2010: Resolutions of Repetition

From about the age of 21, and for every year since then, I have resolved upon New Year's Eve that I will exercise every day. I don't equivocate or give myself any excuse or pass, nor do I allow myself to skip a day because I'd already done something strenuous out of need or desire. Through the many years since then, I've reaped excellent benefits from my consistent exercise: increased health, resistance to disease, increased vigor, improved sex life, increased strength, and, let's face it, better looks. While vanity by itself may be an excellent motivation for many, there comes a point in life where a person learns that they'll never look as good as they did in days now long past. I urge my reader to leave vanity behind as much as is humanly possible because it's just another arrogation that anyone can do better in life without, myself included. In any event, making a resolution for the New Year and keeping it are, as everyone knows, two very different things. I hope the following will help anyone who reads these passages to keep the promises they made to themselves.

Remind yourself. While this may seem trivial and obvious, having reminders about keeps your self commitment fresh in your mind. You'll plan for it, around it and sometimes you'll just do it right away to get it out of your face. I keep a dry erase board on my refrigerator and on it, always in large block letters, is the word "EXERCISE!!". I see it every time I make a meal, get a snack or walk past the kitchen. Unlike those magnetic pig heads that make snorting sounds when you open the refrigerator, this reminder doesn't associate guilt with food nor does it puncture my self esteem.

Make it easy. Have an exercise outfit laid out near your shoes and socks. Wear something with built in underwear and make sure whatever you're wearing is easy to put on and take off. Not only does this save time, which is ever more valuable in our accelerating culture, it makes the task easier and thus reduces the natural recalcitrance to do something that I find unpleasant. If you're the kind of person that can also find a way to make exercise fun, I urge you to do so, strongly. Also, if you're beginning a new exercise regimen, start small and work your way up. You don't want to hurt yourself out of the gate, or, overdo it in the beginning and burn out.

Reward yourself. I want to stress: NEVER reward yourself with food. It seems plainly evident but it's very important. Otherwise you'll just short circuit your efforts whether it's to shed some unwanted pounds or bring your cholesterol down. I like to reward myself with some playtime on my favorite video games.

Ditch the gym. So far as I'm aware, the vast majority of people who own gym memberships don't use them or don't do so nearly enough. Do your cardio by running or walking around the block, and there are many exercises you can do in your home with no equipment at all. The list is very long: sit ups, push ups, jumping jacks, dips, isometrics etc. This advice also falls under the "Make it easy" category. Make no mistake, any exercise that's worth doing is going to make you at least a little sore, sweaty and winded; so don't think that the exercise itself can be made anything close to "easy".

Look at the mirror. Seriously, look at yourself in a full length mirror, naked, at least once a day. Be honest with yourself and don't hold your stomach more than your muscle tone already does or improve your posture or roll your shoulders back. Look at yourself through the eyes of candor, as difficult as that is to do. When you do this, you'll see the things that need be worked on and you'll see yourself clearly. While this is one of the hardest things to accomplish, the rewards are worth it just in the motivation it provides. No matter how humble we are or how hard we try to abandon it; we all experience vanity. Use it against yourself, prod your vanity and it will provide you with strength and resolve to carry on.

These are the primary things that I use every day to keep myself from going astray. I could certainly use more discipline in my eating habits, for I am a very hungry man and I have a love affair with three mistresses named dark chocolate, milk and beef. As always, whenever changing your exercise or dietary habits you should consult a doctor first, especially if you are already suffering from an ailment already. May success accompany your efforts, good reader, and it is my sincere hope that the coming year will be far better than the one that is now coming to a close.