Top 10 New Year's Resolutions: Lose Weight

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions:
Lose Weight

This one is really easy. If you want to lose weight, here is the formula:

• eat fewer calories in a given day than you burn
• drink water

That's it.

So why is it, then, that so many Americans have such a problem with excess weight? There are probably a hundred answers to that question. What do you think?

• inactivity
• overeating
• fast food
• genetics
• metabolic disorders
• psychological issues
• boredom
• social pressures
• portion sizes
• soft drinks
• processed foods . . . .

Chances are if you want to lose weight, you can probably easily pick out the reasons why you're overweight in the first place. So what tools are out there to help you accomplish this resolution?

FitBit has the ability to record how much water you drink and how many calories you consume. Of course it also tracks your walking, stair climbing, and physical activity.

MyFitnessPal is a smartphone app that also tracks food and water consumption. 

DietBet is a worldwide challenge where you deposit money into an account and then strive to lose 10% of your body weight in 6 months: 3% the first month, 3% the second month, 2% the 3rd month, 1% the 4th month, 1% the 5th month, and maintain the 6th month. For every month that you meet your weight loss goal, you get money back from what you deposited. 

StepBet follows the same premise as DietBet but it uses your fitness tracker (like FitBit) to track your progress.

Multiple activity apps are out there for your use.

Multiple gyms are available for people like me who just can't do physical activity on our own.

Multiple diet plans are out there, too. The best diet there is, though, is one that allows you to eat a well-balanced diet of fresh foods. It doesn't have to be any special program.  Just remember the formula above: expend more calories than you consume every day. 

I don't know, y'all. With all these resources at our fingertips, it sure seems like losing weight should be a very attainable resolution. But like everything else, it requires planning and determination.

Lord, help us to remember that our bodies are a temple of your Holy Spirit and that we should treat it with respect. Give us the desire to please you -- to make our bodies more lean for your glory.