(The following article is comprised of suggestions. Please contact your physician before starting a new regimen.)

Let’s see a show of hands of who has made new year’s resolutions to lose weight? If you didn’t raise you’re hand, you’re probably lying.

We’ve all been there.

Bought gym memberships that we never ended up using, counted calories or points then gave up in exasperation because we lasted all of 4 days on it, spent hundreds of dollars on new home workout videos and equipment just to collect dust. How come some people can lose weight or stay healthy yet we have a hard time even getting started? Well, for starters, it’s hard for everybody else too.

The first thing you need to kickstart your road to a healthier you is: HAVE REALISTIC GOALS.

You’re not going to shed 20 pounds in 2 weeks, there’s no miracle pill (regardless of what TV advertisements say), and no amount of detox diets is going to turn you into Michelangelo’s David. OK. With the bad news aside, here’s the good news: GO EASY ON YOURSELF!!!! Don’t hold yourself to the unrealistic goal of losing 4-5 pounds a week, rather aim for 1-2 pounds a week, which is a much healthier pace to shed those pounds!

Start out small. “I’ll walk twice this week” is a good goal to get you started. If you want to start running, run from telephone pole to telephone pole, NOT sign up for a marathon for next month.

Small changes will reshape your lifestyle and engrain these little good habits to add up to results that will last longer than some pill.

Second: ENLIST A BUDDY TO KEEP YOU ACCOUNTABLE.

This one is going to hurt a little bit. Accountability. The A word. But this is going to be your best friend throughout your journey. Have someone keep you accountable on the goals you set. If you tell someone, write it on the fridge, post it on Facebook everyday, people will know that you’re trying to reach this goal and will check up on you during your bad days, and also share in your success when you reach those milestones!

Ask them to be hard on you. To be your moral coach. Because no one reached their goal by having someone pat them on the head and offer them ice cream instead.

And lastly, and this one is probably the most important: PORTION CONTROL.

Have you seen those commercials that claim you can eat whatever you want and lose weight? Well, technically you can! You want to go out to dinner? Go, but ask them to box up have of your plate before it even reaches your table. You want ice cream? Have a couple bites.

If you’re a traveler, you can attest to the different portion sizes in other countries. Why do the French get to eat French food where the main ingredient is butter, and still not be obese? PORTIONS.

Here’s a tip: the amount of food on your plate should not be more than the size or your hands with your fingers close together.

Here’s another tip: drink water. And lots of it. Take your weight, divide it by 2 and that’s how many ounces you should drink every day.

Here’s one more tip: (We’re blowing your mind!) DON’T GIVE UP. Just because you had a bad day, you slipped up, don’t throw in the towel. Just because you get a flat tire, doesn’t mean you slash the other 3. Change something. Keep it going.

Don’t let 2015 be forever archived as another failed year at reaching the goals you want!