What's Your Resolution
by Lex Luger
When Americans were recently polled about their New
Year’s Resolutions, their top three resolutions were:
1. Lose weight
2. Pay off debt
3. Save money
I can’t do too much about #2 and #3, but I can help you
with #1 — if you’re willing to make a few simple changes. After
working with frustrated dieters for years, I have seen satisfying,
lasting results when people follow these simple guidelines:
1. Don’t Go on a Diet
I don’t believe in diets because they’re only effective shortterm.
I let people keep the things they love in their diet, but I
teach them to eat these things at the right times of the day. I
don’t put people on diets, so I do see long-term success. “Diet”
is a dirty word to me! If diets worked, why would they keep
publishing new diet books?
2. Activate Your Metabolism
Get revved up and rolling in the morning to amp up your
metabolism. This will carry you throughout the day! Set that
alarm and get going if you can. By all means do it later if you
can’t get up, but do try! Start five minutes a day and add a minute
or two a week. Activate your metabolism through activity.
3. Don’t Starve Yourself
Instead of going hungry, eat small, nutritious, balanced
meals throughout the day. Just cut back on your carbohydrates
— breads, pastas, oatmeal, potatoes, etc. Eat them early, and
eat green vegetables in the evening. Taper your carbs as the day
progresses. At night people fill up their tanks with energy, or
carbs, and if you fill your tank at night, think of what you’ll
be doing over the next six hours… certainly not needing a full
tank! And people wonder why they’re fat! Always plan what
you will eat the night before — a healthy, balanced day of
protein, whole grains, and vegetables — as well as very small
portions of the foods you really love.
4. Beware of Hidden Calories
Most people drink hundreds of empty calories per day.
Even children are taking in an extra 170 calories per day by
drinking one sugared soda — not to mention the popular sports
drinks and juices that are so packed with sugars. Drink mostly
water throughout the day, and scatter in a few non-caloric
beverages. If you make no other changes in your diet, you can
lose 10-15 pounds per year! Also, watch out for sauces, gravies
and mayonnaise, and stock up on the “lite” dressings. I agree
that “non-fat” tastes like glue, but the “lite” stuff is good! On
your salads, just drizzle your dressings and then shake it in
some Tupperware. You’ll be surprised at how far it goes, and
you’ll save thousands of calories over a short period of time.
Finally dip, but don’t dunk food into dressings and sauces. Just
enough to enjoy the flavor.
5. Watch Those Portions
Americans simply put too much food onto their plates and
into their mouths. In other countries, people are staying fit and
healthy by eating a couple of servings of fish and rice a day.
Contrast that with the typical 4,000-calorie per day American
diet of cereal, white bread, French fries, burgers, candy bars,
soda pop… Why do we think we need so much? Using a salad
plate instead of a dinner plate at night and not going back for
seconds is a great first step in portion control.
6. Fill up on God
Many times we overeat — not because our bodies are
hungry, but because our spirits are. Spending time in God’s
Word and in worship will settle our souls and put food in its
proper perspective. The Word says that our bodies are the
temples of God, and we are to keep them holy, or whole (same
root word!). If you don’t want to do it for you, how about
doing it for your children, your grandchildren, and the Lord?
Start this week by meditating on a few of these scriptures:
• I Cor. 3:16 -17
• I Cor. 6:19
• Gen 2:10
• Gen. 3:19
Next time, we’ll break down the foods we eat by groups
and talk about what carbs, proteins and fats are, which ones
are best for you, and top tips for making great choices within
each group.
Remember, if others have been so successful, you can be,
too! It just takes a few minutes of planning and forethought.
God bless you on your journey to health! ~ Lex
• I Thes. 5:23
• II Thes. 3:10
• Rev. 22:1
What’s YOUR Resolution?
