Wow, 2010! Not just another year, a whole new decade!!

Where does the time go?

The New Year is typically when a lot of people make resolutions. Some of us resolve to spend more time with family and friends. Others resolve to be more patient and understanding. And, a great many of us resolve to eat less, exercise more, and lose weight.

If losing weight is one of your 2010 resolutions, CYA wants to help.

Research shows that carrying too many pounds is associated with a variety of health problems. They include high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. If we shed some excess weight, we generally feel better. We can also continue to be self-sufficient. That's especially important as we grow older.
 
Research also shows, however, that old habits, are hard to break. As a small example, our friends at Eat'n Park tell us that the number of people ordering the salad bar surges for the first 3 weeks of January. By the fourth week, however, salad bar orders return to normal. Any type of major change is not easy to sustain.
 
So, what can we do? Should we give up? Should we not even try? Of course not!
 
The key to successful change is to start small. In other words, don't try to make major change. Just try to make better decisions about small things. Given the choice of eating an apple or a muffin, choose the apple! Given the choice of walking for 10 minutes on the treadmill at CYA or watching TV, try walking. These small changes add up.
 
It may not be possible to resist the muffin everytime, but if you increasingly resist temptation, if you say "no" more than you did previously, you've made progress!
 
Exercise is important too. Remember, running the Pittsburgh Marathon doesn't have to be your goal. Just increasing activity is positive. Make an effort to be a little more active, a little more often.  As some folks have discovered, we have a wonderful gym on the 3rd floor of the Stephen Foster Center.  Stop-by the office and we'll explain how easy it is to gain access. CYA also offers a number of exercise classes that are fun. Try them!
 
Healthy eating and a little exercise can enrich your life. If you're like to do more in 2010, CYA is ready to help
 
Mary Ann Heneroty
CEO