When Do Resolutions Lose Steam? Oh, In About Six Weeks

So many New Year’s resolutions made and so few that actually result in substantial changes. It’s not easy. Consider the daunting task of adding a regular exercise routine to your lifestyle: Those who try to kick the inactivity habit fail at nearly the same rate as heroin addicts and smokers. Half drop out of exercise routines within the first six weeks. Even those who make it that far have one more bump: The second-biggest washout period is between four and six months. (From: December Self)

Glamour readers speak up: The year’s five best inventions: 1. Biore strips (over-the-nose strips designed to clean pores).

2. Fat-free foods

3. Long-lasting lipstick

4. Wrap sandwiches

5. Tampon boxes containing different-size tampons (From: December Glamour)

Behind bars: From 1985 to 1995, the number of women incarcerated nearly tripled. Half the female prisoners are between the ages of 25 and 34; 64 percent are women of color; 75 percent are mothers. (From: December Glamour)

Call her while you still can: According to a study by the Harvard University Student Health Service and the University of Arizona, of the men who said they did not have close relationships with their mothers, 91 percent suffered from hypertension and alcoholism in midlife. Of those men who reported strong relationships with their mothers, 45 percent had these health problems in midlife. (From: December Self)

A definition to live by: “Equality means each person has about the same level of responsibility for social, economic and household duties. This prevents the relationship from being divided into two worlds, one that’s high prestige and one that’s low,” says Pepper Schwartz, author of “Love Between Equals: How Peer Marriage Really Works.” (Source: November Glamour)

A glimpse of reality: How many times this year have you said “time just flies by”? Where did it go? Check out this list of how long some common things seem to last and how long they really last: Daily grooming - five minutes perceived time, 24 minutes actual time; vacation - 35 minutes perceived time, four days actual time; vacation afterglow - until morning coffee break, three days actual time; honeymoon - one night perceived time, nine days actual time. (From: January Men’s Health) , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Susan English is the Weekend editor at The Spokesman-Review; contact her by mail at 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201; by e-mail at susane@spokesman.com or by phone at 459-5488.