Let’s begin.  It’s January, a new year.  No better time.  Maybe you have been here before, new year, resolutions, you know the drill.  And then your plan is abandoned.

Well, here we are again.  I’m with you on this one.  I have resolutions too.  And this time (like all the other times) I want to stick with it all year long.  So, let’s give it another try.  Why not?  Let’s begin.

Small steps count, just like giant steps, only they are easier.  Easier is good because it usually works better.  Go for easy.  Let’s only look at January for now.  Next month we look at February.  You get the idea.  And…for now let’s just look at this week.  Make a plan that includes food, exercise and sleep.

1. ■FOOD
   

Basically, you need to eat less than you have been eating to lose weight.  You know that.  Begin by reducing calories in a way you can have success.  Think about what you ate yesterday.  Choose one thing that you could have done differently that would have made a difference in the number of calories you ate.  Make that change today.  It might be no dessert, or no second helpings, or smaller portions, or no alcohol or no eating after 7pm or no processed foods, or more fresh vegetables or add fruit.  You get the idea.  Choose one thing to change about your eating patterns for today for the better.  Tomorrow you will choose something else.  For now, we stick with today.

If you want some healthy food ideas, visit the following sites:

www.foodfit.com

www.glycemicindex.com

1. ■EXERCISE
   

This week plan on walking every day for 15 minutes, more if you want.  Just remember to make it easy to begin.  Chances are you will still be doing it at the end of January if you make the amount of exercise doable for you.  So, choose a time of day that is best for you.  Make it yours, write it on your calendar, into your planner, into your iTouch, wherever you keep track of your schedule.  WRITE yourself into your schedule and show up.

1. ■SLEEP
   

This is important.  When you are well rested, you have more control and make better decisions for yourself.  Get overly tired and will power goes out the window.  Your immune system becomes weakened too.  Set a reasonable bedtime and stick to it this week.  Begin wrapping up your day an hour before that time…shutting off the computer, taking a warm shower, putting on your jammys.  Make a bedtime routine for yourself.  Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night, more if you need it.  Personally, this is where I am putting a lot of focus.  I am a night owl but I have to get up early too.  So, I yawn a lot during the day.  My plan is to change that in 2010.  Turning off the computer by 10pm is where I begin this week.  My plan is to be in bed by 11pm each night.  Will let you know how it goes.

Let’s begin.

That’s it for the first week of January.  Let me know how it’s going.