As most of you, around 11:30pm on December 31st I started drumming up some sort of New Year's resolution.
I have been thinking about my weight, talking about it, and doing absolutely nothing. There have been times in my life when I have been in great shape. When I went to Miami, when I was training for the marathon, and right after I got married. Other than that, I have been mediocre to mushy and I am plain sick of myself.
I had to truly do a self-evaluation. So many people spend thousands of dollars on diet programs, pills, creams, hypnosis, grapefruits, you name it...and we're still the fattest nation in the world.
I had the great pleasure of watching the documentary Super Size Me the other night and that's what finally did it for me. I realized it's not that difficult. I was raised in a household of health food, organic vegetables and free-range poultry. My mother drinks green spirulina shakes every morning and her insides are probably more sterile than a surgeon's tool.
I realized there are certain myths that I have believed in order to keep myself in the permanently pudgy state:
- I don't have enough time: Nonsense! I spend more time on the phone, surfing the net, talking about nonsense that could be used to prepare nutritious meals, go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier and go to the gym, and get myself in gear for the next morning.
- I'm too tired: Of course you are! Your blood hasn't been properly pumped through your veins in months! You will never "catch up" on your sleep enough to feel energized to go to the gym. You have to drag your lazy a$$ out of bed in the morning and stairstep with your eyes closed for the first week or two if that's what it takes.
- I need Starbucks to make me happy: Ok, whatever.
- I don't need to conform to some pre-fabricated socially imposed image of beauty: This is true, but you do need to make sure you're physically fit, not at risk for diabetes, and eating healthy. If you are doing those things it doesn't matter if you don't look like a supermodel. What matters is you're healthy, energized, and taking care of business.
So my friends, the plan is to lose between 15 and 20 lbs in the new year. I was just sick for about 5 days, so not eating got me off to a good jumpstart. :) I hope you are all well, are spending ample time with your friends and families and just taking advantage of the good life has to offer. That's what it's about after all, ¿no?
2006 pa' que no jodeis-