Dear God - if you can't make me thin, please make my friends fat

Donot remember exactly when, maybe a decade ago. But I stopped munching the banana chips and listened. But in a hometown where three quarters of the population pinch you baggy chubby cheeks and say "iyooo Kutti (oh, baby) - you are so hollow. how will amma ever find a groom for you?", there was no need for second thoughts. I continued with my banana chip binging.

Then came love, marriage and a baby carriage. Studies and a job tailed along.

Somehwere along that fast paced lane, my Mexican roommate introducted me to Gym- 101. She would do crunches, crouch into a ball shape and spring right up, all the while inhaling and exhaling at regular timed intervals. And me! I didn't have a clue where to start. Thread mill seemed easy and all I did was gently walk on it, while my neighbours huffed and panted. Tried hands on yoga pilates in the comfort of my home. While my video yoga guru inhaled air from the outskirts of Australia with the ocean breeze genly waving her plated hair, I inhaled my living room air and realized that the stained sambhar dishes need to be washed. You see, she promised a table top flat abs and the needed curves in three months. I had to admit - it felt good, especially with the slow music flowing in the background. I felt rejuvenated, with all the body muscles stretched. Plus I like the way she musically worded - 'one vertebra after another, slowy rise from the child pose. Now gently push your tail bone and lean across to your sides". Occasionally, roommate would find me asleep in the shavasana - dead pose - on the yoga mat and woke me up. I told her I was meditating and not to bother me. She went her way, but woke me up nevertheless, when the meditative snoring disturbed her.

Priorties and preferences changed. Prayed to God for other favors (401k and low mortgage rates); told Him that the flat stomach could wait, seriously.

Anyways, its been a while since I devoted time to tone up the body and feel myself healthy again. New Year is round the corner and resolutions need to be dusted upon. So here I go - another two weeks of guiltless indulgence in cheese and chocolate, pizza and panacotta, rasa malai and much much more....

But come Jan1st, I go green, nah not the envy green but the healthy greens. Thats my resolution for '07 - I go green! yay!