Birmingham Physician Reveals How to Make Resolutions You Can Keep

BIRMINGHAM, AL ? December, 2010 - The New Year is here and with it we welcome new beginnings; the chance to turn over a new leaf and make a change for the better. Each year millions of us make a commitment to change. And although our New Year's resolutions tend to vary from person to person, we've all been guilty of making commitments to our health that we ultimately fail to uphold. According to Dr. David Smithson, Medical Director of BodyLogicMD of Birmingham, when it comes to setting health goals for the New Year, the key to success is determination and diligent planning.

The reason so many Americans are over-burdened with obesity and disease is because too many of us are reactive when it comes to our health. Many doctors believe that the U.S. can beat the current health crisis if - and only if - Americans start taking their health more seriously.

"In short, we are not living life as Mother Nature intended us to," shares Dr. Smithson. "Adopting a healthier lifestyle may take nothing short of re-thinking what you know and stepping outside of the realm of your social and habitual norms. It's great to be motivated to change, but when we hold ourselves to unrealistic standards, we're setting ourselves up for failure."

This year, make sure your commitment to health, whatever it may be, meets the criteria for S.M.A.R.T. goal setting - that is, make sure your goal is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Here Dr. Smithson explains this in more detail:

Specific - Goals should be straightforward and to the point, and place emphasis on what it is you're trying to achieve. Specifics help us hone our efforts and clearly define our goals.

Measurable - It's been said that if you can't measure it, you can't manage it. Establish concrete criteria for calculating your progress. When you measure your progress, you it's easier to stay on course, reach specific target dates, and highlights your achievements and success.

Attainable - When you set goals that are impractical, you probably won't commit to putting forth the effort you would otherwise. While most of us set out with the best of intentions, knowing that something is too difficult to manage could prevent you from giving it your best shot.

Realistic - Please note that "realistic" is not a synonym for "easy" - it simply means "doable." Be set the bar high enough and low enough at the same time. If your goal is too far out of reach, you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren't very capable.

Timely - Rome wasn't built in a day and you can't expect yourself to change overnight. If you don't set a specific timeframe, you're more inclined to slack off. Typically when we don't set a time limit, we wind up procrastinating and putting things off. Without time constraints, there's no sense of urgency. You can't expect immediate results, but having a sense of urgency can be a good thing; it fuels commitment and our overall desire to press on towards our wellness goals.

Winston Churchill once said: "Failing to plan is planning to fail." The same goes for your health. The key to living a long and healthy life is making your health a top priority. If you've been putting off your commitment to change, make this year different. Make 2011 the year that you regain control of your health and wellness and start feeling better than you have in years.