WHY DO WE
Drop the Ball After
the Ball Drops?
TEXT RACHEL ORNSTEIN PACKER
I remember stepping on the scale
why do we drop the ball after the ball
health and fitness journeys because the
Jan. 1, 2001, only a few weeks after
drops? For most (myself included), it
concept of being a work-in-progress is
delivering my first child. I had
begins with the resolution part, more
a more realistic notion. It allows us to
gained over 55 pounds and knew that
specifically, the word, “resolution.” It’s
fully celebrate life’s joys or deal with
weighing myself probably wasn’t the
harsh and unforgiving and it sets us
its letdowns without guilt, or feeling
best way to ring in the new year, but
up for failure. A resolution indicates
like failures. Of course, like anything
my irrational, hormonal self didn’t
a promise, a firm or determined
else, change takes time. However,
care. As my poor husband tried to
course of action. Nevertheless, what
habits can take as little as 30-60 days
counsel me amidst all my sobs and
happens if you’re not feeling so firm
to form and if started now, you could
swearing, I resolutely declared to lose
or determined one day, or your
be in far better shape, both physically
the weight quickly and to return to
hormones lead you on a four-day
and emotionally, as the new year
my pre-pregnancy clothes within a
cookie bender? Does that mean your
approaches. month. I can honestly say without any
resolution is blown?
exaggeration that my resolution was
a complete bust, and my husband is
still traumatized by that meltdown 16
years later.

Jan. 1 is an artificial timeline for most.

While it may sound counterintuitive, I
In fact, I have seen people use this
encourage those I work with to use the
hyped-up deadline as carte blanche
phrase, “work-in- progress,” in lieu
to overindulge so much throughout
of resolution, and in my experience,
the holiday season, that by the time
They say that most New Year’s
people are more receptive to this
the ball drops, they are dealing with
resolutions are broken by Jan. 20,
shift in attitude. Moreover, they have
an extra 5-10 pounds. Next, they peter
which challenges us with the question,
enjoyed far better results in their
out after approximately two weeks by
10 January 2017 washingtonFAMILY.com