mBlog

Opinion | Dec 2008 | M.McKennedy

In less than twenty-four hours millions of people will begin their New Year’s Resolutions.  Some will vow to loose weight, others will attempt to quit smoking…what is your number one New Year’s Resolution? and why the hell are you waiting until the New Year to act on these resolutions?

Me In 10 Years? (But I Don't Have A Motorcycle!)

Most of the top ten New Year’s Resolutions are already part of my daily routine and I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions for the following ten reasons…

1. If there is something I shouldn’t be doing then why wait until the New Year to stop?
2. If there is something I should be doing isn’t the time to start NOW?
3. I don’t like to set myself up for failure.  Most people probably don’t follow through on their New Year’s Resolutions…if I am not going to succeed at something, why start at all? – seems like a waste of time to me!
4. I already quit smoking about eight years ago and I didn’t wait until the New Year to do it
5. I like drinking
6. I already have a healthy vegetarian diet
7. I already spend as much time as possible with my family
8. I am always trying to learn something new
9. Another common resolution is to get out of debt…but shouldn’t this be on the radar all year long?
10. Some vow to get organized…if anything, I need to get less organized!  I can be a bit anal at times!

You might have noticed that I said, “I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions” and I also didn’t mention ‘getting in shape’ as one of my top ten reasons for NOT making New Year’s Resolutions.  The reason for this is because this year is different.  I am making one New Years Resolution – to get back in shape!  That is correct…I too am going to join the millions of Americans (we are the most overweight country are we not?  all those MacDonalds hamburgers and fries, the donuts, the cookies, cakes and candy…it’s one of the things that Americans do really well….we consume, we sit in front of the t.v., we get fat!) who vow to start exercising right after January first.  The difference between many people and me is that when I set out to do something, I do it!

At this point I am probably ten to fifteen pounds heavier then I like to be.  A lack of exercise is the number one contributing factor.  My plan is to bust my ass for the next four months and then maintain a standard exercise schedule.  I will use the gym after work, as well as do sit-ups, push-ups and any other exercise I can think of at home, twice per day.  I will create an exercise log and track my daily routine and weight loss.  This way I can review my progress and use the log as a reminder that I don’t want to be one of those big-bellied forty-year-old men!  Someone told me once that when I start getting to forty (and I am still a few years away) it’s all down hill and I will not have any control over how fat I become, which is (as my grandmother used to say) rubbish!  The one issue I am faced with is time, I don’t have much free time as it is but really what is more important than health?  If I take one half hour of television out of my life per day I can bust out a hundred sit-ups and push-ups!  This belly of mine will not stand a chance!

So yes, I too and going to join the millions of people all over the world who vow to take a New Year’s Resolution!  I will struggle with the commitment at times but I will succeed.  It’s what I do. My recommendation to you (and yes, I am well aware that you did not ask for my recommendation) is to pick one or two things (not ten!) that you must change about your life and do it!  By following through these resolutions you will gain confidence.  Just keep in mind that you don’t have to wait for a new year to roll around before you make positive changes to your life.  Every day can be the day to start a resolution so to that I say…New Year’s Resolutions… who the hell needs them?  The answer to that question is – me!  but it’s not about the New Year, it’s about the resolution!