That's right - use your unique DNA to help you get a jump on your New Year's Resolution.  If you are over 15, you probably have a New Year's resolution to lose weight.  I don't necessarily agree that we all have to be a Size 2; but I do agree that a healthy weight contributes to a more healthy life style and thus a happier individual.  What?  OK, if you are overweight according to the Body Mass Index and you have been struggling with diet and exercise, perhaps it is your genetic make-up contributing to the extra bit of giggle in your wiggle.

I remember taking a weight lifting class in th early 1990s and asking the instructor on how to get my abs flatter - even back then at 115 pounds - I thought I had to improve my appearance - which is why today I don't think we all need to be a size 2 but we do need to be happy with our size and healthy.  Anyway, the very kind Physical Education teacher told me "you're fighting genetics" - just keep lifting weights and without explanation he moved on to the next student - I didnt' find him to be very motivating and I never took weight lifting again.  The thought that I was "fighting genetics" gave me no incentive to continue to lift weights and go for that flat, tight ab look.  At the same time I had an employer who was a weight lifting buff and he insisted if I did situps and leg crunches I would get that flat ab.  It never happened. 

However, today, with the onset of inflammatory diseases, hypothyroidism and just plain aging I think I have a better understanding of what the Physical Education teacher was saying.  And today, we can perform a non-invasive DNA collection and test for your genetic predisposition.  Do you have an increased endurance capacity? Then a sports physician or trainor might recommend specific supplements and/or exercises to help you over come what is inherent in your DNA.

Perhaps your muscles are more likely to have increased abilities in sports requiring strength and a good consult with a sports physician can educate you on best diet/exercise/supplement/vitamin combination to reach your goals.  Your DNA has the code to how your body was made and how it will perform.  

If your bones have an impaired ability to absorb calcium or Vitamin D, then  you are putting yourself at risk of injury if your goals have been focused on intensity rather than duration.  Increase in exposure to sunlight - especially during the winter months in the Northeast (with sunscreen, naturally) will help you absorb some real Vitamin D.  And as we have learned over the last 5 years, the original Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin D has increased - please check with your physician after you have your Personal Genetic Profile completed so that he/she can interpret and advise you on what is best for your body.

Lipid Metabolism, Folic Acid Metabolism, Iron Absorption and Storage, Salt Sensitive Hypertension, Alcohol Metabolism, Caffeine Metabolism and Gluten Tolerance - if you have dieted at some point in your life - you have heard these terms.  Non Invasive DNA Testing can determine your best course of action on reaching your goals in 2012.

To determine your Body Mass Index, use the following:

Using an average Resting Metabolic Rate of 655 (*) - follow the formula below and add your own information to obtain your maintainance caloric intake: 

655 PLUS (4.35 times your weight in pounds) PLUS (4.7 times your height in inches) MINUS (4.7 times your age) = ________ - is the total number of calories your body requires on a daily basis to maintain your current weight. 

If you want to lose weight, you need to create a deficit or decrease your caloric intake or increase your calories spent (via exercise that increases your metabolic resting heart rate).

(*) RMR or resting metabolic heart rate determines how many calories you should consume each day to properly maintain your body's functions and still lose eweight.  Your body needs a specific number of calories each day for basic functions like breathing and cell repair.

This is an average formula - if you are a member of a gym, or thinking of joining a boot camp - get your DNA Profile done ahead of time (4 week turnaround time) so that your coach knows exactly what type of workout will produce fastests results.  We all know that fast results creates motivation.  If you are able to get  your DNA profile done in the first week of January, start your boot camp or exercise regime - just about the 2nd week in February, when you have loosened up your muscles, increased your lung capacity through some low impact aerobics and perhaps added some lean muscle mass - your DNA Profile will be returned and will assist you over the next coming months in keeping your New Year's Resolution.  As you move into February, you are in better condition to really start training in a manner that your body will respond positively.

Depending on your budget and your commitment, you can test for one gene or you can test for 100 genes.  Obviously the more genetic information collected, the more detailed a report can be produced and targetted to your needs.