Five ways to kick-start your New Year’s resolutions
The new year is a time filled with anticipation and hope as people around the world bid farewell to the past and welcome the future with open arms. It’s a time of reflection and an opportunity to set new goals and make resolutions for the upcoming year.
Whether you need some resolution inspiration or just need a little guidance in the right direction, here’s five resolution ideas and resources to help you stick with your plan.
- Living an active lifestyle
If your goal is focused on well-being, fitness, or simply living your best life, the Whole Health team is ready to assist.
Whole Health is a holistic approach to health care that focuses on all aspects of your life – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The goal is to make health care patient-centric and view health concerns through a wider lens.
At 71 years old, Air Force Veteran Edward Perkowski lost 25 pounds thanks to work out classes offered through Whole Health.
“I have a better mental frame of mind,” he said. “I don’t get depressed because I’m moving around. I got my energy back and feel stronger.”
Whole Health offers classes like yoga, recreational therapy, tai chi, CrossFit, and more.
- Losing weight
Weight loss is a common New Years resolution, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right tools and education, your weight loss journey can be easier to accomplish this new year.
MOVE! is VA’s evidence-based weight management program. Adapted from the Diabetes Prevention Program, MOVE! assists Veterans to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss to improve their health and reduce their risk for chronic health conditions, like diabetes. MOVE! features a comprehensive lifestyle intervention that provides Veterans with support to make changes to their eating patterns, increase physical activity, and use strategies (like goal setting and problem solving) that help with these changes.
“I encourage Veterans to set clear intentions for the year and to ‘think SMART,’” said Dr. Umieca Hankton, clinical psychologist specializing in bariatric-mental health at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. “Success requires developing a plan that details the specific ways in which a person wants to be healthy, identifying the steps they are willing to take to be healthy, determining whether the goals set are merely aspirational or attainable, connecting to their ‘why’ or reason for healthy living, and setting a date recognizing when they want to fulfill the set goal.”
Talk to your primary care provider for a referral to MOVE! Weight Management Program or talk with your mental health team on developing a plan.
- Healthy Eating
Nutrition plays a critical role in every aspect of your life ranging from weight loss, hormone balances, energy levels, stress levels, sleep, and more.
The Nutrition and Food Service at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System consists of highly skilled registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). RDNs help educate and coach Veterans and their families on nutritional care and making health eating easier.
VA also offers Health Teaching Kitchen classes. These classes are designed to inspire and help Veterans learn the fundamentals of cooking, new recipes, and incorporate healthy foods into their diet.
- Mental wellness
Mental health is just as important as physical health.
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System offers a plethora of mental health services ranging from one-on-one therapy, group therapy sessions, peer support counseling, rehabilitation services, and more. Our experts can provide you with exercises, tools, and other resources to help you lower your stress levels, strengthen your emotional resiliency, or simply lend a listening ear to help you overcome obstacles you may be facing.
Talk to your primary care team or call 615-225-3600 to schedule your next mental health appointment with our mental health experts.
- Quitting tobacco use
Many service members start using tobacco after they enter the military. According to the CDC, more than 1 in 5 Veterans reported current cigarette use. Tobacco use can cause adverse health concerns ranging from caner, heart disease, stroke, poor oral hygiene, and premature aging.
If you’re ready to quit tobacco, ask your provider for a referral to the tobacco cessation program.
“The program helps Veterans helps Veterans make long-term changes to their behavior so they can remove tobacco from their life, and medication helps with the physical cravings caused by nicotine addiction,” said Dr. Deborah Bonitz, clinical psychologist at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System.
Veterans in the tobacco cessation program are screened for lung cancer. Early detection is critical to creating an effective treatment plan to combat lung cancer and other lung-related illness caused from tobacco use.
Whatever your goals are for 2024, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System is here for you every step of the way and wishes all Veterans and their loved ones a healthy and Happy New Year!