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I'm always so optimistic about keeping my New Year's Resolutions... and yet I don't think I've ever actually kept one. Unless you consider mixing massive amounts of fat-free popcorn with M&Ms to be a healthy improvement for 2011. Especially when I end up throwing out half of the popcorn and eating all of the M&Ms.
This year, like every other, I pledged to be more healthy. A few days after Christmas, as I sat in my parent's living room in my gingerbread man pajamas eating pumpkin pie for breakfast and watching
Inception for the tenth time, I made a mental list. 2011 is the year to go vegan, workout every day, avoid UV rays, and stop drinking massive amounts of diet soda. "I will never miss a Pilates class again," I vowed to the heavens, as I ripped open another mini Twix (they're so small, they can't be that bad- and besides, it was still December, and resolutions don't go into effect until January 2nd).
A month later, I've had a few minor set backs in regards to my resolutions. First of all, I have to brag about the one that I've kept. As of early February, I am UV ray free. I'm no guidette, but I have been known to, on occasion, visit a tanning bed. The fact is, my natural skin color is so pale that it's nearly transparent, and a few minutes in one of those warm death traps helps me to acquire a "base tan." This year, however, I will not cave! I just have to keep telling myself: The paler I am, the more I look like Anne Hathaway. The tanner I am, the more I look like Snooki.
Despite numerous attempts over the past several years to go vegan or vegetarian, I always end up in the same place: hiding shamefully in a Chick-fil-A parking lot, guiltily thinking about the baby chicks whose mommy was deep fried for my lunch. I'm not creative when it comes to cooking, so my attempts at avoiding meat involve a LOT of Morningstar Farms imitation meat (which are awesome, but probably not sufficient in rounding out a balanced diet). I've forced myself to watch PETA videos and read plenty of vegan propaganda, but apparently my stomach calls the shots over my conscience on this subject.
While I pay a monthly fee to an awesome gym that holds daily classes, some of which I actually enjoy, I could be doing better. The fact is, if I get home from work and Netflix has graciously sent me the next disc of Dexter, spinning is probably going to get bumped to the next evening. That's just laziness, but as the weather warms up and I start thinking about spring clothes, I'll muster up some serious motivation.
I think the key to a successful New Year’s (or February 7
th, or mid-year) Resolution is taking baby steps. Maybe this week I’ll try snacking on fat-free popcorn sans chocolate.
