38 The QUeeNS CoUrier •health • JANUARY 3, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com health s COMMITMENT IS THE NEW RESOLUTION Give up New Year’s resolutions, but don’t give up on committing to doing something great The tradition of New Year’s mitted person to put in the of starting the new year feeling resolutions has been around time to train for the goal that like you’re making sacrifices, 4,000 years, when Babylonians they set for themselves.” now you can start the New saw fit to start the year off Carla Birnberg, 43, a personal Year celebrating life.” right by making promises to trainer in Austin, Texas, and fit- After the holiday revelry and the gods. Today, such prom- ness blogger is also participating the high spirits of the season, ises are a media phenomenon, in Commitment Day with her why should we follow ancient designed to be broken. husband and daughter. She says Babylonian customs that bring “One reason most New Year’s people are eager to make bold an end to the fun with a self- resolutions usually fail before changes at New Year because defeating “promise” in the the end of January is because the world seems so fraught with form of a New Year’s resolu- people haven’t truly bought into possibility.-The problem, she tion anyway? change,” says Bahram Akradi, adds, is that they don’t set them- “I’ve always felt that wak- CEO of Life Time, The Healthy selves up for success. “Once I ing up early on New Year’s Way of Life Company. “We can realized I’m never as far from Day and going out for a run change the course of our lives Alan Ali, 31, of Raleigh, N.C., changes to reach my weight- my goals/resolutions/aspira- is a far better way to start the for the better without the need will be running with his sis- loss goals,” says Ali. He now tions as my very next choice, year than hungover and sick,” for a contrived tradition.” ter, uncle, and brother-in-law prefers to set goals throughout my life changed,” says Birnberg. says Jill Ormond Whitaker, That’s why Life Time has because they’ve been inspired the year, which he says will Commitment Day found- 34, a new mom in Las Vegas, launched the Commitment by Ali, who once weighed help him get his weight below er, Akradi put it this way: who has committed to live a Day movement. By pledging 480 pounds and has lost more 300 pounds by the end of 2013. “Instead of feeling forced to healthy and balanced life and a commitment online at www. than 100 pounds over the last “Commitment Day is more do something you think you provide a good example for commitmentday.com, anyone three years by eating healthy than just planning to do the 5K must do, now you can make a her husband and 3-month- can join this national move- and exercising. That progress run/walk on January 1st,” Ali change for the better because old daughter. “It just seems ment when hundreds of thou- didn’t result from a resolution. says. “It’s about committing you want to. Instead of feeling to set the tone for the whole sands of people wake up on “Resolutions never worked for to do something and working isolated with your intentions, year. Commitment Day takes New Year’s Day to participate me because at that time in my toward that goal right now. now you can be bolstered with it one step further because it’s in a simultaneous walk/run in life I didn’t want it bad enough Anyone can say I ‘will’ do the support of people making a national movement.” one of 30 cities nationwide. and I wasn’t ready to make something, but its takes a com- similar commitments. Instead Courtesy BPT
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