Here’s the message that I sent to my newsletter subscribers on New Years of 2013:

I thought it would be a good idea to tell you about my “Resolución de Año Nuevo” (New Year’s Resolution) because it will give me the chance to cover a few Spanish words related to physical fitness – since my goal like many others is to get in better shape for the New Year. This will also allow me to share some information with you about the culture of Colombia. By the way, you may also hear Spanish speakers use the phrase “propósitos de año nuevo” in order to say New Year’s resolutions.

How To Say To Be in Good Shape In Spanish

The Spanish phrase for “to be in good shape” is “estar en buena forma.” I made an “apuesta” (bet) with an “amiga” that in 90 days or less, that I can obtain “cuadritos” (6-pack abs).

“Cuadritos” literally means “cubes.” “Cuadritos” is a term that is used in Colombia for 6-pack abs. But the most common phrase in Latin America for 6-pack abs is “tabla de lavar” (wash board). In the States, when people still used washboards, the term “wash board abs” was used for 6-pack abs.

In Spain the term that is used for 6-pack abs is “tableta de chocolate.” In Colombia, they also use the word “chocolatinas” for 6-pack abs. That’s because 6-pack abs resemble chocolate that is in the form of cubes or “chocolatinas”

After 5 years of a diet rich in Colombian “cerveza” (beer) and considering the fact that I have not seen anything that even remotely resembled a 6-pack in my “barriga” (belly) since my high school days I am in for a real challenge.

I did say that I made an “apuesta” (bet) with an “amiga” that I can “lograr mi meta” (achieve my goal). What did I bet?

Well, if I lose the bet, I have to eat a “plato” (plate) of  “chunchurria.” Depending on the region of Colombia it is called “chunchullo,” “chinchurria,” or “chunchurria.” What is “chuncurria”?

“Chunchurria” is “intestinos de cerdo” (pig intestines). Or what some Americans call chitterlings. In Colombia, “chunchurria” is fried or grilled.

I will do anything within my power — short of “morir de hambre” (starving to death) — before I eat even a “cucharadita” (teaspoonful) of “chunchurria” (pig intestines). In order to win the bet, I have already started a “dieta” that is high in “proteína” and low in “carbohidratos.”

But now that I think about it . . .

I have already eaten “intestinos de cerdo” once here in Medellin. Without knowing what it consists of, I ate “morcilla” (blood sausage). The “morcilla” here in Colombia consists of, among other things, “arroz” (rice), “sangre de cerdo” (pig’s blood) and “intestinos de cerdo.”

Time for me to go in order to go eat my “pechuga de pollo” (chicken breast) and “ensalada” (salad).