New Year Resolutions- How to make and keep them

Like most people, you may have started off 2011 with some New Year’s resolutions. After a season filled with too much holiday cheer, the number one resolution is to lose weight and to get fit. Unfortunately, it is also the most frequently broken resolution as well.

So how do you make and keep the New Year’s resolution to lose weight? By NOT making a resolution to lose weight at all. Instead, make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. It really is that simple.

The secret to being successful is to make goals that are realistic and attainable. Do not set yourself up for failure by making a resolution to lose 25 pounds by Easter, only to get frustrated and quit in February because your goal seems out of reach.

Here are some ideas that can help you stay motivated and successful.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Bring a salad for lunch three times per week.
• If you want pizza- add veggies instead of the meat and don’t eat the crust.
• Find five items that you eat on a regular basis and replace them with low calorie versions.
• Replace your afternoon soda with unsweetened ice tea or flavored, low calorie seltzer water.
• Have one extra glass of water in the morning and one in the afternoon.
• Spend one night a week without TV and spend time interacting with family and friends.
• When you are one the phone, stand and walk around the house or office.

These are just some things you can do to change your lifestyle that can have long-term effects on your health. Did you know that replacing mayonnaise on your sandwich with mustard can save you about 200 calories? The average person only needs to reduce their diet by about 525 calories per day (about 3600 per week) to lose one pound per week. It can be done by diet or by exercise, so imagine how a combination of simple tasks and small diet changes can have dramatic, lifeling effects on your health and your waistline.