It’s that time of year again. As we near the end of February and the start of final’s week, this is the place that New Year’s resolutions go to die. If you haven’t already reneged on your formerly fervent promises of weight loss in 2009, my guess is that you’re at least considering putting them on hold. Possibly indefinitely.

I’m sorry to say that this week’s issue doesn’t come with a money back guarantee that you will lose five pounds this week. Truth is, there probably isn’t a bit of information in our feature (“From Couch Potato to Health Nut”) or subfeature (“A College Student’s Guide to Eating Healthy”) that will enlighten you any more than you currently are on the topic of personal health.

Certainly, you don’t need Reporter to tell you that filling your stomach with salad is a healthier choice than loading up on gravy-drenched garbage plates. Unless you have some sort of medical condition, the equation really isn’t a difficult one: Eat less junk, exercise more, and you will lose weight and improve your health. If you’re learning this for the first time, I’m very, very worried for you. (Also, for the RIT Office of Admissions. Um... what are you doing here?)

Despite this knowledge, when was the last time you woke up bleary-eyed on a Saturday morning and willingly trudged to the nearest salad bar to ride out your hangover? Yeah, that’s what I thought. We may not have ever bumped into eachother at the gym, but you and I have probably crossed paths at Nick Tahoe’s at some point. Or fallen asleep on adjacent couches in Java Wally’s (see “Sleeping Around”) or the third floor of the library. If not yet, it’s just a matter of time.

The difference between what we should be doing and what we actually do, healthwise, can be staggering. Your parents aren’t here to remind you that those enormous Rice Krispies bars at the Corner Store will probably make you sick if you eat them all by yourself. They aren’t packing your lunch every morning, and they certainly aren’t checking your dinner plate every evening to make sure you eat your broccoli. You’re in college now. It’s up to you to take care of yourself.

So please. Do.