By By Adam Prestridge
Up until last year, this reporters New Year’s resolutions were short-lived.
Each New Year since I was 18, I’ve made lists of resolution after resolution, and for the most part, unless my resolution was to eat more food or to watch more television, I wasn’t successful. I usually blamed the demands of work, family and friends for my failed goals.
With a big smile on my face, I can honestly say 2008 turned out much better for me and became my biggest New Year’s resolution to date.
Last year, I informed readers of how successful I was in losing weight for nine months prior to moving to Atmore. A few years back, I wanted to shed some pounds and exercise more, so for months I walked and worked out and lost 25 pounds as a result. I kept the weight off for several more months, but years later, I had packed on 10 more pounds than I lost. So last year, I made a resolution to lose that weight again. My magic number was 35 pounds. I surpassed that goal by nearly 20 pounds, starting 2008 at 238 pounds and ending it at 188, give or take a few pounds.
I had also stated that I wanted to lose the weight, while working out. My work out regimen didn’t last long, but fortunately, watching what I eat and drink, and counting calories paid off.
It wasn’t easy, so that’s why I’m offering my assistance to anyone who has the same New Year’s resolution this year, as I had in ‘08. If you want to lose weight or want my secrets to weight loss, I’m willing to share. This can be done by simple encouraging phone calls. So give me a call.
This year, I have a different sort of resolution. Besides keeping my weight off, and maybe losing another 10 pounds with workouts, I want to be a better son, brother and friend. Since moving to Atmore, I have lost touch with numerous people; 230 miles can do that. So I want to make it a point in 2009 to make phone calls on special occasions and send a greeting or gift card on birthdays or anniversaries to simply let my loved ones and friends know I care.
So, here’s to another successful new year and another resolution worth keeping.
Adam Prestridge is publisher of The Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123.