5 Tips to Help You Achieve Your Weight Loss Resolution for the New Year

Are you hoping to lose weight next year? Well, you aren't alone. Each year, more people make "weight loss" their New Year's resolution than anything else. Of course, this shouldn't come as a surprise considering the profound ways in which being overweight affects your health. The problem, however, is that only a small number of people ever achieve their weight loss goals. To help you succeed with your New Year's weight loss resolution, we've compiled a list of several tips.

#1) Start on January 1

Don't wait until halfway through January to begin your weight loss journey. If you're going to make "weight loss" a resolution for the New Year, start on January 1. The first of the year offers the perfect opportunity to start fresh with your dieting and exercising. With each passing day, you can rest assured knowing that you're putting forth the effort to achieve a lower, healthier weight.

#2) Share Your Story

Studies have shown that people who talk about their desire to lose weight are more successful at slimming down than their counterparts who don't talk about it. How does this work exactly? Well, when you talk about your desire to lose weight -- whether to friends, family or coworkers -- you'll become more motivated to achieve your weight loss goals.

#3) Beware of Portion Sizes

Pay attention to how much food you eat per sitting. Portion sizes have more than doubled over the past 20 years. Unfortunately, this has led to increased rates of obesity and obesity-related illness, including diabetes and heart disease.

#4) Drink Water, Not Soda

You can't expect to lose weight this year if you drink soda on a daily basis. Soda contains heavy concentrations of processed, refined sugar that will hinder your ability to lose weight. According to one report, drinking one soda per day will add 35 pounds of sugar to your diet over the course of a year. This is concerning because sugar is often stored as body fat, promoting weight gain and obesity.

#5) Exercise Daily

Perhaps the most important tip to lose weight and achieve your New Year's resolution is to exercise daily. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 75 to 150 minutes of physical activity per week. While this is relatively each to achieve if you put forth the effort, most Americans fall short of these recommendations. And as a result, they continue to gain weight while increasing their risk of chronic illness in the process.