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Setting SMART Goals

  • Updated
  • 3 min to read
STOCKjanuarymedical2026

Person standing on a weighing scale aiming for weight loss in 2026

I moved to Alexander City five years ago. Since that time, I have gained 20 pounds. And I blame Angie Strickland, our registration clerk at the Cancer Center, who bakes a cake for everyone’s birthday  – that’s about 25 cakes a year – and augments them with regular batches of cookies. If only she baked kale and wheat germ cakes – but no, they’re carrot, red velvet and chocolate cakes. For my last birthday, she made me a key lime cake. It was so, so good.

Obviously, my weight gain is her fault and has nothing to do with my lack of willpower. And speaking of willpower, I have lost 20 pounds since moving to Alexander City. Unfortunately, it was the same five pounds that I lost four times – and gained back.

~ George Miranda is the director of the UAB Medicine – Russell Medical Cancer Center.