– The promises made to yourself as New Year Resolutions last year – wear down surely as the months unspool. Just how do you keep any resolution?
Essentially, it’s a lifestyle change, a true commitment to alter one’s behavior, whether it’s minor as nagging your spouse, or the more serious health concerns like smoking tobacco, over eating, or drinking like a drunk.
Have you promised to quit smoking, and failed, then you have a problem to your immediate health. Smoking contributes directly (to lung cancer, emphysema, COPD) or indirectly (heart disease), to millions of deaths each year. E- cigarettes are little better, and you’re still addicted.
Drinking too much, continually, damages your liver and other organs. Also, you put your life at risk, and those of many others, when you drive home to sleep it off. Those are the cold harsh facts, and you cannot budge them nor bend them.
Need more? Smoking and drinking also ruin your skin and to a certain extent, after a while, your sense of taste and smell. Why would you want that -or a tar filled lung? Smoking also gradually makes brittle the blood vessels on your heart, like an old hose. Perhaps you prefer a rigid blood vessel in your brain, that can lead to stroke?
Don’t make excuses, do something to stop. If you’re disabled, that’s not an excuse. Your life still matters. Those with PTSD, you will need counseling anyway, so get it now, and stop smoking. Your loved ones want you to have better health and stop smoking. Stop these awful habits to get healthier.
Your doctor can prescribe medication to help quit smoking like Chantix, but it’s not for everyone. There are patches as you know, and gums. However, all the former items won’t work if you don’t want it to be successful, and you only half try to commit wholeheartedly to ending what is destroying your health. Destroying week by week.
To help with the heavy drinking, there are many programs, in-house or otherwise. AA is one program that a number of people like, because it has a spiritual dimension. Many have had success with AA. Remember though, you have to want that change.
If you overeat, many solutions are available. One remedy is portion control, learning what makes up a serving. You’d be surprised at what an overweight eater thinks is a ‘regular’ portion. Much too much! Another tip is don’t go back for seconds. Wait a minute or two or three, your urge to have a second helping will wane and subside after your brain gets the signal that you have eaten enough.
At first it will be tough going as your stomach organ shrinks down, to expect less. Takes about a week or two. Also important, avoid eating before bed. Walk everyday, at least a half hour. If you can’t walk, buy a exercycle or at least get a pedal unit where you sit in a chair and pedal the pedals.
Make a promise to yourself, be healthier, more fit. Breathe in the absolute change in thinking that will be required to quit your addiction to tobacco or liquor or eating too much. Now is the time to be resolute, keep your promise, keep the resolution you made! Get help, if you need that.