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Residents resolute in plans for new year
Shedding habits, pounds top list
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Forsyth County News

Whether they’re planning to lose weight, quit smoking or spend less and save more, this is the time of year when many people decide to make a change.

According to the federal government’s Web site, the top 10 New Year’s resolutions include getting fit, drinking less alcohol and reducing stress.

Others listed include taking a trip, finding a better job and volunteering to help others.

It appears folks in the Forsyth County area also have a few resolutions in mind.

Bob Bursby said he plans to continue playing softball in an effort to get back in shape and shed a few pounds.

“My cardiologist told me to lose 40 pounds in this last year and I lost about 28 pounds,” he said. “Something I wanted to do when I retired was go back to playing ball.

"I quit smoking three years ago. I just wanted to get back and have a physical activity to do and it’s something that’s fun.”

Bursby said he hopes to lose an additional 25 pounds by the end of next year.

While many may resolve to improve their physical health in 2010, others are taking a more mental or spiritual approach.

Jean Unterreiner said she plans to surround herself with more uplifting and positive people.

“I’m just going to make some lifetime changes,” she said.

Unterreiner said she has reflected on choices she made in 2009 and negative situations she found herself in, questioning why those things happened.

“I just think that when you give yourself the gift of doing an inventory like that and you apply the action and the principle, it’s a gift to yourself,” she said. “Just moving forward in your life ... just making some healthy, wholesome choices and decisions."

Karen Delany said she’s going to ask for help if she needs it.

She said she’s always trying to do for others. But when someone offers to give her a hand, it’s hard to accept.

She said the resolution isn’t just about physical assistance, but mental help as well.

“A lot of people won’t take medication because of the stigma and sometimes a pill would make all the difference,” she said. “I think if you need help, ask for help.”

Adrienne Postell said she'd like to "get in better shape."

"I want to do more training and be more motivated," she said.

Her husband, Chris Postell, said his New Year's resolution is to "spend more time with our children."

Rob Ingram said resolutions are made each year because "people realize how much they didn't do in the past year."

"People are hopeful, and that makes them want to start fresh," he said.

Alice Michaels said she'd like to quit smoking in 2010.

"I don't know if I'll start on New Year's Day, but hopefully soon after that," she said.

Physician Larry Anderson said breaking bad habits is a popular, if not difficult, New Year's resolution.

"People like their bad habits," Anderson said. "People don't want to quit smoking, because they enjoy smoking. People don't want to lose weight, because they enjoy the foods that keep weight on them."

Chris Kimble doesn't do New Year's resolutions.

"I never keep them, so I never make them," Kimble said.

"People that make resolutions don't keep them. People don't follow through. It's just tradition. It's like black-eyed peas, hog jowls and cornbread.

It's something people do and think nothing of it."

Kimble once tried to lose weight as a New Year's resolution.

"Resolutions are tough," he said. "It takes no effort to just say something. It takes resolve to actually do it.

"You can spit out the empty words every New Year's, and a lot of people do just that. Some folks can make it happen, but it's really tough for others."

Frank Reddy of the FCN regional staff contributed to this report.