New Year's resolutions gets mixed results from some Coast seniors

BILOXI -- It's that time of year again, the time when more than half of Americans promise to do a bit better in the coming days by making New Year's resolutions.

But AARP statistics show that only one in three people remain fully committed to their resolutions after only a few weeks.

And senior Americans are no different.

According to the AARP, narrowing your goals and setting up a proper time frame to complete the goals are two secrets to achieving success with resolutions. Studies show that if you can keep the resolution going for at least three weeks, there is a good chance the resolution will become part of your ordinary routine, thus giving you greater success.

Exercising more is one of the more popular resolutions people make.

Some Coast seniors are already being more active by taking exercise programs at local gyms and community centers.

"I just want to have a better year," said Melinda Brady, who takes tai' chi at the Donal Snyder Community Center. "Give up things? Why bother? At this age, I like what I'm doing."

Dieting is another popular resolution many people make around this time of year. Brady's tai' chi classmate, Elaine Birmingham, said 2016 is going to be her year for losing weight.

"I'm going to lose 50 pounds," she said. "I'm really going to do it."

But resolutions aren't for everyone.

According to details.com, about 40 percent of Americans do not make any resolutions.

"I'm not going to make any resolutions," tai' chi student Sharon Craddock said. "I just can't do it. Most people don't keep them anyway."

Craddock's husband, Terry, said he, too, will be forgoing the promises to change in the coming year.

"To me, New Year's isn't about resolutions," he said. "It's just about being together with the people you love."

Carla Heard, who occasionally instructs the tai' chi class at the Donal Snyder Center, said her only resolution is not to make a resolution.

"I'm not going to make any resolutions," she said. "I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing. I've been doing tai' chi for years. This is part of my overall plan for well-being and happiness."

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 7:17 PM with the headline "New Year's resolutions gets mixed results from some Coast seniors ."