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For those of you who dared to begin 2009 with a New Year’s resolution, why don’t you share with us how you are doing! It is now September and beyond the halfway mark of the New Year. If you have fallen off the bandwagon, please don’t give up on your goals. You owe it to yourself to finish what you started.

First of all, are you still committed to your New Year’s resolution(s)? Do you think you’re worth it? Then dust yourself off and recommit to your goals. I find that discipline is a key factor to making changes in my life and keeping me on the road to success with my New Year’s resolution. The second key is persistency, the sustained effort necessary to induce faith. You know, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen – Hebrews 11:1. So, if faith is substance, then faith is REAL! Think about that for a moment please.

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to lose at least 10 pounds off my weight, preferably 20 pounds. Well, I have already lost 10 pounds and some inches off my waistline and thighs; slow but sure, because once I reach my weight-loss goal, I plan to maintain it with a life-style change. I’m not interested in loosing weight fast anymore- been there and done that. We all know that loosing weight is not very difficult to do; it’s keeping the weight off that is most challenging.

In all honesty, I did fall off the bandwagon in March, but excuses don’t count. I am committed to health and wellness. I want to feel good, look good and more importantly, I want to glorify God in my body, because it belongs to him – 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20.

Moreover, I am reaching my weight-loss goal with discipline. I do simple 12-15 minutes exercise twice a day, morning and evening. I’ve found it more challenging to carve an hour or more time out of my day to exercise. Some experts even say exercising 12-15 minute intervals is healthier on your heart. Personally, I agree. In addition, I do some walking. I also eat four-to-five meals a day, about every three hours that includes approximately 30 grams of fiber intake. I have reduced my total daily calorie intake, and I’m committed to maintaining it. This means that whatever foods I’m currently eating to achieve my New Year’s weight-loss goal, will ultimately become lifestyle for me in order to maintain my successful results. Otherwise, once I achieve my goal and then increase my daily calories, that will inadvertently send mix messages to my body, and I would begin to regain the weight. If you’ve ever lost weight and regained it, then you know exactly what I mean. Our bodies are created to help us survive against starvation. It is true that we are fearfully and wonderfully made – Psalm 139:14.

Finally, I have found this discipline much easier to maintain consistency: I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner including two snacks. I keep my snacks below 200 calories, and I always begin each meal or snack with a piece of protein first, as this helps reduce blood sugar spikes. No matter what your New Year’s Resolution is, over a period of time, discipline plus consistency are keys to successfully achieving your goals. So, I encourage you to take just a moment right now and share your three-quarter-mark progress with others! I’m sure it will be a blessing to someone. Thanks a million.

To your success!

Health and Wellness, Resolutions, blogging, goal setting, self issues, weight management new year's resolution three quarter mark

In continuing with New Year’s resolutions, “How I quit smoking” testifies to personal experience in the nicotine battle. I think we all would concede that smoking is a serious problem. But who wants to read or talk about that? And since you are still reading, I want to congratulate you. If you are a smoker like I was, and often contemplate the idea of ‘quit smoking,’ then you might also agree that it’s a good thing to read and learn from someone else’s experience. It helps a lot to see what difficulties one went through and how he/she succeeded.

The “how I quit smoking” scenario usually begins with “how it all started.” Most smokers started when they were young, in their twenties and evolved from several cigarettes to a packet or more a day. Almost every ex-smoker that is asked the “How I quit smoking question” will answer something different because of the many alternatives exist to quit smoking from the classical cold turkey method to such methods like hypnosis. “How I quit smoking” is a personal issue for everyone who smokes. But allow me to be honest enough to tell you that anyone can quit smoking. Anyone can break a habit in seven to ten days, once you develop a BURNING DESIRE to quit. Now that could take a little more time.

I have been delivered from smoking for 14 years. Notice I said delivered? Prior to those years, I actually believed I would be a smoker my entire life. Honestly, I thought I loved smoking more than just about anything. Then one day, merely by coincidence, while surfing the TV channels, I heard a preacher by the name of Fred K.C Price say, “…Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your Spirit, which are God’s.” I said, “WOW.” But something inside of me didn’t want to believe that scripture verse was in the Bible. I felt it was too convicting to be true. I wanted to look in the Bible to see for myself. Then he said, go to the book of First Corinthians, chapter 6, verses 19 and 20. And I did. When I confirmed that it was there in the Bible just as he said, it was truly a revelation for me, because even though I had been raised in the church, I had never heard anything so profound like that said about my body and me.

Needless to say, my life began to change. I began to develop a deep desire to quit smoking. Of course, I kept smoking right along as usual, but I also continued reading the Bible, listening to more Christian television out of curiosity to see what else I might hear about me. I also began to listen to Christian radio stations as well, and even started attending church. (Now that’s an interesting story.) Then one day, out of nowhere, I heard a still, audible voice say to me, “This is the day for you to stop smoking.” Then I heard, “If you don’t stop there will be consequences.” Now I know what you may be thinking, but this truly happened, and I have a sound mind today to prove it. That day, I also had two packets of cigarettes in my possession. When I got home from work, I layed down and felt like I wanted to die. I knew I had to obey. That was the most challenging experience I ever had. Every chapter and verse from the Bible I remembered and deposited deep down into my spirit was my only consolation. I knew if I didn’t speak it out of my mouth, I was not going to survive. I could not even compare this to child bearing can you imagine that? Then something occurred to me, that this smoking thing was more than just a habit. Have you ever wondered why it is so very challenging to quit smoking? Before that day, I had never experience one day without smoking in 21 years not one day! So it was a day-by-day revelation of God’s love, grace, mercy and power as I fought the battle to survive. After seven to ten days, as I mentioned before, I was totally set free from smoking. I feel blessed and proud to say I NEVER looked back, and I NEVER had a cigarette craving, or any side effects. I had forgotten that a life without smoking was so awesome and dynamic! I enjoyed food more; I had better nights sleep; and I did not even gain weight. Focus on  replacing  bad habits with good habits.

Reading “How I quit smoking “ success stories can help a lot, but don’t be fooled by those who sell you relaxation tapes, courses or other relaxation treatments. There is other advice that can be found on the Internet, and if you go here http://www.quit-smoking-expert.com you will find more “How I quit smoking “ stories. And if you need more support in your efforts against smoking join some ex-smokers discussion groups or forums. Any person that defeated the smoking habit can answer the “How I quit smoking” question giving you encouraging tips you may need each time you feel like starting to smoke again. Then you may soon be in a position of making the “How I quit smoking” experience a support for others.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope this helps even ONE person.

HAPPY NON-SMOKING, HAPPY NEW YEAR,  AND ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE!

Health and Wellness, Informational, Resolutions, goal setting How I quit smoking. Really.