Hello 2012! I hear you knocking on my door waiting to come inside and hear all about my New Year’s Resolutions. I know you are probably going to take a look at me and wonder why I had three servings of homemade pecan pie or why it was necessary to follow it up with homemade brownies, cake balls and (yes, I agree, it’s weird) beef jerky. Hopefully you will allow me to slide on the week prior to Christmas when Rachel and I enjoyed our honeymoon by trying a myriad of cocktails and enjoying every single thing an all-inclusive resort can offer. In all, I’m sure you will look at the last few weeks of my life and wonder how I managed to fall off the healthy wagon and then you will sternly ask me to get back to work. I will look you in the eyes then subsequently fall to my knees in shame and beg for your forgiveness. I know the “It was our honeymoon” excuse is no longer relevant (Or is it?). I know, I know, it’s time to get back on track, set new goals and accomplish them.
It was three January’s ago that Rachel and I decided to “get healthy.” We didn’t really know what that meant or how to really go about doing it. Sure we worked out, but see, it turns out you actually have to eat right as well (What!?! It surprised us as well). So, there we were, three years ago, deciding that we needed to work out and eat right for at least two, maybe three weeks into the New Year. Hey, every long term goal needs to start with a short term goal. We knew if we said, “We are going to get healthy by working out and eating great for the next year,” it would have sounded too overwhelming. We had to make our resolution simple and feasible. Two to three weeks of being healthy didn’t sound that bad.
Three weeks into our “get healthy” lifestyles we were already starting to lose weight. We then took on the Forest Gump running mentality – “For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I’d gone this far, I might as well turn around and just keep on going.” Oh, and we kept going. We kept going for two months and when we continued to lose weight we just kept on being healthy. That little short term goal turned into a bigger, mightier long term goal. Before we knew it we weren’t just trying to lose 5 or 10 pounds; it turned in to 20 and then 30. And then, just like Forest, “For no particular reason, I (we) decided to go for a little run.”
Our little run was a 5K race that March. It’s funny how today 3.1 miles would be an easy run for us, but back then, it was a monumental task. Again, a short term goal mixed into a long term goal of “Get Healthy.” Next thing we knew we were signing up for a half marathon after agreeing that a half marathon was ridiculous to even think about. Suddenly, we were actually running a half marathon and then another, and another after that. All of a sudden we were signing up for a full marathon.
So here we are, three years later, having run four 5K’s, three half marathons and a full marathon, trying to set new goals for 2012. Our long term goal is to stay healthy, but currently our short term goal is to get back into our daily routine. Neither of us regrets enjoying our honeymoon to the fullest and subsequently the holidays as well. I know of too many people who stress so much about their weight and eating healthy that they don’t allow themselves to enjoy the holidays and the wonderful food we get to enjoy once a year. Remember, it’s once a year. The important thing is that you set the goals for yourself and get back on track. The easy part is saying you are going to do it. The hard part is actually doing it.
Figure out what your long term goals for the New Year will be. Then, make a list and break them down into shorter goals that are easily and quickly attainable. After that, find a way to just “keep running/being healthy.” Just tell yourself, “Well, I got this far, I might as well keep going.” Good luck to all of you in the New Year.
Always Start To Finish…Never Finish With Regret.
Running On Empty 