Change the Way You Approach Healthy Living
It will be easier to keep up exercising and eating well if you look at it as a positive gift to yourself, and not a punishment.

Commit to Changing Your Lifestyle
Losing weight, getting in shape, and eating well are all lifetime prospects. You will never EVER stop working to maintain your fitness and weight. So before you go on your next New Year's diet, recognize that you'll need to change your lifestyle permanently to accommodate this goal. Make changes slowly, because your body and mind adapts most easily to small, regular changes than large ones.

Set Attainable Goals
Make sure that you set reasonable and MEASURABLE goals. Instead of saying "I want to lose weight and tone up," write down the amount of weight you want to lose, or the number of inches you want to take off your thighs. Set target dates for short-term and long-term goals. For example, if you want to lose 30 pounds, it is reasonable to lose that weight in about four months (healthy weight loss averages one to two pounds per week).

So your long-term goal is to lose 30 pounds (and keep it off), and your short-term goal would be to lose seven to eight pounds per month. Then once you've reached your goals, make new ones to keep yourself motivated and maintaining your weight.

Create a Game Plan
Set up an exercise and healthy eating routine. To set up a good routine, you'll need to devise a program that involves cardio, strength training, stretching, and a meal plan. There is a multitude of books and resources on the Internet that cover these topics in detail. Make sure you find information that is realistic and workable for your lifestyle. And don't fall for the quick fix gimmicks.

Set Up your Environment for Success
In spite of their best intentions, people are sometimes foiled by the little things that happen around them. So make sure your environment is conducive to your success. You can:

- Get someone to exercise with you.
- Keep a fitness journal to track your workouts and progress.
- Hire a personal trainer.

The bottom line
Remember that exercising and eating right requires that you change your lifestyle. You have to change the way you think about exercise and eating, change the way you schedule your day and how you prioritize your tasks. It's a lot to ask when you sum it up, but if you make your changes small and manageable, the task doesn't have to appear so daunting. Make 2007 the year you change the rest of your life!

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