With the winding down of each year, new ambitions and goals are made. Undoubtedly, some of the most frequently set resolutions conacern health and well-being. Be it an aspiration to lose weight, get in shape, or kick an unhealthy habit, New Year’s resolutions are more often than not set with high hopes.
Losing weight and shedding those extra pounds isn’t always as simple as some may think. It almost always involves a combination of diet and exercise, rather than one or the other alone. One option is to begin a gym membership. Jim Miller, manager of Ocean View’s World Gym, said that the gym has had had a steady increase of members since their opening this past May, and he anticipates a quick increase as 2007 begins.
“We get a spike in members in the winter,” said Miller. With rates that appeal to almost any desired commitment, from daily to year-long, memberships were a popular Christmas gift this year. “We’ve got family and senior rates and three-month plans to help accommodate for anyone’s wishes,” he added. “A lot of it has to do with timing and your commitment. As long as you work out for a few hours a day, three or four days a week, you’ll start to see a change. It’s important that you work out in moderation, too. Be sure to pace yourself.”
“People shouldn’t forget, diet’s a really big part of it, too,” Miller added. “You have to work off what you put in.”
Fitness clubs and gyms aren’t the only places to find advice about health improvements in the new year. Bonnie Burnquist has specialized in family medicine, and laser and skin care, for two decades, and has been operating her year-and-a-half-old business, New Image, in Ocean View.
“We have a lot of medical patients coming around the start of every new year,” said Burnquist. “Most of the time, people want help or advice about losing weight. We also get a high number of people who want to quit smoking.”
There have been recent developments in the realm of fighting smoking addictions, including the recent release of a pill that eases the sensations brought on from years of smoking, which appears to be very effective, noted Burnquist.
“My advice for help with smoking is simple,” she said. “Talk to your doctor. Everyone is different. If you’ve really made up your mind that you want to try [quitting], talk to your doctor. See what therapies are out there, see what kind of risks you run, and see how hard it would be for you.”
One of the most important things for people who want to quit,” she said, “is that you have to break the routine you are in, which is feeding your smoking.” Burnquist added that most people who smoke have certain triggers that implement their desire to have a cigarette. “Some people get their urge every time they eat. Some might sit on their front porch and have a cigarette and a cup of coffee before they can begin their day.”
Recognizing these triggers is the first step, Burnquist said. Then comes changing the habit. “Some people might hang out with others after work and that could be the only time they smoke. There are people who only smoke in their car. Some people only smoke when they drink,” she said. “Sometimes people have to actually stop drinking to stop smoking. You will need to actually change your routine.”
Health advice isn’t the only think New Image is giving in the new year. “We also get people coming in here who have hinted that they want themselves to look younger,” Burnquist said. “A lot of times, people will see the new year as an opportunity for a ‘new look.’” New Image uses a procedure called micordermabrasion, which makes the skin look younger almost immediately, Burnquist added.
Sticking with a resolution is no walk in the park, but is definitely a sensible chance for self improvements, she said. “You have to make an appointment with yourself to exercise and eat right,” she said. “Also, you have to make that appointment with yourself just as important as any other. There’s a lot of dedication involved. It’s something that you must feel very strong about.”