It's been well over a month since I started my new regimen of taking care of myself. Over a month of finally working out on a regular basis. Over a month of watching what I eat and drink, making smarter choices about what I consume. Have I been perfect? No. (As it turns out, "Grape Juice Beverage" by Minute Maid is one of the most addicting substances on earth.) But have I already learned a lot? Yes.

If you had mentioned to me at Christmas that by spring break I would have settled into a regular exercise routine, I would have laughed. At the end of January, I would accused you of reading my thoughts and I would have promptly put on a tin-foil hat. Today, a little over 30 days since then, I have deliberately walked over 56 miles, done over 600 pushups, over 1800 situps, and lifted over 6 tons of steel. And throughout the course of all this, something amazing happened. I didn't lose weight (that I know of) or build muscle (that I can see), but I completely changed a habit that was years in the making.

The first few weeks of exercise were tough. I had to force myself to get up and walk. The concept of getting on our hair-covered floor to do pushups disgusted me. But I slogged through them. The first few weeks of my diet were tough. I haven't wanted caffeine so badly in my life. I had to take up chewing gum to convince my stomach that it wasn't hungry at all hours. But now, none of that's a problem. I look at the Coke machine in the basement and don't even think about stopping. I see the tub of delicious peanuts under our TV, but they have long since ceased to call out to me. I get upset when homework takes me into the late evening, because my legs are begging me to go to the gym. It's hard to be a lazy bum when your desire to be sedentary is gone.

It took a month. One month. In that month I have completely turned around two major facets of my life. Who knew it could be so simple?

When kids are growing up, what is a sure-fire way to get them to do chores? Post a list on the refrigerator. The public humiliation of not getting smilie-face stickers for each day can act as a stick, and the pride of filling up every row, every day can act as a carrot.

To help me with my New Years' resolutions, I decided that I needed a fridge to post my workout data to. However, the microfridge in the dorm room was not going to suffice. It's too low to the ground and only three other people ever see it. Instead, I am creating a virtual refrigerator door, right here on this website. Right now, it's very simple: a list of the things I'm supposed to do every day, and the results of those activities. If I don't work out, you'll know it. My performance can now be pushed by everyone walking past the virtual icebox.

In the future, I plan to make The Fridge much more robust. It'll give you more data, make entry for me a LOT easier, and even let you join in. It hardly seems fair to consume an entire refrigerator door with only my stuff, so, if you so choose, you will be able to keep track of your goals. I'll have more information about the specific features once they're completed. I hope that you will find The Fridge as useful as I do.

So, what are you waiting for? Check it out, and be sure to stop by on a regular basis to help make sure that I don't start slacking off.

Update (March 14): My workouts have been going well. My ability to keep up with this log has not. I greatly appreciate everyone's help in keeping me honest until daily workouts became a habit rather than a chore.