I’ve been thinking a lot about New Year’s Day and resolutions and how I want to start off 2013. I believe in resolutions, although I’m not always great at keeping mine. In fact, I really didn’t keep any of the goals I set out to complete in 2012 (I did learn more about my new camera and I did try new exercises, but I actually gained weight — boo!).

This year I wanted to try something a little bit different.

Instead of saying that I want to drop 50 lbs. this year (which I do) by eating better, moving more and simply becoming a healthier person, I want to focus on resolutions for each week. The things I’m going to do week by week to become a better person. Therefore, I am now going to write a post each week called Magnificent Mondays. On Mondays, I will look back at the week prior and see how I’ve tried to eat more healthfully and exercise regularly and, thus, with any luck, lose weight. I’m still going to post Weigh-in Fridays, but I want to, well, become more magnificent in big ways and in small ways. In other words, I want to focus on each step of becoming a healthier person and not just the “big picture” — the 50 lbs.

Besides eating more fruit and veg, drinking more water, trying a new exercise class or fitting into a smaller size, I believe becoming more magnificent involves other things, too. Did I help someone in need during this last week? Did I finish a new book? Did I make a new friend and take her out for coffee? Did I accomplish something at work, or with my volunteer group United Way Young Leaders Society?

I want to track all these things this year because, to be honest, this past year has had its ups and downs. Weight-wise and otherwise. So I’m trying to focus on the positives in 2013 and self-affirmations, to keep myself from beating myself up and celebrate what’s good, what’s meaningful, what’s feeding my energy instead of depleting it.

Now I have to ask you: How will you be magnificent in 2013?