Are you making your list of resolutions for the big day of January 1st? What were your resolutions last year? Did you make those changes you resolved to make? If not, are you making those same resolutions again this year? Resolutions generally don't work. They are a set up for disappointment and feeling of failure. You can make changes without resolutions. You can do it. Change your mindset from resolutions on January 1 to a process of change throughout the year. January 1 isn't a magic date for change. Think of your process of change as an opportunity that is available to you all year.

January 1 is not the magic date to make changes. If you don't accomplish your solution from January 1, do you give up? Do you wait until the following Monday to start your weight loss plan? Do you wait until the first day of the month to start again? There is no magic date. You can make changes now. You can begin right now. Create the momentum to lose weight, improve your fitness, or start your plan for overall health.

On December 31st, you're eating in a way you want to change, such as high calorie sugar and fat food items, and then on January 1st, it magically changes and you eat fruit, vegetables, and only healthy choices. Is that realistic? How has that worked for you? As a start date, you can use January 1 to make changes. Don't set yourself up that if you stumble a few days later that you can give up. If you stumble in your process to making changes in your life, pick yourself up right away and begin again. New beginnings are there for you anytime you want.

Make a plan. Write your plan down. Commit it to writing. Take it from free floating around in your head to a journal, on your computer, even a note you put on your refrigerator. Write it down to get it right!

Your plan needs to be specific. As an example, if you want to lose weight, be more specific. A great statement in your plan would be "I will lose 20 pounds" as a goal. You are stating the fact of how much you want to lose rather than the general statement of losing weight.

Do you want to give yourself a timeframe? If so, add a date to your plan in reaching your goal of losing 20 pounds. Just remember, you didn't gain the 20 pounds in one week and you aren't going to lose it in one week. Be realistic and lose the 20 pounds in a healthy way. A big accomplishment is rarely made in one day. You can start your process of change in one day but success is reached with many small steps daily throughout the year.

What is your plan to lose 20 pounds? Are you going to eat differently such as limiting refined carbohydrates, fats, having planned snacks in addition to meals rather than grazing all day? List the steps you're going to take to get to your goal of losing 20 pounds.

Think "what" you're going to do and "how" you are going to accomplish it. The "what" is losing 20 pounds. The "how" is by limiting sugar, fats, and walking 30 minutes four days per week. You can also add a "when" by adding a timeframe in losing the 20 pounds.

In your plan, be prepared for life. Life happens. Unexpected situations will occur and you need to be flexible. That doesn't give you license to put your commitment for change on hold. It just means that things will come up. Be flexible and accepting of any stumbles or falls. Start where you are. Don't focus on the stumble but acknowledge the successes you've already accomplished. Your process for change will be made in many small increments until the change you're moving toward is now second nature and a part of your life. Use the concept of resolutions as a catalyst for starting your process of change. You'll allow yourself to create resolutions and a new beginning any day of the year. This time next year, you'll be enjoying the change you resolved for yourself now or anytime throughout the year.