As the storm surrounding the holidays quickly comes to an end, I can’t help but be very excited to see what 2011 has to offer up. This past year has been full of laughter, great times and many tears. I saw relationships end, and new ones begin. My waist line grew and shrank, and my battle with the scale seemingly will continue into a new year. I have learned so much more about myself this year. I have felt how great it feels to accomplish something you never once believed possible. I have turned my focus away from being on a “diet” to enjoying the people and the food around me. Learning how to eat healthy has given me my strength back. I no longer huff and puff up the stairs, and can crank out a few miles on a treadmill without the fear of impending death. 2011 will by my year of no excuses.
All my life I have always waited, avoided or just “forgot” about what I should be doing. If I couldn’t find a gym buddy then there was no way I could be seen in the gym all alone. What would people think? I can’t remember exactly when I decided to pull my head out of my ass, but it has not been that long that I have actually felt confident enough to step inside of a gym alone. I don’t even know why I ever wanted a work out buddy. Sure it’s nice to know someone is counting on you to get them to the gym. It helps prevent me from backing out of a 5 am workout, but beyond that I hate working out with other people. If I am huffing and puffing on a treadmill the probability of wanting to make small talk is slim. Having enough confidence in myself to get going has been huge. I exude confidence in all areas of my life, with the exception of my body. I always feel clumsy, and trapped in my own body. 2011 will be the year I learn to love, move and be myself in my own body. I can’t trade my body, so I may as well learn to enjoy it.
Food has taken on an entirely different meaning for me in 2010. It has been no easy task learning how to eat healthier. Some part of me (aka- a huge part) still wants to be able to eat double cheeseburgers and carb overdose every day. It takes a lot of commitment to eat even reasonably healthy. I know that I ultimately make the decision of what goes in my mouth. 2011 will be the year I pro-actively learn to eat. Trying new veggies, new creative recipes and coming up with healthy alternatives to my favourite grease laden meals will help keep me focused. For so many years I have used food as a comfort. A handful or three of Doritos kept me warm at night. I will mindfully eat, being aware of true hunger pangs, and ignoring the need for a fat cushion companion.
Running has been a source of both pure joy and utter hell for me. I have wanted to run a marathon for as long as I can remember. Way back in junior high I was very quick on my feet and had such a love for being quick. Things quickly changed after you starting eating out, drinking your weight in liquor and staying awake until 4 or 5 in the morning. Being young and clueless threw me off the exercise train. Waking up and running didn’t matter. Finding my next boyfriend, or outdrinking a hottie did. I had a major job change a few years ago, ending all physical effort out of my day job. Standing around and talking to people doesn’t require much effort. 2011 will be my marathon year. All the training, the the blisters and the tears will make this goal worth it. When I cross the finish line of my very first 26.2, you won’t even be able to slap the silly grin off my face.
I am looking forward to one last day of 2010. A glass of champagne to toast to the year we had. A shot of tequila for the year to come. I need nothing more than to start with a clean slate, and as cliche as it seems January 1st offers a new beginning.
What are some of your New Year’s resolutions? Do you set a goal for January 1st, or do you stay away from the cliche?
