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It’s January 1, 2010, and there will be a legion of downhearted heavyweights suffering from a serious holiday hangover.
They will be clogging up gyms around the globe, trying to dope out how the lat pull machine works, dancing haphazardly on the elliptical and tying up all the personal trainers.
They will be there with their resolutions and their renewed determination. They’ll be there with their freshly purchased workout clothes and their shiny new focus. Make no mistake about it: they will be out in full force.
Like a lot of folks, I had a tendency to pick up a few pounds during the holidays in the bad ol’ days. In the last couple of years, I seemed to gain that holiday 15 lbs. by the second week of October.
So… this year, I’ve got my mind’s eye on that holiday horde. While they’re mindlessly gobbling their way through Thanksgiving, through office parties, through big family dinners, I’ll be staying on my eating plan and sticking to my workout program.
I’m going to get a six-week headstart on these bozos, and while they’re uncomfortably huffing and puffing on their treadmills come January Uno, I’m going to be showing them how the regulars do things around these parts.
The holidays are a time for celebration, to be sure, but every celebration doesn’t have to revolve around food. Every good time doesn’t have to happen with your mouth crammed full.
I know you’ve had “Start a New Diet” as a New Year’s Resolution before. Maybe you’ve had it multiple times. Who knows? Maybe like me you’ve had it each and every year for as long as you can remember.
I’m not doing it this year.
Don’t you do it this year either.
This year, let’s make a brand new resolution…
Let’s resolve to keep on keeping on.
And let’s start right now.
Well said! I've certainly made plenty of weight loss related resolutions in the past, but now I can plan to just keep goin'
ReplyDeleteThose first couple weeks are going to be hell though, all of my machines will probably be taken..grrr...
My taste for Holidays cookies has fallen by the way side anyhow. And I have a plan in place for Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to cook exactly the same menu I always do only I will watch my portion sizes and skip the unnecessary things like the roll.
Jack, I just to keep to my normal healthy eating & exercising thru the holidays BUT I PLAN for the things I really really want. I always have a very healthy meal & control my portions & then choose what treat/treats are the ones I really want & I enjoy. If must be, I up the intensity the next day or two but usually it is not a big deal since I stay the course thru the holidays! I even check the gym schedule & reschedule my workouts around those changes.
ReplyDeleteWith a planning, portion control & keeping on keeping on, we can make it thru!
Great message...
ReplyDeleteP.S. That's "horde", not "hoard".
Love,
The Spelling Police
oh the holidays..... I think Jack that we will all be ok! I know that we will enjoy the things we like the most in moderation, and make up for what we ate in our workouts. I think there has been enough learned along the way.
ReplyDeleteLove it. Count me in!
ReplyDeleteoh I don't know....the horde is hoarding food and the good workout machines...lol. ugh. I have my cheat days planned for thanksgiving and Christmas eve. The problem stems from creep...you know, Christmas eve becomes christmas day and then CHRISTMAS WEEK. One day doesn't make you fat. Endless holiday does.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work Jack.
I'm so on the same page as you...I'm sticking to my plan no matter what...nothing is going to make me fall off the wagon, I've worked far to hard and my attitude is * Food will always be there, I don't have to eat it all over a 2 week period *
ReplyDeleteI worked in the fitness industry and saw the beginning of the year the classes and gym was so full of newbies with new years resolutions they got on our nerves as we knew they would be there for the month of January and we'd never see them again..of course the company loved it as they could take members money for the next two years ( they had to sign 2 year contracts ) and we'd never see them again...so funny its the same all around the world.
Thanks for the motivation Jack...I, too, have already got my plan in place for the holidays....we know too much to turn back now, right? :)
ReplyDelete"not gonna do it"
ReplyDelete(think George Bush...it is funnier that way...at least to me, lol)
So much can be accomplished in 6 weeks!
Have a great one!
Lynn
I always love your motivation!
ReplyDeleteFixed. Thanks for pointing out my tipos. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat point Jax and you know...I've already started planning :-)
ReplyDeleteRight on Jack! I stopped making resolutions when I was like 17...cuz I knew I NEVER stuck with them!
ReplyDeleteI'm with ya, Jack! I am determined to stay on track these next few weeks... and I'm going to show a weight LOSS by Jan. 1st instead of a GAIN!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more. Keep on keeping on.
ReplyDeletethe resolve starts now!
ReplyDelete"The holidays are a time for celebration, to be sure, but every celebration doesn’t have to revolve around food."
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have to but the reality is that for many of our loved ones and friends, food is a key part. I can't change that; I just have to do as you suggest and not feel compelled to cram it all down my throat! January will be happy this year for me ... business as usual. Great post!
Wow, you have your own spelling police over here? Fan-cy! *whistles*
ReplyDeleteYou know, I do plan to stay on track during the holiday season, and I really like the idea of having "head start" on the New Year. The gym may be extra-crowded for a few weeks and yes I will probably (definitely) grumble about that, but honestly I wish all New Year's resolutioners (in fact, anyone wanting to change their life for the better) well. Although my weight loss efforts are still full steam ahead, I must confess I plan to tweak a few things in . . . wait for it . . . the new year, too!
So true! I'm with you, too.
ReplyDeleteLast year, the only day I went over my calories (and I still counted them) was on Christmas Day. I didn't use it as an excuse to eat too much all through the "festive" month of December. I think I'll do that again this year.
This post really resonated for me because I began my Quest For Health on January 17, 2009. I was one of those desperate "January Joiners." I am so relieved and happy and excited about this holiday season, knowing I am going to get through it happy and healthy. I feel calm and safe. And it's all because of the great community of healthy folks I've found, including YOU.
ReplyDeleteGreat message, Jack. I'm having a restart myself.
ReplyDeleteIve already set the menu for both Thanksgiving and Christmas! Ready to go!
ReplyDeleteamen Jack!!
ReplyDeleteI actually wrote about this today too.
In years past, Halloween was the beginning of the end and now, a week before Thanksgiving and I'm still losing!
Hey- great loss this past week (per your previous post)!
ReplyDeleteMan, those New Years Resolutioners cramp my style at the beginning of the year. JUST GET OFF OF THE MACHINE ALREADY YOU ARE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF. Kidding, however, I was once a NYR (2 years ago) and I hit the ground running and never stopped. I'm with you on this challenge, 100%. I'm losing this holiday season, not gaining!
ReplyDeleteExcellent Jack. I intend to do just that, and am already enjoying the feeling of starting the year knowing it's not the start of another failed attempt, but just another day in the continuation of a life that is getting healthier by the day.
ReplyDeleteGreat post as always Jack. You really are the man.
I intend to do this too - what a great way to get motivated at the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I've always found that losing weight during this part of the year is easier. I'm not quite sure why, but I've always been able to stick to a plan - perhaps because there are more things to actually plan for?
Whatever the case, I really liked this post...
I plan on just keeping on, maybe I'll even reach goal by the end of the year. Now that would be a resolution *smile*. Good post Jack!
ReplyDeleteTotally with you, Jack. When I joined the GAG challenge, I actually said to my husband "this will be the first New Year's that I don't resolve to lose weight. Because I'll alreay be getting it done."
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Jack, what a great idea! In a Valerie Bertinelli commercial for JennyCraig, she emotionally says it was the first New Years day when her New Years resolutions never included the words "lose weight". I want that! Resolving to "keep on keeping on" is the best idea ever!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we didn't wait until the beginning of the year to "start". I can't stand when the gyms are crowded like that.
ReplyDeleteLuckily this year I won't be flying home for Thanksgiving but Christmas is another story.
January is my least favorite time of year, because of all those silly people hogging the space I need to workout. Bah humbug.
ReplyDeleteExactly what I needed to hear!
ReplyDeleteThat's a fantastic plan! I was just thinking to myself today how there are technically only 3 holidays left in this season, but for some reason we string Thanksgiving through New Years together in the "festival of eating". I keep reminding myself that it if I'm going to indulge, I should keep it to those 3 special days, not 44!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely NOT buying into the "but it's the holidays!" mentality this year! After 5 years of dilly-dallying I *finally* got my real mojo back in April and I'm not stopping! I'm with you Jack!
ReplyDeleteWhy does everyone buy into the holidays being stressful anyway? I'm going to celebrate the heck out of them this year and I don't plan to pack on one pound! ;) Thanks for the inspiration... I'm keepin' on~
ReplyDeleteI'm getting worried about your dogs.
ReplyDelete*starts right now*
ReplyDeletei love this post. i do hope my gym swells with more hotties... even if it is just for january.
i have never ever stuck to even one stupid new years resolution why try now?
:D
Makes me kind of glad to workout at home. There better not be a shortage of greek yogurt come January. *pounds fist on desk*
ReplyDeleteNever did understand resolutions like that. If anything, the procrastination gives some license to eat even more badly than before.
I made a resolution yesterday to actually LOSE weight during the holidays this year!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not looking forward to the crowds showing up at the gym in January.
OMG yes! You know, I hadn't even thought of this one.. the new year resolution. I do remember in the past it was - I wish I had stuck with this diet of mine because six months have passed and I would have lost so much weight.... well, this time I HAVE stuck with it and I have lost so much weight - and I'm not making any resolutions except to get out there and enjoy! (You just gave me a great idea for my next post.) mwah
ReplyDeleteMy God man, when did you start getting so many comments on your posts?! You're like some sort of weight loss blog God.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I don't know how you possibly read all these comments - but here's my two cents - I totally agree. It's exactly what today's Weight Watcher meeting was about. Don't screw it all up with the holidays. I'm with you, let's show them how to do it right!
I wish I would have read this before I ordered the pizza.
ReplyDeleteGood post. 45 days of 2009 left. Time to get serious! I'm going to FINISH my new diet in 2010...and move to maintaining. That works for me. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the kind words this weekend = )
ReplyDeleteI like your idea! We'll show those New Years Resolutioners come January 1! I lost weight (about 5 lbs between Thanksgiving & New Yrs) last holiday season; I'm going to work hard to do the same this year!
ReplyDeletei did NOT want o be reminded that 2010 is 6 weeks away.. wow...
ReplyDeletegreat post, Sir Jack. :)
Ugh. I don't want to think about the newbies at the gym. Don't get me wrong, some of them will stick around and that is awesome. But we know that most won't be around after 2 months.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I like it.
And I also don't want to be reminded that 2010 is 6 weeks away.
I have to admit that is holidays past i've always said "it's the holidays" it does not matter what i do i'll lose it after the holiday!
ReplyDeleteWell guess what! I never did.
So this year i just want to stay on my plan and i know i can do it :) Thanks for the motivation!
I've got my plan on hand! Even though I'm in maintenance I still plan carefully what I'm eating and what my long term goals are.
ReplyDeleteJack - you are very motivating!
I hate the gym - instead, I bought a treadmill a couple years ago ON JAN 1! How lame is that? At least the thing still works. I just hopped off it actually.
ReplyDeleteI will never have a weight related New Years resolution again! This is it!
Thanks Jack.
I kinda love you. You always say what I need to hear.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up boss man.
Wooot! That's my motto. Just keep going. :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! I totally agree, and in that vein have recently started doing the INSANITY workout designed by Shaun T. I have a huge family and I know there are a lot of pies, cakes, desserts, sweets, chocolates coming my way. While I don't plan to eat a large amount of it, it's hard to say no when it's been baked by my mother. So I'm going to work out extra hard so that I can enjoy the holidays without any pangs of conscience!
ReplyDeleteTwo, maybe three holiday meals don't cause the 15+ lbs. of fat that folks gain every year. It's the nonstop holiday SEASON eating that kicks off with Halloween and just snowballs until Jan. 1! I will have one plate of food on Thanksgiving, with a little bit of everything on it. And one piece of pie. One glass of wine. And then, I won't hate myself on Friday. I'll do the same for the Christmas meal (with a few special cookies instead of pie).
ReplyDeleteThe "holidays" are like what, 3 days? I'll enjoy those days, but I'm not going to just eat obliviously. A few treats, a good meal or two, that should suffice. I'm planning to be lighter, stronger and fitter by January 1st, 2010. Count on it.
ReplyDeleteWho knows... maybe I'll even climb the big hill on my walk soon. I made the first leg of it today.