Now that the year is coming to a close soon, I can’t help but think back to my New Year’s resolution at the beginning of this year. Like many people, I always promise myself to lead a healthier life. I swore to toss out the sugary soda pops, skip the delicious salty chips and totally end all cravings for anything sweet.

Needless to say, I didn’t quite stay true to that promise. But, I did make some progress on the road to a healthier lifestyle. I started to experiment with vegetarian dishes 3 or 4 times a week which cut down calories while still allowing me to eat my favorite dishes during the other part of the week. The side benefit is that I have been able to sustain the process without having too many cravings or feelings of being deprived. I still get to have my favorite chicken dish from time to time.

More importantly, I managed to add a moderate amount of exercise to my daily regimen. Although it was hard at first to make time and stick with the program, I must say that the hard work paid off in the end. Even if you can only set aside 30 minutes three times a week. You will still see a difference in your energy and stamina. Now that I have brought my BMI to a healthy range, I feel that I have made an accomplishment.

Maybe next year, I’ll finally get rid of those pops.