By Rachael Schultz
Hi, remember me? It’s your New Year’s resolution to lose weight. I know you’re ignoring me but I don’t understand why. Everything was going so well. We were meeting every day and spending so much time together and now you won’t return my phone calls.
You say you’re too busy for me but really, I know it’s just an excuse to not go out with me again. It’s the same with all my relationships every year. Jan. 1, I’m everyone’s best friend. I’m the most popular guy in America: the resolution to become more fit. They all claim I’ll stay by their side the whole year, that this year is the year for change.
We spend the first half of January running that extra mile and tossing out all the processed foods. But then February rolls around and they all start to think, “I’ve been doing so well. Maybe I won’t go to the gym just this one day.”
And then a week later, they get so busy that they stop by McDonald’s for a meal on the go, ignoring those granola bar’s I helped them buy for moments like this. They can feel their resolve starting to waver because nothing’s worse than trying to get back into the groove of working out and eating right.
Do you want to be like them, my friend? Do you want to be like all my exes from failed relationships who are now in the category of “quitters”? You aren’t a quitter, I know it. You were so determined when you held your glass of champagne high on the last night of 2009 and said, “My New Year’s resolution is to take care of my body, to eat the right food and exercise more.”
So I’m here to save you. Put down that Coca Cola and listen up because what you need is some motivation. It’s the only thing that will get you back out there taking care of yourself. Find a friend. Sometimes you need to be held accountable to someone other than yourself. Yes, you’re taking care of your body for you and no one else, but you can’t do everything on your own. A friend can be the good part of your conscious when all that’s pounding through your head is the bad.
Find someone to work out with, to take a morning walk with or to come over and kick your butt till you change into your gym shorts. Find someone who will go to the gym with you directly after class or work so you don’t have a chance to say “no.” Sign up for a free personal trainer at clubSCAD, that way you’re guaranteed to work out at least twice a week and you have someone focused entirely on making you feel better about yourself.
Even if you like to exercise alone, find a friend who will encourage you when you call and say, “Should I go to the gym or watch the re-run of “Sleepless in Seattle” on E!?”
Find someone who’ll reply, “Go and watch the re-run while you’re on the elliptical.” Tell your friends you’re serious about getting your body into the state you want so when they drag you to Carlito’s, they won’t tease you about trying to choose the healthiest thing on the menu and passing on the queso dip.
But you know what is the best motivation of all? Forgiving yourself. I know you only went to the McDonald’s drive-thru because you were late for your class. I understand that everyone needs their treat. You did so well through all of January, sticking to your workout routine and snacking on apples. Just because you’ve wavered in February doesn’t mean you have to give up. Don’t let your slip-ups undo everything.
Please come back to me. I want to help you. Look at your running shoes staring longingly at you. They want to be worn again. They want to be taken for a ride. Don’t let a couple of weeks on the couch turn into a couple of months. Call me back so we can get on track again. It’ll be like you never went through that drive-thru or skipped a workout. Then, on the last day of 2010, you can hold your glass of champagne high and be one of the few to say, “I kept my resolution this year and I feel fabulous because of it.”
