Don’t let living with MASH stop you from your New Year’s goals

As we roll out of one year and tumble headfirst into the next, many of us feel the familiar pressure to make New Year’s resolutions. I’ve made plenty over the years. Most of them revolved around weight loss. For a brief, delusional stretch, I’d eat like a model preparing for her Sports Illustrated swimsuit debut. A few days in, reality would tap me on the shoulder, and I’d admit my dreams were ambitious at best and impractical at worst. I don’t do diet resolutions anymore.

When you’re living with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), you may feel inspired to do more in the coming year to ease symptoms, improve lab results, and make your doctor smile approvingly as they review your chart.

You might be thinking about revising your diet, adding healthier foods, and finding ways to feel better in your body. I hope you are. Maintaining a positive mindset has been one of the most powerful tools I’ve had while living with this sometimes cruel disease.

If you’ve never set a resolution — or you’ve sworn them off entirely — here’s something worth remembering: You can start anytime. You don’t need Jan. 1 to begin. You can start today. Or you can choose a date in the near future and use it as a personal launchpad for better health, a lower model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and improved quality of life. Sometimes, half the fun is in making the plan.

Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” I think many of us underestimate just how much power we actually have. Goal-setting can be especially hard for people who haven’t had much practice reaching goals — or who’ve been derailed by illness. That’s why I don’t rush into resolutions anymore. I want to set myself up for success, not disappointment.

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Be inspired

A few years ago, I realized I was eating far too much fast food. One evening, while watching a news program, a doctor remarked that most fast food is barely food at all. That comment stuck with me. I cut out fast food immediately, at least until I could figure out what “real food” options wouldn’t leave me feeling like I’d just eaten something manufactured in a lab rather than a kitchen.

When I eventually added more exercise to my routine, it wasn’t part of a New Year’s resolution either. I didn’t start until March — and that delay was strategic. The first three months of the year are peak gym season, when unused memberships suddenly spring to life. I learned the hard way that crowded classes, long waits for equipment, and general chaos made exercise feel more like punishment than progress. By March, things tend to calm down. Sometimes timing is everything.

This coming year will be a big one for me. I’ll be back in college two days a week, juggling coursework with physical therapy, ongoing exercise, and the general art of balance. I want to finally master the basics of playing guitar. I want to bake more of my own bread. I’m also planning a second knee replacement surgery after having my first just a few months ago. Resolutions or not, this year will demand patience, intention, and flexibility.

Here’s the thing about resolutions: they only work if they light you up. If a goal doesn’t inspire you — or if it feels like something you “should” do rather than something you want — it’s OK to let it go. You’re allowed to abandon a resolution. I just recommend that when you start again, choose a new date, reflect on what didn’t work, and decide whether the goal is truly worth pursuing.

I hope this next year brings you health and joy. Make the process of reaching your goals engaging and even fun. Do a little research. See what’s worked for others. I’m holding up the ladder while you reach for the stars. I look forward to walking into the next year together. Until then, dream big, make plans, and remind yourself: I’m worth it, and I can do it.

I know you can.

Note: Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Liver Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to liver disease.

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