You asked:

I made a new year’s resolution to get fit and eat more healthfully, and I’ve already fallen off my plan. Do you have any advice for how I can jump back in and stay on board?

Sure, here are a few pointers for sticking to the stay-fit plan:

1. Make a realistic goal, like losing a certain amount of weight or only eating sweets once a week. You’ll be able to measure progress and won't have to work in the abstract, where it's easier to weasel your way out of doing the right thing.

2.Find a friend to work out with or eat with: You’ll help each other stay motivated. If you don't exercise, or you eat that hunk of fudge and no one knows but you, well, there’s no one else to hold you accountable. Even more important, it's fun to hit the gym or skating rink with a pal.

3.Reward yourself when seeing progress -- but make sure you don't reward 30 minutes of jogging with a pint of ice cream or you won't see any change. Treat yourself to a sugar-free fruit smoothie instead of a creamy milkshake every time you lace up your running shoes.

4.Start at the grocery store and in the cafeteria, in terms of eating well. If you don't buy it, you can't eat it. Leave the junk on the shelves and reach for fresh fruit, veggies, lean proteins, low-fat dairy and whole grains instead.

5.Keep track of what you eat and how much you exercise so you can see if you’re measuring up to those realistic goals you set. Seeing your bad habits in writing makes them much more salient and way harder to ignore. Ask the R.A. Next Ask the R.A. Ask the R.A. Archive

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