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Posted on Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 1 p.m.

Making a health-related New Year resolution? Resolve to evolve throughout the year

By Washtenaw County Public Health

Eat less, exercise more, lose weight. Many of us have made these resolutions before and failed; the key may be more evolving and absolving and less fretting and regretting.

Health-related goals have always been popular New Year's resolutions, but along with those goals often comes roadblocks. Family obligations, time constraints, boredom with your exericse regime and, often, a lack of fast weight loss hinder our success. So why not try something a little different this year: Let's resolve to evolve!

Washtenaw County Public Health Department health educator Charles Wilson, came up with some resolutions to improve physical and mental well-being. We've also included some tips from WebMD.

Eat, but don't pig out

When we overeat, we tend to do so on binges, eating a large amount of food over a short period of time, like a four-day weekend. The result is a couple of extra pounds around the hips or waist the following week.

Many people try to take it back off the same way — too much in too short a period of time — and they end up discouraged. Don't try for instant results. You've slacked off for a couple of weeks, and it's going to take at least as long to get trim again.

Last Year: Be healthier.

This Year: Eat five fruits and vegetables a day, walk 30 minutes a day three to five times a week, and limit fast food to once a week.

Last Year: Get in shape.

This Year: Go to gym three times a week, and workout 60 to 90 minutes.

Be smoke-free.

If you think you're ready to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free counseling. Or check out the services the WCPHD offers.

Re-balance your health

Continue to increase your activity level at the same time that you reduce your caloric intake and improve the types of foods you eat. As you begin to move your body back into balance, you'll start to feel your energy increase.

The key is to take small, but consistent, actions in the right direction. You didn't put on the extra weight overnight, and you can't work it off overnight either. Slow and steady wins the race, and it will get your body back into a healthy state as well!