We want to get better, so lots of New Year’s resolutions, but it is so hard to follow up on our ambitious goals, especially in this season of cold darkness. It is easier to just give up. How do you exercise more, eat better, spend less, behave kindly? I need to visit some community experts.
Snap Fitness is on 1st Street next to a Chinese restaurant. I had a vision of young muscular men and sexy well-built women flirting outrageously. But once inside, there was a large assembly of exercise machines with a few normal people in sweats and T-shirts. Asha, a smiling friendly employee, was willing to help and answer any questions. Four years ago, she weighed 300 lbs., had both knees replaced, and decided she wanted the rest of her life to be better. She slowly lost extra weight, stopped smoking, and enjoyed seeing other people happily making progress. Around the first of the year, many of the new members are in their forties and want to feel better and live longer. New members are shown how to use the machines, get the first training session free, and can always ask questions or watch the different exercise videos. Each member has their own pace and may come in once or five times a week for a short or long session.
For an improved diet, an experienced nurse educator suggested having a supportive friend or spouse and starting with small changes. For example, drinking one glass of water with a meal or instead of a soda (6-8 glasses a day is ideal). Keeping chocolates or cookies in the freezer with a small portion 1-2 times a week, or not having any temptation in the house, depending on our willpower. Also, 15 minutes of exercise daily (walking, even by parking at a distance from the store or house or using a stationary bike) will decrease cholesterol and blood pressure. We could start with exercise once a week at a convenient time and gradually increase the frequency. Simple homemade meals are better than processed meals and encourage family time together while costing less than eating out. Watch the portion sizes. A salad in a 2-quart bowl smothered in a rich creamy dressing is not low calorie.
Most families in the US carry $10,000 credit card debt. There is also a great increase in the cost of food, gas, and insurance. How can we deal with this and save for the future? I tried to get some advice about how to develop the habit of saving, especially for the recommended amount needed to pay for an emergency (new tires, medicine, etc.) or expenses for six months if there was no income.
The people at our own Wells Fargo surprisingly do not have permission to speak freely, so I waited to hear from one of Wells Fargo’s corporate divisions. The director responded by arranging and listening in on a call with a financial coach at Operation HOPE, an independent agency located in their Gallup bank at 300 Aztec Ave. It is the first in New Mexico. It offers free help to anyone wanting to increase their financial IQ, even the “unbanked”— those of us who are uncomfortable walking into a bank without having lots of money or assets. HOPE suggests we think about our needs and wants, any specific savings goals, asking the banker about all the savings options available including their interest rates, and knowing our credit score. Credit scores (740+) help with getting a loan, credit card, the best interest rates, a lower mortgage, and insurance rates, getting utilities or cell phones, and insurance rates. It is also easier to rent or apply for a job.
For some of us, since the savings interest rate may be as little as 0.05, it seems the same as keeping the money under the mattress or some other secure place until the amount is large enough to get a higher rate. We could save by first putting aside an untouchable percent of our paycheck and paying in cash instead of using a card or check, which makes the amount we are spending feel real. Of course, there is writing a budget or at least keeping our receipts for a month and seeing how much we spend for different items or doing the same with credit card statements for three months. And do we really need the items, or are we just shopping and spending as therapy or as an expression of our worth?
How can we behave better? Do we truthfully recognize our faults? If not, our friends and family can list them for us. Pick one that we want to change. There are lots of how-to ideas. For example, work on developing its opposite: sudden angry words vs. counting slowly to ten silently; sadness vs. a daily count of our blessings, with more smiles and thank you; less news and cell phones; a constant desire for pleasures of food and affection vs. fasting and solitude; addictions vs. finding the source of pain in our lives. We could use the support of cheerful friends and family. We could talk to our Creator more often, as well as listen to His instructions and ask for His help.