How to Lose Weight and Keep Your New Year's Resolution

The most common New Year's resolution that people make is to lose weight. Sales of diet and weight loss books skyrocket on January 1. This article offers some steps that will help you keep your New Year's resolution to lose weight, instead of abandoning it on or before Valentine's;

Step1
The first step actually comes before New Year's Day. Do not "pig out" in the days or weeks leading up to New Year's Day, in anticipation of starting a strict diet. That will just lead to huge weight gain, which will only result in additional weight that needs to be lost. Don't prepare yourself for a new diet in the same way that you might prepare yourself if you were about to go off to war or prison.
Step2
Set a realistic goal. If you stick to any new diet, you will likely lose 5-10 pounds of water weight in the first two weeks. While this shows that you are on the right track, it is not fat loss, and you will certainly not continue to lose weight at that rate. Focus more on what your weekly weight loss goal should be after that water weight comes off. The prevailing suggestion among experts is to lose 1% of your body weight each week. That means that a 200-pound person should aim for two pounds of weight loss per week.
Step3
Pick a realistic diet and exercise program. Are you really going to be able to keep up a diet of lettuce leaves and rice cakes? Will you really go for a 5-mile jog each day in the snow? Be realistic. Just eat healthier foods, and eat smaller portions. Also exercise each day, even if it's just marching in place in front of the TV. If you create a calorie deficit each day, you will lose weight. It is just that simple. The greater the deficit, the more weight you will lose.
Step4
Do not give up! If you "mess up," just get right back on track immediately. Don't say, "Oh, I ruined my diet for this week. I'll pig out this weekend, and pick it up again on Monday." That is silly. Get back on track immediately. Each moment is the first moment of the rest of our lives.
Step5
Valentine's Day comes about six weeks after New Year's Day. Even though tons of chocolates may be available in your home or at your office, do not let this ruin your progress. Many people use Valentine's Day as the official end of their diet. If you think that your lover will give you sweets, ask him or her not to. If you are lonely or hurt on Valentine's Day, do not harm yourself by indulging in sweets. Do the opposite by taking care of yourself, and showing the world that they can just shove it.
Step6
Just keep at it and you will lose weight. Start right now, regardless of what day of the year you happen to be reading this article. You can do it. I was overweight for 35 years, and now I'm not because I finally decided to do these simple steps. If I can do it, you can too!