Top 10 New Year Resolutions

I'm not usually one to make new year resolutions, but this year it's a must. I've been suffering from pain and stiffness in my hip area and thighs... and have been seeing a chiropractor regularly for three months now. Instead of improving, it's gotten worse, so I had an MRI done two weeks ago.

The diagnosis? I have three bulged disks in my lower back, each one pinching nerves leading into my hips and legs -- one rather severely. While the docs don't think my weight was the cause of the bulged disks, the excess weight is a factor in pain management.

So, I gave myself two weeks... got myself in what I hope is a solid mental mindset to change my eating habits, and tomorrow is d-day. What started as dread has changed to an excitement of (hopefully) positive things to come.

Wish my luck, folks.

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I used to make resolutions, but never could stick to them so I don't much get into that anymore.

DUCKS...I hope you get to feeling better. A painful hip or back is nothing to quack at. Sorry...had to put that in there. But, I think you know what I mean.

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Join me in the Hammer Lane on the Social Group side!

Proud to Support the US Honor Flag

I'll do better than that, Ducks --- I wish you
SUCCESS.

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Pontificating Dogmatist

Every year I make a long list of resolutions and put them in my day planner. Every year I try to keep them and by the end of February, at the latest, most are long ago given up on. Then the weeks of Christmas and New Years the following year I get all depressed because I know I have to face that list of failures for another year.

This year I've decided to just forego the list in January so I don't have to evaluate it come December, and maybe next December won't be so depressing. If I accomplish anything this year of note then it can just be a pleasant surprise.

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"What I'd like to do is go down in history as the President who made Americans believe in themselves again." - Ronald Reagan

I don't drive OTR
But being the average age of death is 61 for drivers
I plan on working on my diet and weight
Its not that I am huge its ,just that once you hit your 30's its hard to get rid of the extras that creep up while your sleeping

I understand..<sigh>

With age comes 'creeping pounds!'

During my life, my weight as varied up/down as many as 30 lbs; and looking at my 87 YO Dad, will be a continuous battle for the rest of my life.

What makes it worse, is that "we" Americans have it even more worse than our parents. Our life is more couch potato with remote controls (used to have to get up/down to change channels), PC's and the Inet (more time sitting on our butts), more easy microwave 'hi-carbs foods,' etc.

I do believe in the latest knowledge of 'calorie restriction lengthens lives,' and plan on adjusting mine to nmt 1800/day. My variations over my life have proven that 'dieting' is a lifelong experience---'diet' means to control one's intake, and is not just for losing weight.

But equally important is exercise. You need both to control weight and be healthy! Besides the usual free-weights, stretches, crunches, etc., I also add: parking furthest in the parking lot at stores (also saves on the car paint job), getting up and doing something (pit stop, look out window, do a minor chore, etc) during TV commercials. I also try to walk 3 miles/day whenever possible. Dogs are great for that--see "The Dog Whisperer." Little things add up!!

The main key to weight control is---dont let it get out-of-control! Keep a check on it, and try to keep an upper limit on how much you weigh. Dont let it get too bad or one can become too sedentary and then give up. Once a person 'gives up,' then its 300+ lbs and a short, limited life.

Good luck to all of us in this 'war'.......

Thanks, Shocky. All the excitement I had building into today -- d-day, in my book -- has turned to fear this morning. The "what if I can't do this" kinda fear. So my mind's churning away trying to find a way to make this fear work FOR me, instead of against me. Thanks for having faith in me, my friend.

It's interesting, OD. Look at the people in their 70's, 80's and 90's. They're all thin... almost slight folks. You just don't see fat older folks. Scary, eh?

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Centenarians (100+ YO) have several things in common:

1) Weight under control--not too fat or too thin (too thin could mean not eating right and getting reqd nutrients!)

2) Most are coffee drinkers (but in moderation)

3) Many are wine drinkers (like 1 glass/day--that's proving out in studies on anti-oxidants)

4) Have some kind of social life (another 'reason for living!')

Sounds like a life of moderation and common sense....