By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The onset of the new year comes with the tendency for most people to make a commitment with themselves to do something better than in years past. Most people resolve to make an important lifestyle change in their health or well being, while others just resolve to be a better person intellectually or spiritually.

Residents of the River Parishes seem to be either committed to a life of better health and possibly more exercise or resigned to the fact that any resolution will likely fizzle out before the year ends

Last week, visitors to L’Observateur’s website were asked what sort of resolutions they planned to commit to for 2012.

More than one-third of those who responded said they would like to lose weight, eat better and get in shape. On the other side of the spectrum, another third of those who responded said they did not make a new year’s resolution, results that were similar to a poll taken this time last year.

About 11 percent of those who responded said they would try to go to church more or become more spiritual. Others said they would try to quit smoking, drinking, or watching television.

A complete breakdown of the results is as follows:

• 37 percent of respondents chose “Lose weight/eat better/get in shape.”

• 3 percent of respondents chose “Stop smoking or drinking or give up another vice.”

• 11 percent of respondents chose “Go to church more/become a more spiritual person.”

• 3 percent of respondents chose “Watch less television.”

• 9 percent of respondents chose “None of the above.”

• 37 percent of respondents chose “I did not make a new year’s resolution.”