Every year I, like so many others in the world, make a New Years resolution. It usually involves exercising more and eating less and I usually end up breaking that resolution within three months. This year is different, however. I told myself I wouldn't make a New Year's resolution. Instead I made a deployment resolution. 

I'm not unique in that goal. Many of my fellow Soldiers have made similar plans. Some are saving money to get a house or a car when they get home. Others are intent on increasing their fitness level. Surprisingly, many have kept to their plans and are hitting the gym every chance they get. Several of the guys I know are beginning to show major results. They even have a six pack contest to see who can get the best abs by August. Their methods differ wildly. A good portion enjoy getting on the weight machines. Others do a lot of running on the roads here. Several of my friends have turned to P90X or Insanity to get the workouts they need in.

I don't know what it is about deployment that makes it easier to stick to your goals of g becoming a fitness guru. Maybe it's the fact there is not much else to do or there is less distractions here. People don't have to worry about getting home and cooking dinner or picking up the kids. Maybe the exercise itself is the distraction people need from the life around them.

I think I'm going to climb on board with the fitness extravaganza. Since I have read many times in several different places that writing your goals down makes it more likely to come true, I will write my goals here. Hopefully, it will be the motivation I need to keep going when I want to take a break.

My goal is to exercise 6 days a week. My primary means of exercise will be the fitness tapes Insanity with a little basketball mixed in just to keep things interesting. Hopefully as time goes by and I get used to the tapes I will be able to incorporate running into the exercise regiment. I want to lose about 10 pounds by the time I go home on leave in July. 

Wish me luck!!