How to make a New Year's resolution to lose weight

You've made a New Year's Resolution every year to lose weight. Something isn't working. Maybe you've been going about it all wrong.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Pencil & paper
• Calendar
• Friend

1. 1) Find a goal other than losing weight
   
   A watched pot never boils. And you won't lose weight if that's all you're trying to do. Instead, find a goal outside yourself and train for it. That could be running your first 5K, joining a basketball league or improving your yoga. Just pick something you know will be fun.
2. 2) Mark your calendar
   
   Do you skip work when you don't feel like it? Working out should be just as important. Mark three days on the calendar that you're going to work out, and stick to it.
3. 3) Phone a friend
   
   Even athletes with the most iron will have moments of weakness - that's why they have coaches. It's much harder to skip a workout if you know someone's counting on you. Non-Olympians can achieve the same result by finding a workout buddy who will get you out of bed, out of the house and off the couch.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay patient. The weight didn't all add up in a day, and it won't come off in a day, either.
• Don't hit the dreaded plateau. Mix up your workouts every few months to keep the results coming.
• Have fun! It's worth mentioning again. If you enjoy doing it, you'll stick with it.
• Still not losing weight? You may just be gaining muscle, which weighs more than fat. You can tell the key difference by how you look in the mirror, how your clothes fit and how you feel.
• Don't beat yourself up for missing a workout, eating too much or not seeing the results you want. That only leads to discouragement and inevitable failure. Instead, start back up where you left off and keep going.
• As always, consult your doctor before starting an exercise routine.