How to Stick To Your New Year Resolutions: Weight Loss in 2016

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Losing weight is among the most common items in a New Year's resolution. Unfortunately, shedding the extra pound is never easy because, if it is, this resolution was already scratched on your resolution list few years back.

A survey from the University of Scranton confirmed that weight loss is the most common New Year's resolution. The same survey revealed that only eight percent of the people achieved this goal, Cosmopolitan reported.

Due to this goal, Alexandra Jamieson, author of "Women, Food, and Desire" disclosed that many women fell into the trap of counting calories and depriving themselves in the process during the winter. She explained that dropping pounds in colder months is counterintuitive because during these months our bodies want to keep weight to protect us.

"On top of that, we set outrageous, unrealistic goals that make us feel we're not worthy until we achieve them. And if we have slipups, we feel worse about ourselves than before we made the resolution," she added.

So, how can you stick with your weight loss goal? Here are practical tips to achieve your resolution.

1. Change your mindset. There is no doubt that you want to lose those extra pounds that are piling up in your belly and thighs. You want to see the weighing scale turns counter-clockwise and fit to your older jeans. Unfortunately, keeping this mindset may not keep you motivated enough to pursue your New Year's resolution. Instead, "Make it less quantitative about the pounds and more qualitative about how you want to feel in your body-like having more strength, more energy, and more confidence," Jamieson advised.
2. Focus on More. When you want to lose weight you tend to think of the food that you need to avoid and the number of calories that you need to cut down. In the process, you feel deprived. According to Lauren Slayton, RD, founder of Foodtrainers in New York City, "Many of us eat when we're lonely, bored, or frustrated, so if you can get more satisfaction from your life, you seek it less from food." So, focus on your wellness and happiness. Do more stuff that make you happy to keep your mind off food.
3. Surround yourself with buddies that share the same goal. Adam Rosante, fitness expert and author, advised keeping a fitness family. If you have a group of friends to support each other, the goal will be easier. "The key is to align yourself with other folks who are taking the same journey as you and, ideally, doing the same program. When the going gets tough, you'll be there to motivate and inspire each other," Rosante said per Popsugar.

Remind yourself constantly that losing weight can give you more than a small-size pants or shirt. It can boost your confidence, energy and stamina. So, never give up on your New Year's resolution of shedding that extra pound.