Elsey Curtis – Beginning Anew Another Year
January 6, 2012 By: Laurie Curtis
Laurie Curtis
Gym-goers and non-exercise buffs alike normally resolve to take off a few pounds this time of year. Although vowing to get fit has intrinsic allure and is totally worthwhile, myriad choices abound. Do we pursue a solo workout program or join a boot camp class? Do we concentrate on eliminating snacks or focus on portion control? Or both?
For sure, putting a new eating plan into place and kick-starting a vastly different training program are tough objectives to tackle. Being specific and not overly zealous is always a safe strategy. Too often I’ve picked goals I’ve given up by January 15th. In fact, after reviewing New Year’s resolutions I’ve churned out in the past, only three are keepers:
1. Quit smoking. Thanks to support of individual family members and the media, I’ve kept this one since forever. Trust me, you don’t want to know for how many years!
2. Exercise a minimum of ½ hour a day. This was my goal 2 years ago and although I fudged days here and there, the good news is I joined Brick Bodies. I’m still working out at The Square 4-5 times a week maintaining no less than thirty minutes of aerobic exercise. A bonus is meeting great people!
3. Blog daily. I tried blogging in conjunction with resolution #2 a while back but even good friends said reading those daily posts lacked luster. Keeping an old-fashioned diary locked with a key makes sense for my future.
Okay, maintaining nos.1 and 2 (piece of cake!) but changing #3 to private journaling about something other than exercise might work in 2012. Why not record what I consume each day? Sounds do-able and now that I’ve actually started, positive changes have spontaneously occurred. Benefits I’m already reaping include:
1. Eating wiser. Before plopping a bag of popcorn into the microwave, imbibing in an extra glass of wine, or snitching a gold fish cracker leftover from a grand child’s visit, I think about my daily list. Silly items and whatever is mindless or non-nutritional loses its instant appeal.
2. Eating less. Eyeing the buffet table at a party, I choose only the fare that looks tantalizing. I try to keep initial portions small. Because I can remember no more than four items for later record keeping (and that’s a stretch!), I select fewer foods and take seconds of just what is truly scrumptious or memorable.
3. Consuming foods with greater nutritional value. I can’t help but check out the previous day’s record as I write down today’s. Being proud, I want to serve and consume what looks good on paper as well as on the table. I’m into color and variety and that’s healthy eating!
All in all, in spite of the much-heralded doom and gloom of the Mayan Calendar ending, a new resolution might create a stellar beginning for you, too, in 2012. Happy New Year and Blessings Every One!