Don’t Resolve to Lose Weight in 2009

It’s a tradition! Each time we ring in a new year, people conduct a “state of the person” and evaluate themselves-their career, their current wealth (or lack thereof), and their health. Then they resolve to change what they’re not happy with. But the big question is: how many actually follow through?

If a change in the date is a reason to reflect, that’s great. But is that by itself a true motivator, or a real catalyst for change? Why should the fact that you’re now writing “09” on your checks be a reason to lose weight and get fit? All too soon, it will seem natural to write that new date, and you’ll lose the feeling that too much time has passed you by without results.

If you really want to lose weight and get fit, don’t call it a New Year’s Resolution. And for Heaven’s sake don’t call it a diet either! Both of these are temporary, and everyone knows that. You’ll be setting yourself up for ultimate failure from the beginning, because not only will you think it’s temporary, but so will everyone you need to support your efforts.

Losing weight and getting fit is all about improving your health. That’s the only real reason to do it. And why do you want to improve your health? Do you want to live longer? Do you desire a better “quality of life” as you grow older? Are there specific things you have a burning desire to do, like traveling to far away places or playing with your grandkids, that demand good health and fitness? Getting in touch with your personal “why improve my health” is the one and only true long-term motivator. Think about this, reflect on it, and then write down every reason you can think of for improving your health. And don’t forget where you put it! You’ll need to pull this list out and refer to it when the going gets tough.

And the going will get tough because true long-term weight management and fitness will require changes in your behavior. Replacing long held habits with healthier ones, finding time for exercise, and discovering better ways to eat, are all necessary changes but may not be easy for you. This business of getting healthy is major work; make no mistake about that! And it’s not something you can ditch after a few months if you want to keep the progress you’ve made. Even if you lose all the weight you want and develop the body of your dreams, it doesn’t end there! You must maintain your focus in order to keep the improvements you’ve made. Your house needs paint sometimes and your car needs oil changes. Your body needs maintenance too! If you return to the old habits that made you overweight and out of shape, you’ll go right back to that state.

So while you’re in the mood to reflect, don’t forget to reflect on what made you gain weight and lose your fitness in the first place. Knowing what triggers unnecessary eating and/or unhealthy eating can help you to change. Maybe you lost your fitness simply because you were involved in sports and you stopped doing that due to the other demands of your life. Now it is time to find ways to get fit again, and you may not want to do the same things you did before. You might need to get creative with both the type of activity and the time to do it. It really helps to know what happened in the past as you reflect on what will or will not work in the future.

If you really desire health and fitness in 2009, don’t make it a “resolution.” Develop a life plan instead! Decide on real changes you can make, one at a time, to move you in the right direction. Don’t try to change everything at once! But do write out all of the needed steps and start working on them. It’s just like starting a business and keeping it going. Plan your work and work your plan!

Dale Reynolds is an author and weight loss counselor in upstate New York. Her book is entitled “A Slim Book On Weighty Matters”. She has a website, www.slimdale.com, with tips and a free biweekly newsletter.

Why Women Should Worry About Retirement More Than Men

Women earn an average of 76 percent of men’s salaries. Does that shock you? Yes, even in 2005, women are still way behind the earning curve in corporate America. But rather than get into a discussion of the fairness or unfairness of it all, let’s concentrate on just what women can do to ensure that they aren’t left out to dry in their retirement age!

After all, because women typically live seven years longer than men, combined with the skyrocketing divorce rate, many women will find themselves alone in their older years. (Statistics show that most women are alone by age 56!) And the figures show us that if a woman took out any time from her career to have children (about seven years) she will pay for it later with only 50% of what her male counterparts will receive in retirement benefits.

Sigh.

So, what can a woman do to ensure that she can retire in style? Start by taking a look at some of our suggestions below.

Save More

Most experts advise us to save about 10 percent of our income in order to have a sufficient amount to retire one, but if you are a woman, you should be saving closer to 12 percent. Because of the reasons listed above, you simply won’t receive the same amount in retirement pensions. What’s more, the way that social security figures your monthly payment is based on the top 35 years of your work history. But guess what? If you were out for seven or so of those years having children, they will be counted as “O,” and the overall amount will be reduced.

Invest Wiser

Since you will need to save more by retirement age, you will have to more careful with your investments. Know your risk level, and then don’t exceed it under any circumstances!

Join the Team

Many employers offer investment and savings strategies such as 401K plans and savings matching programs, and if you are a woman, you should plan to participate in all of them that you can.

Use Cash, Not Credit

An alarming number of Americans today are in serious financial trouble. This was made evident recently with the passing of the new bankruptcy bill that will make it more difficult to file. A record number of people filed for bankruptcy in anticipation of it.

It’s easy to get into debt when people today spend an average of $1.21 for every dollar they earn, but don’t be tempted to fall into that trap. Instead, plan to put as much money away for the future as you can.

Don’t Go It Alone

While it is important for all women to step up to the plate and get serious about their finances, it’s equally important for them to get advice from professionals. Talk to tax planners, investment specialists and budget planners to get all the advice that you can.

About the author:
This article provided courtesy of http://www.penny-stock-guide.com

The Case for Self Care

Self care has emerged as a hot topic for today’s women striving to balance the responsibilities of work and family. I define self-care as combination of fulfilling activities or quiet moments that allow individuals to rejuvenate their energies and regain their joy for life.

Unfortunately, self-care is not generally supported by our culture, and some people equate self-care with abandoning responsibilities or being self-centered. Women often receive rave reviews for taking better care of others than they do themselves. For example, we might hear someone say, “Isn’t Sarah remarkable; she puts everyone’s needs above her own.” Or “That, Lisa, I don’t know how she operates on just five hours of sleep a night; isn’t she extraordinary?” As a result, many women are suffering near epidemic levels of physical, emotional, and spiritual fatigue.

I believe that taking time for yourself allows you to be a better wife, mother, friend, and businesswoman. Consider the following:

Self care is empowering. When you implement any healthy practice into your routine, you are taking charge of your life. You are the expert on your needs, and if you don’t acknowledge their importance who will?

We are not benefiting our families when we don’t take time for ourselves. Because we are emotionally depleted, loved ones recognize that we are worn out and frustrated. While we do our best to respond to their needs, they often feel guilty for needing us.

When we are overwhelmed, we lack the energy and focus to make the same clear decisions that we normally would. We are unable to problem solve in a purposeful manner. By practicing self-care regularly, we are better able to handle life’s challenges.

We serve as role models for our children. When we take care of ourselves, we show them an example of positive esteem and healthy behaviors.

I recently moved to a new area and have met several of my neighbors. Kerri lives near me and, like many of us, she and her husband are balancing career and family. As we introduced ourselves, I told Kerri that I am a life coach and workshop leader for women, immediately launching into the importance of self-care. Kerri already understood my philosophy and said, “I compare self care to a cup in the sink. As the cup sits there, little by little, it gathers droplets of water. No appreciable stream of water is ever needed to keep it full; there are just enough drops over time to fill it up. That’s the way it is with self care; if I take care of myself little by little, I can then give from my reserves and never become empty.” What a great analogy I learned from my new friend!

If we do just a few things regularly, to renew our energy and revitalize our spirit, we can continue providing for others from a place of abundance. We have, within us, additional resources to share with our family and friends.

I challenge you to try some activities (either calming and reflective, or exhilarating) for the next month. Arrange some time in your schedule for self-care, and notice how much better you feel. You and your loved ones are worth every precious moment you use to nurture yourself.

About the author:
Jennifer Snyder is the author of a self-discovery workbook, The Time of Your Life: A Creative Sourcebook for Women. The Sourcebook can be ordered at http://www.timeofyourlifeafterdivorce.com