Every year people make the New Year's resolution to get healthy or lose weight. Gym memberships go on sale and regular gym goers struggle to find parking spots until about mid February when most people give up. But what do you do when you want to lose weight and stick with it for the long haul? Many suggest easing into your weight loss plan to stay on track. Going from not working out at all and eating junk food several times per week to working out everyday and eating lots of veggies and baked meats is a stretch for mostly anyone. Some suggest starting to work out by doing something fun. That way it doesn't feel like you're working out.

Many people would be surprised how many different forms of exercise are out there. Basically the idea is to get your body moving to burn calories. This can include walking, swimming at the local pool, riding your bike, jumping rope or any number of things. You don't always have to pay an expensive gym membership in order to get a good workout. Another recommendation to being successful at weight loss is to pair up with someone or even make a group activity out of it.

The group approach to losing weight can be done in many ways. Some people use their co-workers and put a pool of money on the line for the person that loses the most weight in a certain amount of time. Others might grab two or three of their closest friends and workout together. The key to having a group when trying to lose weight is accountability. Studies have shown that people tend to try harder when they know they have someone to answer to about their efforts. It's also good to tell other people that aren't involved about your attempt to lose weight. Supposedly knowing that people might ask you at any time how things are going will make us want to do well.

One setting that uses the team or group weight loss approach is The Biggest Loser. Although the person that is crowned The Biggest Loser at the end of the show is the winner, the show sets contestants up in teams that compete against each other. Doing your part as an individual on the show helps your contribution to the team, and keeps each person accountable. If you don't get results for the team, you might get sent home during elimination. The Biggest Loser is all about results.

Although most of us don't have to travel our weight loss journey on national television, the approach used on The Biggest Loser can be helpful to anyone. Being able to stick to a weight loss plan because your colleagues and friends will hold you to it can be very motivating for some. No matter what your method, having a support system around you when trying to lose weight can be imperative to your weight loss efforts. Surrounding yourself with the proper motivating people can be the key to a new thinner, healthier you.