Now that we are on the eve of 2011 (literally), it is time to start planning out what I want to accomplish next year.

I remember my first “real” New Years resolution. It was for the year 2007 and I vowed to give up soda for the rest of my life. This might not sound like a big deal, but for me at that time, it was a massive accomplishment!

When I was in junior high and high school, my normal breakfast was a bag of Doritos, a pack of pop tarts, and a Sunkist. Sometimes the pop tarts were exchanged for a cookie, but the Sunkist was essential. Back in the day, I probably had at least 3-4 a day MINIMUM. My addiction to soda started in around 7th grade, but lasted until I started eating healthier at some point during senior year of high school.

Since that day, I have not had a single drop of soda (regular and diet). The first few weeks were tough, but once February rolled around, I did not even think about it. Actually, right now I think soda is pretty disgusting and you could not pay me to drink it. Actually, it depends on how much you are paying me…

Didn’t you know? Kombucha is the new soda 

This year, instead of “resolutions”, I want to set some “goals”. I feel like the term “resolutions” makes me feel like I need to fix something that I screwed up, but in reality, I do not think that is the best way of going about improving yourself.

To me, fixing something feels like I am going back, but setting goals feels like I am moving forward.

Does that make sense?

To me, setting a few goals at a time is the first step in that large “resolution”. Let’s say your New Years resolution is to lose weight.  Try setting a few goals like:

• Exercise 4-5 times per week
• Cook dinner 5 nights a week
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Limit processed foods

By doing these things, your going to live a healthier life, but your probably going to lose weight by doing so. This also takes less pressure off of yourself and it should make the process easier. This does not work for everyone, but things like this work extremely well for me.

In the past few weeks, I have spent a lot of time thinking (mostly while I am running) about what I really want to accomplish next year. My goals are broken up between a mix of exercise, personal life, and health.

1. Have A Job Upon Graduation

This is going to be tough, but if I really work hard at it, I think I can find some employment. When I graduate, I would like to have a job so that I do not have to move back home. Honestly, I would not mind living at home for a few months until I can locate a job and get on my feet, but I really want to start my post-college life right away. I LOVE living on my own and being independent for myself, so this is my top priority for the upcoming semester.

2. Complete A Half Ironman

At some point next year, I will complete a half ironman. I had one planned for May, but as of now, I do not think I can possibly fit it in my schedule. Between graduating, moving, and within a week of the race, I do not think traveling to Orlando is feasible.

However, I will fit one in. Someone just needs to teach me how to swim 

3. Save More Money

I have a actually been pretty good about this the last few months, but I have a terrible tendency which involves me spending money on things that I do not really need.

Have you seen my nut butter collection?

That is exactly what I am talking about 

Next year, I want to try and put around 25% of every paycheck into my saving account. Since I spent $307 at last month, I think that this is definitely something that is doable if I make a few minor cutbacks.

4. Train Smarter

I have a mental problem where I think that more is ALWAYS better. To me, more miles = better training (this is what I used to think). In October, that really came back to bit me in the butt and I developed ITBS in my knee (I couldn’t walk for like a week).

Next year, I want to continue cross training, but I also want to start running more. I have not been running as much as I would like to the past three months, but I feel so much  better than when I was running a lot just to “run”. I think incorporating cross training into my daily exercise routine has made me an even better athlete.

5. Continue My Eating Philosophy

Over the summer, I think I finally found the eating philosophy that works best for me.

By not eating processed foods, I feel 100x better and it is only logical to continue eating that way.

Why change something that isn’t broken?

6. Experiment With New Foods

Lately, I have been in a massive cooking rut. Instead of trying new things . I have just been making the same things over and over again because they are easy and familiar.

I think that this is happening because I am buying the same exact things every single week (again, because they are easy and familiar).

If I buy new ingredients, I am obviously going to cook different things. DUH.

It looks like I  need to get my butt to 

In a nutshell, those are my goals for 2011. Nothing out of reach or too elaborate, but just a few things that I want to work towards.