Guest Author - Jennifer Murray

Here we are again at the beginning of another new year and once again, we're all making resolutions to eat healthier or exercise more or lose weight. Only about 20% of us usually keep our New Year's resolutions because the resolutions we make just don't stick for whatever reason. Some of the most common health-resolution mistakes are easily fixed. Below are some tips on how to fix those mistakes and stick with your new resolutions.

Do not skip meals. One of the easiest traps to get caught up in is overeating and then skipping meals to try and "make up" for overindulging. This can mean disaster when trying to control and/or lose weight. Instead of focusing on how much and how often you eat, focus on what you eat. Eat plenty of fruits, veggies, beans, and whole grains, and keep your fat intake low. These healthy foods will unnoticeably trim your caloric intake. You won't even notice the reduction of your caloric intake since these foods are full of fiber, which is naturally filling. For every 14 grams of fiber added to your diet, you will reduce your overall calorie intake by approximately 10%.

Use exercise in addition to a change in diet. Some people start exercising and/or start exercising more, thinking they will just "burn off" the unhealthy foods they're eating. Not true. Make it a combination of dietary changes, aerobic exercises, and muscle-building moves and you are sure to see results, which will motivate you to keep going.

Don't go it alone. If your resolutions include making healthy changes, a good way to boost your resolve is to make those changes along with a family member, loved one, co-worker, or friend (both online and offline friends). This way, you will have someone to trade recipes, books, and tips with, and also have someone to be accountable to.

Don't set unrealistic goals. Be realistic when setting your goals. For example, don't get your hopes up to lose 50 lbs. before swimsuit season. Also, don't try to make all your healthy changes all at once. Set an attainable goal, reach it, and then give yourself a great big pat on the back.

Have a plan. It's great to have goals you want to meet, but how are you going to meet them? What steps are you going to take to create new habits? In order to make changes, we have to have a way to make that change. For example, if one of your goals is to lose weight by cutting out junk food, what are you going to do instead of reaching for chips or soda? Have a plan ready so that when the time comes, you take an action that will help you get to your goal.