Adam’s journal
The holidays always leave me feeling sick, literally. By the time Jan. 1 rolls around, I’ve spent a full month stuffing myself with petit fours, cheese cubes, fondue, madeleines and anything else capable of clogging an artery.
It’s enough to make a guy swear off holiday parties — at least until this time next year.
In the spirit of eternal optimism, I was hoping you might offer a few tips for a healthy new year.
Dr. Prescott prescribes
Jan. 1 pledges of self-improvement die about as quickly as the Chicago Cubs’ pennant hopes. In the no-duh category, a 2007 survey found that 88 percent of resolutions end in failure.
So, how to find your way into that 12 percent sweet spot?
It’s easy. Literally. That means you should choose attainable goals, not piein-the-sky stuff. And make it a short list.
So here are a few ideas:
1. Clear some space in front of your TV. Don’t bother resolving to quit watching the tube; that’s a pledge that’s destined to fail. Instead, make a little space directly in front of the television. That way, you can use your “screen time” to do sit-ups, pushups, stretch or even hit the stationary bike or treadmill.
2. Hit the hay. Your immune system functions better when you don’t skimp on sleep. Research also has shown that sleep deficits are associated with weight gain.
3. Exercise before breakfast. When two groups of subjects ate too much for a six-week period, the ones who worked out after eating added several pounds. But those who exercised the same amount in a fasted state — usually only possible before breakfast — gained almost no weight.
4. Drink regularly but moderately. A common resolution is to give up alcohol. But a study published this month found that after controlling for other risk factors, both binge drinkers and teetotalers had almost twice as many cardiac problems as those who drank moderate amounts of alcohol daily.
5. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. When life gets in the way and you fall off the resolution wagon, don’t quit. Just dust yourself off and pick up with your routine.
Have a happy and healthy 2011!
