Increase The Chances of Fulfilling Your New Year’s Resolution

By: Jennifer Costa
Posted In: * Auld Lang Syne *

It was exactly one week after ringing in the New Year when Salve Regina University junior Sharon DeAlmeida found herself sleeping in until 10 a.m. Later that day, she hung out at the mall and caught a movie with her friends. She had completely forgotten about what she had decided to do for her New Year’s Resolution.

DeAlmeida’s resolution, like that of many others, was to work out. “I want to exercise,” said DeAlmeida. “I want to go to the gym, work out, feel healthy, and be healthy.”

Her situation is not uncommon. Many people of all ages make that same resolution to go to the gym, exercise, and feel healthy, but never follow through.

Kim Carrelas, a senior education major, agreed with DeAlmeida. Carrelas did work out after making her resolution last year, but only for about three weeks until she just got bored doing the same routine.

There must be something that could increase the chances, especially for students like DeAlmeida and Carrelas, of keeping New Year’s resolutions, and there is.

The answer involves programs offered at gyms such as Rodgers Recreational Center that not only keep a person healthy and fit, but are also enjoyable.

Salve’s Rodgers Recreational Center offers a wide variety of programs to accommodate many different types of people.

One way that a student might want to exercise would be to get involved in one of the many intramural sports offered at Rodgers. Intramurals are an enjoyable way to get exercise and have fun with friends at the same time.

Chris Tansey, a freshman ice hockey player, has been involved with intramurals, specifically basketball and volleyball, during his off-seasons, to maintain his health and fitness. “I think intramurals are a great way to workout,” said Tansey. “It doesn’t even feel like you are working out.”

Intramurals offered include basketball, floor hockey, flag football, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

Another excellent way to fulfill a New Year’s resolution and get exercise in is to attend one of the many programs that are offered at Rodgers. There have been, and will be, a wide variety of programs including cardio aerobics, boxing, yoga, Pilates (another form of yoga), swimming, and total body workout (a fast-paced aerobic workout.)

All of the programs offered are $25, except for yoga, which costs $35. The sessions are scheduled to begin Jan. 26 and will run for six weeks.

Once you decide you are ready and committed to keeping your New Year’s resolution, the best thing to do is to develop a plan.Join an exercise program and stick with it, state the physicians of Texas Medical Association. “Make it a part of your weekly schedule.”

The Egyptians and Babylonians started celebrating New Year’s almost four thousand years ago. When Roman Emperor Julius Caesar established a calendar in 46 B.C., he chose Jan. 1 as the beginning of the year because January symbolized a split between the old and new.

New Year’s resolutions also date back to the Babylonians, who were the first to make them. The most popular resolution at the time was to return borrowed farm equipment.

Today, more people make New Year’s resolutions to break bad habits or to start good habits.