New Year’s resolutions
Doug Fraley of Washington
From left, Vicki Furmanek of Claysville and Bianca Willis of Washington
From left, Washington & Jefferson College freshmen Lindsey Barnhart, Gracy Frost and Zoe Pienkoski
Carly Cappelli of Canonsburg
George Linck
If you’re like an estimated 40 percent of Americans, you plan to make New Year’s resolutions for 2017. Perhaps your goal is to lose weight. Or eat healthier.
Or spend more time with friends and family.
That’s easier said than done.
Research from the University of Scranton shows that a measly 8 percent of people achieve their New Year’s aspirations.
In December, we caught up with some Washington County residents at the Washington Christmas Parade and Washington Downtown Holiday Market to see if they stuck with their 2016 resolutions, and they shared how they fared.
Friends Vicki Furmanek of Claysville and Bianca Willis of Washington sipped hot chocolate as they evaluated their progress.
“I had a couple of the usual ones. Lose weight, exercise more, be kinder to people,” Furmanek said lightheartedly. “I think I’m a kind person. I’m a nice, plump, warm person. And I don’t think my grandchildren care if I’m a few pounds overweight.”
Willis said her New Year’s resolution was to be more involved with her extended family. “Actually, I did not do too badly. There were a couple of reunions I went to that I normally wouldn’t have gone to.”
She also had pledged to be kinder to her husband.
“I believe I was,” she said, noting they cooked more meals together, too.
Washington & Jefferson College freshmen and friends Zoe Pienkoski, Gracy Frost and Lindsey Barnhart also revealed their 2016 goals.
Pienkoski wanted to work out more.
“So, I do Zumba now. And I wanted to be a bit more confident. I think I have been,” said Pienkoski.
Said Frost, “My resolution was to go to a good college and make friends, and I did.”
Barnhart said she resolved to get a job. She did, and works at Bath and Body Works.
Doug Fraley of Washington didn’t bother to make resolutions.
“I don’t make resolutions. I take life one day at a time, and that seems to work for me,” he said.
Carly Cappelli of Canonsburg, a student at Slippery Rock University, managed to keep a couple of her resolutions.
“I cut back on nicotine, and I made the Dean’s List because one of my other goals was to bring my GPA up,” said Cappelli. “But I didn’t lose weight. I ended up gaining it. I guess I was two out of three.”
George Linck, athletic director at Bentworth School District, said he typically makes fitness resolutions.
“I made a resolution to lose weight and get in shape,” said Linck. “I was good until October. Once school starts, I don’t get to work out enough.”