As the Holiday Season rolls through – I actually lump Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, and New Year’s into ‘season’ sort of like ‘huntin’ season’ – we get to spend a lot of time with our family. How about a gift to them that will give for years to come; a healthier, more confident, leaner you!

We spend a lot of time shopping for that ‘perfect’ gift. Give them the gift of YOUR health, your new and improved you. Then resolve Resolving to change something in our lives for the better? That’s hard. 50% of all people who begin an exercise program quit and of those, 50% quit in the first week. According to Gold’s Gym, the average person quits going to the gym on February 13. The ‘why’ is quite simple…..it ain’t easy.

It’s a life style change. We don’t have to re-vamp your diet; we need to eat less. Did you know that in the late 70’s the size of a dinner plate (like you’d get/give for a wedding present) was 9″? Now it’s 12! Why? I guess that’s how those ‘all you can eat’ Chinese buffet’s have so many plates (they’re your old 9″ dinner plates) now. Wasn’t ‘organic food’ what our grandparents called food?

While you’re eating less, you need to exercise as well – yeah, no magic bullet, no pill. No diet, no nuthin but ‘Eat less and exercise more’. You’d think it was hard….and you’d be right.

It is hard to change habits, break old ones and create new ones but take a look around. There are no large/fat/obese (whatever term you want to use) ‘old’ people. People don’t mind working ‘harder’ yet they’ll look at you as if you have 2 heads once you suggest working a bit less to start exercising. It’s no great honor to be the richest man in the hospital, or cemetery. You can’t ‘buy’ health. Virgil said, “The greatest wealth is health.”

So in 2015 maybe resolve to try something new, or come back to an old friend – Run University’s Couch to 5K program will begin Jan. 3 at 9:00. We’ll meet outside of Applebee’s Brookwood, talk about the program then take our first steps. The cost is $49 and our target race is the Regions Super Hero 5K February 21.

Run University offers group runs, the opportunity to make new friends, ways to make running fun as well and aids in growing your confidence and achieving your goals.

Zoe Koplowitz has completed 20 marathons. She also suffers from MS and completed those marathons on crutches – she has said, “Have a dream. Make a plan. Go for it. You’ll get there, I promise.”  Well, we have the plan – so come on! Go for it!

Robin Leach (remember him? Life Styles of the Rich and Famous?) was wrong. Your family is priceless, your time is gold and your health is wealth.