Normally, I don't make them. Usually, I make a joke about taking up a new vice such as smoking cigarrettes or drinking hard liquor. However this year, there are two things that I've been struggling with for at least 8 years: 1) My weight; and 2) I still suck at the guitar.
Regarding the first, I started packing on the weight probably in 1999/2000. I didn't have a car so Michelle would take me to the train station and I'd get a ride to my parents house in the evening and wait for Michelle to pick me up. I remember sitting on my ass watching television and eating my mom's great dinners. When I started working at SoCal Gass in 1998, I weighed 190lbs. and wore size 34X32 pants. At my heaviest, I reached 245 and my size 38's were getting too tight. I've lost some weight, but I haven't gotten rid of the size 38's. For a brief period in 2006, I worked out pretty consistently for 5 months and was able to just fit into my 36's. Right now, I'm probably around 230.
Part of the problem people run into when setting a New Year resolution is they are too general and don't contain measurable results to track progress. In addition, they usually lack what I like to call a vigilance system. Resolutions are made, some initial effort is given, but there usually is not a lot of maintenance/follow-up. So this year, I'm committing to two things I hope will help me achieve my goals. First, I will post a weekly blog that highlights my successes and failures when it comes to eating and excersizing. Second, I have created a weightloss spreasheet that I will make public using my gmail account. I will track my weekly weightloss against milestone and end goal weight.
Now for my second resolution this year, since I was seven years old I've wanted to learn how to play the guitar. That was the Christmas I received my first guitar. I remember the guy next door to me played the guitar (he lived outside his parents house in one of those old silver trailers). However, I never received any training and worse yet, my dad restrung the guitar to be left-handed because I am left handed. However, if you know anything about me, you'd know that I'm pretty much as ambidextrous as one can be and I play the guitar right-handed. So, instead of picking up the guitar at an early age, I missed those golden practice years of sitting in my room with nothing else to do except homework and thinking about girls.
I took lessons when I was living in Oceanside and it helped tremendously. I have no natural talent myself, however I do pretty well with instruction. Once Michelle and I moved to Murrieta, I stopped taking lessons, and I have not made much headway since then.
So, in order to reach my New Year resolutions, I'm taking two steps today. I got up and walked two miles this morning in the fog. Later today, when Gabe takes his nap, I'm driving over to Guitar Center and inquiring about lessons. Wish me good luck!
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