How often have you made a New Year’s resolution that fell by the wayside? You start out with great resolve and change your behavior for a while. Before long, however, you revert back to your old habits.

Let’s face it. Behavior change is hard. What’s familiar is always the path of least resistance. Unforeseen challenges arise and throw you off track. Things improve a little and you forget the pain that made you want to change in the first place. Before long you figure that maybe you don’t need to follow through after all.

So, you’ve decided you want to lose weight…again! Would you allow me to ask you an honest question? What makes you think you will stick to this diet if you couldn’t stick to the last one? Take a moment. My apologies if that sounded harsh, but you have to make sure you’re approaching this diet the right way. Here are some ideas to keep you motivated, and keep the pounds off. and burn the fat. Strip that fat from your life. It is a decision and a commitment.

1. Set small goals along the way – You have one year to lose 50 pounds.