HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone on the JBF Forums

There are a few things to straighten out. We all have them. We've had plans and goals, followed the plan and reached the goal, failed to really make follow-up plans and goals and "wing it", getting away with that for a while, but suddenly realize that we're heading back the wrong way!

Oops.

New plan, new goals, vowing this time we won't forget the follow-up plan and goal ... and somehow do it again!

Of course, anyone will tell you that using the New Year as a new start date is "silly" because your body doesn't know the calendar, doesn't care what day it is, yada-yada-yada. True. But, that being said, if your realization of the "oops, this is a wrong way street" happens towards the end of the year, well then January 1st is as good a date as any.

This year it's even "better" - January 2nd = Monday, fresh week, fresh year, fresh you (or me).

The local general hospital is starting a "Biggest Loser" contest on the 9th ... they're doing it right though, from what I hear they will be basing it on body fat and not overall weight. Of course, I'm not happy with the term "loser" for winning your health and looks (back) but it seems to be a term that's stuck in everyone's minds as something positive, so ... fine.

They have a 20$ sign-up fee and every contestant pledges to raise 100$ in donations by the end of the three months - unless they are one of the 5 who win the help of a personal trainer at one of the local gyms (500$ to raise) or if they join as a group (2000$ to raise).

Now, you may wonder what I did with the news of this contest ... ? I signed up.

2 reasons:

1 - When Joe's mom died there 14 months ago, the staff was really good, including the security guy who always opened the gate to the parking exit for us before we put money in, knowing why we were there.

2 - Knowing me, although I don't care about being nr 1 (all the winner gets is a full makeover, no $$ lol - I don't want a hair cut, and don't need clothes) I do "step up" better knowing there is an official end date with weigh-ins before and after. And yes, I've found myself up the wrong way on that street :S

Additionally, it's important to keep a local general hospital alive and operational.

They start January 9th. Fine. I am not wasting the first week of the year, although it will mean that I will have dropped some fat before the official weigh-in. However, I also have a secret weapon and advantage over the other contestants: EODD and 7MB :)

Jon's e-mail yesterday on the one food that lowers cholesterol .... with the fun little video presentation :) ... I forwarded it to a few friends, one of whom has signed up for the competition as well (with a lot more to "lose" than me) .

But seriously - reading how sugar not only lowers the good cholesterol but also spikes the bad and triglycerides - wonder why that's not front-page news in all major national newspapers!? It should be, because: because of this ingredient ("food") so many people are committing suicide-by-nutrition. Sure, not this thing alone, but it's everywhere!

In short - let's make a pledge for a happy, healthy new year (whether the Mayas are right about 2012 being the end of the known world or not) and to make sure we have the next plans and goals ready before we slide back up the wrong way again :)