After writing my blog about my 2012 resolutions. and reading the millions of articles, blogs, and comments that were published during the first week of January about healthy resolutions and ways to keep them, a part of me was hoping I would be one of the small percentage that will be successful, but the other large part was screaming out loud “are you kidding, good luck with that!”  I am hoping this blog helps keep me accountable for my 2012 resolutions be successful. 

 Here are some tips, from my experience this year, to help you keep those New Year resolutions:
 

• Surround yourself with people or ways that will keep you accountable for your resolutions (meet a friend for your exercise, it is always harder to skip it when you know someone is waiting for you, or in my case someone (me) will write about it)
• It is never too late to act on or start the resolutions
• Don’t be afraid to modify your goals as you go along

I know you are all dying to know about the progress of my 2012 resolutions. 

Resolution # 1: try a new recipe per week
With the excitement of the three new cookbooks Santa brought me this year, this resolution was the easiest so far.  I can proudly say that I have tried some new and yummy recipes.  I made a crab-filled endive appetizer, a lentil and pasta soup, a French bread casserole, a tofu and pasta salad…to name a few, and we are only two weeks into January.

Resolution #2: Organize my meals during the week
We came back from the Christmas break on Sunday evening, the fridge was empty and our regular life was starting in less than eight hours. Needless to say that the first week of January did not go so well.  But I have been known to never give up and came back strong at this goal in the second week.  On Saturday afternoon, while my kids were napping, I had the choice between pairing the ever-so-growing basket of unmatched socks OR browsing in my cookbooks for recipes for the following week. Guess which one I picked?

On Sunday afternoon, again while my kids were napping (it is crazy how productive I can be during that time), I was a cooking.  On one side of my kitchen I had the slow-cooker going with stewed skinless chicken (to be served with veggie rice and asparagus) and on the other side I was cooking a big pasta, veggie and sausage casserole to be served for dinner the next night.  I made an extra large batch and was able to freeze some.  While I was chopping some of the veggies for the casserole, I purposely chopped more and stored them in an airtight container -- so my onions, peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini were ready for my crustless quiche on Tuesday.  BAM!  In less than three hours I had three healthy meals and lunches ready for us.

Resolution #3: Sign up and run the Ottawa half-marathon
I actually wrote my blogs with my resolutions the week before Christmas and left for Christmas holidays in Texas to visit my in-laws.  While in Texas, the weather was great and I was able to run six out of the 10 days we were there.  My goal was to run around a lake (approximately 14km) before the end of our trip.  This would be a big increase in my distance of runs so far (from approximately five km to 14 km).  I am happy to say that on the last morning I ran the entire loop.  I was feeling so good about my accomplishments! 

When we returned to Canada it was COLD and we had gotten lot of snow.  It turns out that cold, snow, and short daylight did not motivate me to continue my running.  Finally on the second week, I decided that I would give it a try.  After my six km run through a snowy trail, I found myself in a scene from the movie Rocky IV, where Rocky goes and trains in Russia.  The run made me feel like I was unbeatable and on top of the world.  And I am happy to say that I have run twice more since.

Resolution # 4: Take an exercise class
This one is a total FLOP!  I looked at the schedule but that is about it.  Again, I am not one to give up easily and will hopefully join a class in February.

Three out of four…not too bad!