A new year, new resolutions. Like so many of you, losing weight and being more healthy is at the top of my list. I had the same resolution last year and the year before that and the year before … well, you get the idea. Last year I did make some progress. I did lose about 20 pounds and got into some exercise. But a few health problems got in the way of my exercise. Some of it was because I was physically unable to do some exercise and some of it was laziness.

So now I’m just trying to continue to build on that. I want to put more emphasis on losing weight, not so much by strenuous dieting but by continuing to change my eating habits and acknowledging just what my habits are. That’s the hardest part for me – telling myself that I don’t always make the best choices.

I’m a sugaraholic – that’s my “comfort” food. I want to become more aware of what I eat and why I eat some foods. Making better choices will be utmost in my plan along with this mantra: Eat less, exercise more.

That is such a simple premise for being healthy, but so tough to stick to. Enthusiasm at the beginning of a new plan is great, but sustaining that enthusiasm three or four months later is really hard. I’m hoping that by being very public with my weight loss and exercise regime that I will be more accountable. If others are aware of what I’m doing maybe that will make me work a little harder. I hate to disappoint people!

I’ve done so many weight-loss programs and plans, beginning when I was 18. Now 36 years later, I’ve succeeded and failed too many times and it’s time to work for success and accept the little failures. But I’ve got to quit letting myself down. I can’t continue to let the weight come back on and get lazy about the exercise. It’s my health I have to be concerned about, not just looks or seeking compliments or buying new clothes. All that is just gravy or icing on the cake. Geez, I’ve got to find better descriptions that won’t make me hungry!