It's a brand new year, and with it comes a brand new me!

The dawn of a new year always holds the promise of a clean slate, starting over, positive changes, etc.  I have decided that this is the year I improve my physical well-being in a number of ways.

The most obvious change I need to make is to lose some weight.  I refuse to use the word "diet", because diets don't work.  What's the point of "dieting" when once a person has hit their goal weight, that person goes right back to what he/she was doing before and the weight comes back?  I prefer to use the term "get healthier", which encompasses diet, exercise, quality sleep and positive thinking.  My simple plan is to eat healthier foods, watch portions and stay away as much as possible from the obvious bad-for-you stuff. 

This morning I joined Courts Plus.  One of the challenges I face is that in addition to being overweight, I have lived a pretty sedentary lifestyle for several years now, and the years have been affecting my body for quite some time.  So as much as I love to dance and would like to join a Zumba class, that's going to have to wait a little while.  To that end, I intend to start out with yoga classes and gain strength and flexibility.  More changes coming: 

• I have ordered a sit-stand workstation kit for my office that will allow me to raise my computer at my desk to enable me to stand while working.  Since 90% of my work is done on computer, I feel this will help start the process of reversing the damaging sit-all-day habit.
• I intend to purchase a ball office chair in order to gain core strength and improve my posture.  

Does this mean that I will be using these tools every single day all day on the job?  Not at first, no.  But I hope as I gain strength and lose weight, using these tools will become routine.  As it is, I feel it's a great place to start.

I am realistic enough to know I do face several challenges in the coming year: 

• Diet - I confess I have a MAJOR sugar jones.  I love all things sweet.  I'm also totally addicted to Coca Cola.  I have to train my taste buds to like healthier sweets, like fruit, and to find a healthier alternative to Coke that I enjoy as much.

• Exercise - I have arthritis in pretty much every joint in my body and I also have lower back issues, and I get winded just going up and down the stairs at work.  This is why I believe yoga is my best bet to start off with in getting more fit.  Later on I will hopefully be able to add Zumba and a light course of machines.

I'm sick and tired of not being able to do the things I want to do - clean my house without taking a half-dozen breaks because of my back, go shopping with my sister without having to sit down a half-dozen times, having little energy to just have fun and to be more active.  This is not about vanity (well, maybe it is a little); it's about becoming a better me, the best I can be.

I will be posting weekly updates as I take this journey.  I will need encouragement my friends, so don't hesitate to follow my progress and to chime in with tips and helpful advice!