We are going into a transfer year. We move not just once, in summer 2014, but again in summer 2015. ACK!

First, we move back to DC for a year of language training , then we go on to Warsaw. We are only taking 600 pounds of air freight with us to DC. The State Department pays for us (well, technically only my husband, but we’re a package deal) to live in a furnished apartment while we are there. So, most of our stuff will just get sent to Warsaw from Vienna and I won’t have to deal with it for a long time.

So, it’s not as bad as it could be. But, moving is moving, and it ain’t going to be pretty, neither.

Two things happen every time we move:

1.) I lose sleep
2.) I gain weight.

My resolution for this moving year is not to do those two things!

I have been losing and gaining the same five pounds for the last couple of years. I do OK in Vienna, not being overly tempted by pastries and such, but, every time we travel, the scale bumps back up again. I blame Italy. And Poland. And Hungary. And Bavaria.

So, it’s time for some structural change here! Fortunately, the husband is on board, for his own health-related reasons. (I love that we can successfully reinforce each other’s good habits sometimes.)

We’re starting with eating more vegetables. I have been getting much better about prepping a lot of vegetables at the beginning of the week, thus making it much easier for my lazy behind to cook them at dinner time. I resolve to keep that up. I actually like vegetables so this will not be so difficult if I can just stick with the routine.

Next stop: less beer and wine. I am not a heavy drinker, by any means, but that glass (or sometimes two) of wine or beer on most days is basically liquid sugar. It creeps up during the holidays, too, what with the gluhwein and all. And don’t get me started on traveling. I hereby resolve to keep wine consumption to a bare minimum with exceptions for days when the Teenager is driving me around the bend. (These have been less frequent lately, thankfully!)

And, exercise. I’m pretty good about that too, because I have a great need to be outdoors for some time every day. I enjoy a brisk walk around the Ring, and don’t have too much trouble motivating for that. Just give me my headphones and a podcast, and I’m good to go. But, I resolve to get at least an hour of exercise every day, preferably more, even when the weather is disgusting. I still have a gym membership, even though it isn’t very convenient, and I recently discovered a yoga channel on the Roku, which I LOVE. It may not be the most calorie-burning sort of exercise, but it’s better than nothing, very appropriate for a forty-something person, and it really is relaxing (see sleep, above).

So, that’s my plan. I will not let this next move do the usual damage.

I have now stated this publicly, so it must be so!

Happy New Year!