New Year Resolutions-Weight loss

Switch on the T.V and every channel has a segment on new year resolutions, with the commonest and sometimes the only one being discussed is weight loss. Year after year after year, its the same one- lose weight, look better, feel good about oneself.

I was maybe 14 when I first started making resolutions, only to 'forget' them by the end of January. Each year, around the last week of December, when the winter break started, I would get a beautiful journal or diary and make a set of 10-15 resoluitons- to lose weight being the 1st, topmost, most important one. There were others- to be more calm, collected, not to lose temper-very difficult when you have an irritating younger sister who would pass sarcastic remarks each time I started with those lists.

Then I made the mother of all lists of resolutions in 1992, the year I got married.There were things I wanted to do like learn some foreign languages, learn to cook properly, learn a musical instrument, visit a foreign country, etc- just the sort of things every average youngster wants to do in life. But again weight loss topped the list- even tho I was at my ideal weight at that time, it seemed so transient- i sort of knew I would blow up once I had kids, and again I loved/love to eat.
It came to pass as I had predicted, I did gain all that weight and treid some half hearted attempts to lose it and over the last few years just gave up on the weight loss resolution. And no, even this year-2009, its not a resolution. Because I have been sneaky, I already started on that goal in November of 2008, so its not a resolution, so it cant be broken, so I have a very good chance of actually attaining this goal.

But the reason of this post was actually to discuss some of the ways to lose weight as discussed over the numerous T.V channels:

Have a small goal- something attainable like 5-10 pounds, not 40-50 pounds.

'To lose weight' is not an action, so make a small active change in your behaviour, like being more active in general- taking the stairs, parking further away from the store, playing with the kids/dog etc. I actually read this somewhere- take the dogs for a walk twice a day, even if you dont have a dog!

Baby steps, small changes, 2 cookies instead of 4, whole wheat instead of white, water instead of soda-even diet soda. And journal the food intake- this one really helps.

Best of luck with your resolutions. And write them down somewhere visible- the fridge/bathroom mirror/next to the computer/T.V so you dont forget, like I do.

My resolution for 2009? To learn the piano, and I am going right now to set up the classes!