A New Year...

1. Spend more time with friends and family. I know, a very nice thought that we all vow will happen. This promise was made during the holiday season after a few drinks (that’s when the truth and real emotions start to flow), not realizing that I would be seeing the same people the following day, and the day after that, and the day after that…. It’s time management; we don’t see most of these people all year, so we jam in all the visits over the last two weeks of the year! Gotta pace out my visits better.

2. Stop smoking! ’Nuff said. If I write about this for too long, I’m going to crave one. Like many smokers, I have tried it all. I’ve been hypnotized, lasered, worn the patch, chewed the gum, and taken a pill — all to no avail. Maybe I just wasn’t ready to turn off Tobacco Road. It’s been a pretty bumpy ride, but this time I am trying straight willpower. Whew, fought off another craving! But now I’m hungry again....Oh yeah, that leads me to the next resolution...

3. Watch what I eat. Not an easy feat when you are trying to quit smoking and are Italian. That’s right, limit my carb intake: less bread, less pizza, less pasta, less soda, less potato chips. Whoever said “less is more” must have meant “the less I have, the more I want.” I’ll give it some more thought as I munch down on a house salad with a grilled chicken breast (dressing on the side of course).

4. Shape up. Last year, after realizing the only weight I was lifting was my butt off the couch, I decided to get back into shape. I met Brian Herosian, a former Bomber great, who has his own personal training facility called Pro-Fitness. He grabbed me by the gut and said: “This right here, buddy, is going to kill you.” Well, the man I affectionately call “Hero” really is one.

I remember the first time I walked in the gym. I thought I was on the reality show “Pros vs. Joes”: Shane Munson (former Bisons QB) was going to train me, Izzy Idonije (of the Chicago Bears) was working out, and then there’s me, a 6’2”, 249-pound average Joe. But the Pro-Fitness staff (I call them “Athletic Assassins”) got me on the right path. In a year, I dropped 20 pounds and got my body fat percentage down five points. I still have 15 pounds to go, so don’t fret Grandma, these chubby cheeks you like to pinch aren’t gone just yet.

“Joe 8” has gotten off to a good start for me, and I hope you fulfill all your goals and dreams this year, too.

Tom says...

I recently read a new study that claims that non-smokers who eat their veggies, exercise daily and dramatically reduce their alcohol consumption, can live 14 years longer. Well of course you will, but one thing at a time. Last year, I managed to quit smoking—it seemed like the right thing to do when turning 50. I immediately put on 12 pounds. I knew it was noticeable too, since one of my brothers was kind enough to point out to the entire family that it looked like I had put on some “quit-smoking weight.” For the rest of the year, my stated goal was to lose those pounds. By the end of ’07, I had lost none.

So here we are, as I write this, halfway through the first month of ’08, resolution firmly in hand to lose those stinking 12 pounds. On the bright side, I tell myself, I have managed to stem the tide at 12 with healthier eating choices, but the dreaded 12 remain. As most who know me will tell you though, I believe that “resolution” and “procrastination” are the same word. But there is a method to my madness.

January is full of people running around with publicly stated resolutions, drawing all sorts of attention to themselves. Unnecessary attention I think. Nothing worse than having everyone you know monitor the progress of your resolutions. That’s why, with the help of a little procrastinating, I will fly under the radar by not starting my resolutions until February. It also serves to give me a nice break in January after the hectic holiday season.

It’s a good month to ease into a new program as well, since it is a short month. This is a leap year, making it a day longer, but that gets trumped by the new February holiday that our listeners’ petition helped create.

If I was really ambitious there are all sorts of other resolutions I could have piggybacked on top of this to make me a better person. Doing something good for the environment, the poor, my neighbour...etc. Actually, my neighbour will be thrilled if I just take down our Christmas lights by June.

I did, however, publicly claim on our radio show, to ‘blog’ more often on our website, to keep in touch and share more of our lives with those who are interested. My boss says there are many. I responded: “Really?”

I read of a church group in North Carolina who came up with a really unique group resolution. They vowed not to complain for 21 consecutive days. Each was given a bracelet. Those who caught themselves complaining had to switch the bracelet to the other wrist and restart their 21-day commitment. Pretty ingenious.

Myself, I’d have nothing to complain about at all if it weren’t for making these resolutions each year. I’d better sign off and start ‘blogging.’ I sure won’t have any time for it soon when I have to start exercising again.

Have a great ’08.