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18 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 9, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Take baby steps toward a healthy lifestyle How many people have asked you this week if you have made your New Year's Resolution yet? Three? Five? The problem with resolutions is that they feel so ... that is challenging enough, you feel as if you have not big. And if you don't set one really set a worthy target (or that it won't be worthy in the eyes of those who are asking...). Lisa Newman, supervisor of health and fitness at the YMCA of Oakville, encourages people to take a different strategy on their path to wellness. "Don't set yourself up for failure with a big resolution that is going to motivate you for a week and then quickly grow into a mountain that you just can't climb. Achieving a goal is about setting a realistic long term vision and taking one small step at a time," she said. "Think about just one thing that you can do to get the one at the YMCA of Oakville. "A good wellness centre can provide the knowledge, equipment and support that can help you to take the next steps to wellness. The key is to build on those first small steps, and turn them into a consistent pattern that is a regular part of your life," said Newman. Take that first baby step and make health and wellness part of your life forever, not just a resolution for today. The YMCA of Oakville is a charitable association open to all, dedicated to providing life-long opportunities for health enhancement and personal growth. -- Submitted by the YMCA of Oakville started ... kind of like a baby step to wellness. Take the dog for a walk. Pass on dessert every other night. Climb the stairs at work. When you take that first baby step, you will feel encouraged and then you can take another," Newman said. Newman recommended that the next logical step is to check out a reputable health and wellness centre such as