New Years’ Eve spurs many to reflect on events of the past year and to look ahead to the prospects of a brighter new year. It’s also a time when many of us take a closer look at how we live our lives, and how we may try to improve them. Some call these resolutions. I call them set ups for failure.
Oh sure, there are many wonderful, much-needed resolves that people can and should make. Losing weight, quitting smoking, spending more time with family, and getting out of debt are all well deserved plans.
Unfortunately, statistics show that very few of us actually achieve these lofty expectations. About 40-45 percent of adult Americans make some type of New Year’s resolution. And if you believe everything you read on the Internet, only 75 percent of those who make resolutions make it past the first week, and only 46 percent last more than six months.
Every year, I have tried to come up with some awe-inspiring resolutions, which usually involved some master plan of me doing more exercise, giving up soda or some other grand scheme. And every year that plan fails miserably.
Once again, I find myself trying to find new and exciting way of sticking to my resolutions. This year I’m still looking to lose a few pounds. I need to spend more time with the family and I’m trying to be more positive both at work and at home.
Losing weight is very difficult for many, including myself. Diets aren’t my thing. The idea of having two of my three meals consisting of some sort of beverage doesn’t interest me. I like to eat. But eating healthy is not as easy as it sounds. I can’t stand nibbling on raw carrots or broccoli. In fact, it makes me gag just thinking about it.
Back in my 20s, I could simply cut back on food and see a few pounds slide off. Now that I am in my 40s, the same practice no longer works.
So that means exercise is the next step. We have a treadmill. It was my wife’s desire to have one for working out in the winter. I have a love-hate relationship with it. I love the fact that I hate getting on it.
The biggest problem is finding the time to exercise. I have never been a fan of going to a gym to “workout.” I have tried numerous times over the years, but I found myself constantly looking at the clock to see if I had been there long enough to leave.
I thought I was doing well with getting on the treadmill every day a few weeks back. But that lasted about four days and then I was off the wagon again. Plus, I was told that simply walking on it doesn’t burn enough calories. I needed to alternate between walking and light jogging at various speeds in order to have my body respond in a positive manner.
Still, with the coming of a new year comes the promise (or is it my hope) that I will somehow unlock the key to successfully completing a resolution.
From all of us here at the Houlton Pioneer Times, we wish you joy and prosperity in the coming new year. Our office will be closing at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31 for New Year’s Eve and closed Friday, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. We will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at jcyr@pioneertimes-me.com or 532-2281.
