Use small steps to keep New Year’s resolutions

With the arrival of 2013 signaling a new beginning, New Year’s resolutions are launched with hope and enthusiasm.

Kelsey-Seybold West and St. Luke’s Tower internal medicine physician Dr. David Mouton said the key to keeping resolutions is to be simplistic and to not want to do something outlandish or irrational.

“Many bad habits take a long time to break. Don’t set unreasonable goals; you will probably fail,” Mouton said. “Take the attitude of, ‘Yes, I liked doing that, but I don’t do that anymore,’ like with smoking.”

Quitting smoking and weight loss seem to be two of the more popular resolutions individuals tend to make, Mouton said.

“Weight reduction and smoking are the result of habits that take a long time to overcome,” Mouton said.

“Usually, six to eight weeks of hard work becomes routine. Identify deficiencies in personal health care which require attention and are already aggravating your health. Get advice on solving the problems and then apply solutions.”

For shedding pounds, Mouton said something people do on a daily basis can lead to positive outcomes. “Walking is probably one of the best basic exercises,” Mouton said.

“Setting a progressive program for increasing distance and rate of speed can be fun and productive. Wear proper shoes and wear comfortable clothing. Be aware of your surroundings and pitfalls,” he said.

“Easing into an exercise program is always the best way. Ask your physician to comment on your plans and see if you may be overly enthusiastic.”

Mouton also said failure to achieve personal goals can lead a person to depression and keeping resolutions simple and within reach is key.

“Set reasonable goals so you will be able to measure results,” Mouton said. “An overweight person should not strive to achieve weight loss that exceeds one pound per week. That equates to 52 pounds in a year.”

“Quitting smoking is a terrible challenge to some people,” he said, “but the rationale for doing it is very real. No one has ever died from lack of cigarettes, and people die every day from the effects of smoking.

“Try to work with a friend or associate who has similar problems and agree to encourage each other in keeping your resolutions. It is your body, and you are responsible for management of your health.”

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NAME: Dr. David Mouton
AGE: 73
OCCUPATION: Internal medicine physician at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Has been in practice almost 50 years, with 40 at Kelsey-Seybold West and St. Luke’s Tower