about calories in and calories out. This portable, pocket sized, handheld device will take all the work out of monitoring your calories taken in from food and spent during exercise. It contains nutritional info for over 35,000 foods and even includes menu items from over 250 restaurants. Plus it allows you to enter your daily workouts so you know exactly where you stand at the end of the day. This is a wonderful tool that will certainly help take the headaches out of weight loss and food monitoring. $80 at www.amazon.com.

Gift: Local Lessons/Classes

I met a man the other day whose wife bought him a “Tennis in No Time” beginner’s tennis class from a local tennis club four years ago. He’s played tennis regularly ever since. Why not give your active loved one tennis lessons, golf lessons, a Yoga or Pilates class, dance lessons or a healthy cooking class? Sometimes something unexpected can end up being the best and most memorable gift. For ideas and types of classes available call local a Yoga studio, any of the local gyms, tennis or golf clubs or try looking up cooking lessons in the yellow pages.  

Gift: Reebok Adjustable Weights

These are great for the home exerciser. They are space-saving, adjustable hand weights with 5 settings from 2.5 to 12.5 pounds each dumbbell. No more buying 3 or 4 sets of different hand weights - all you need is this one set and you are ready for any workout. $61.99 at Target or look for them online.
 

  (this is the bi-weekly article that appeared in the Evansville Courier & Press 12/03/07)

I often preach the benefits of a healthy lifestyle — eating right, exercise and a positive mental attitude. However, this week I want to switch the emphasis away from the usual suspects and touch on the one thing that will throw a wrench in your healthy lifestyle faster than you can say “Can you supersize that?”

Stress! Stress is oozing out of our pores this time of year, and if you don’t take action to decompress, it will mean bad news for your health, not to mention suck the joy right out of this wonderful season. Let me explain.

Two years ago, my holiday stress meter shot off the charts. I had just about killed myself trying to be “super Christmas mom” and squeeze every possible thing into our holiday schedule. I had to get the kids’ picture taken so I could send out the cute little Christmas cards; help with the Christmas program at church; the kids both had school programs to be in; and we had several parties to attend. I baked cookies for family and friends, made personalized ornaments for my training clients, decorated the house for our own party for about 50 people and did Christmas crafts with the kids … all in addition to working and shopping almost every free evening and weekend.

How did I fit it all in? By sacrificing all the “me time,” skipping my workouts and getting very little sleep. It wasn’t long before I turned into a stressed-out Grinch, and, believe me, everyone knew it!

Last year I approached the holidays differently. For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed Thanksgiving and Christmas like never before. I realized it wasn’t about being everything to everyone — the holiday season is about peace, family, giving and faith. It’s not about hurrying, shopping and staying up till midnight baking cookies.

None of that stuff means much when those around you can’t stand to be near you, and you feel — and look — like a run-down mess.

So here’s what you can do to de-stress and find your healthy “joy” this holiday season:

1) Exercise. You know I couldn’t write an article without at least touching on health and fitness. This is the “me time” we all need to get the stress out. It doesn’t always have to be the super hard stuff. Get up and stretch, take a yoga class. Try your hand at Thai Chi, which is offered at many gyms. The stress of weight gain during the holidays is something none of us needs, so take some time to care for own well-being and everyone around you will benefit from your newfound peace and joy this season.

2) Lower your expectations. Christmas doesn’t need to look and feel like a Norman Rockwell painting with all the perfect cards, cookies and decorations. Family and friends aren’t going to disown you if they don’t get a card, and no one will complain if you don’t hang lights from your roof. Make time to kick back, listen to holiday tunes and sip on spiced cider with your loved ones.

3) Remembered the reason for the season. One of the biggest time savers and hardest moves I made was to skip some of the parties and programs. I also didn’t make home-made crafts for everyone, and I didn’t spend so much time shopping and fighting traffic (thank goodness for online shopping). What I did do is read the Christmas story with my children, finally enjoyed a peaceful holiday season, took care of my health, and thanked God for all the blessings in my life. Now that’s what healthy living is all about!