Did you know the average person consumes 600 extra calories a day between Thanksgiving and New Years?

That bread pudding looks better on the plate than your butt.

Which I’m sure is why many people vowing to “lose weight” or “join a gym” have become the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Why is it that every year thousands of Americans resolve to get fit but by February, but approximately 40% of them never make it?

While resolutions are well intentioned, unfortunately most people fail at keeping them. If only you could waive a magic wand and make your resolution come true, right? The key to making a successful New Year’s resolution is a person’s confidence that they can make a behavior change and the commitment to making that change.

If your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, go on a diet, or just obtain a healthier lifestyle,  the following are some easy steps to help you fulfill your promise to yourself.

1. Choose an obtainable goal

You must be realistic when setting your personal fitness goals. Rather than concentrating on the end result, set several smaller goals. Take it one day at a time. Remember your fitness goal will not happen overnight. Take as many baby steps as you need and know as long as you are moving in the right direction, your personal fitness goals will be achieved.

Set looking like this as your goal and you, well, probably won't meet your goal. (Photo: Marcus Obal)

You’re not going to lose twenty pounds in a week, or get a six-pack overnight. Remember to set yourself up to succeed, not fail.

2.  Don’t change everything all at once

Adapting a healthier lifestyle is all about changing habits, but you can’t change them all at once. Rather than trying to gain muscle, lose weight, and eat better all at once, choose one. Changing your lifestyle all at once is a recipe for disaster. Remember, it’s all about the baby steps, not the overnight success.

3.  Educate yourself

It is the utmost importance to know what you are doing before you start any kind of workout regiment or modifying your diet. You do not want to injure yourself, burn out, or get discouraged. Unfortunately, media has saturated people’s minds on what to eat, what not to eat… Gain muscle this way…. do this workout… do that workout. Your healthy lifestyle is all about you. Everyone’s lifestyle is different. Everybody’s body is different. One way of eating may work for your friend but not necessarily for you. Your co-workers workout regimen may be for his/her goals but not yours. In order to successfully adapt a healthy lifestyle, you must do what is enjoyable to you. You must eat foods that you enjoy. Find exercises that you enjoy. There is something out there for everyone. You just have to look for it. If you do anything that is not enjoyable, inconvenient, dreadful… you will not continue to do it.

When you do research or talk to a fitness or health care professional, ask questions that specifically pertain to your goals.

You've got to do it for the person you see in there and not anybody else.

4.  Do it for yourself

Your fitness goals should be based on what YOU want. Do not let distractions get in your way. Treat your workout time like you would a doctor’s appointment. It is about your health, right?

5. Have a support system

Your support can come from work, home and/or at a fitness club. Without the proper support, these changes will become more challenging as time goes on. Find a friend/co-worker that wants the same “changes” or has the same goals as you. Surround yourself with like-mind people. You will not only motivate each other but hold each other accountable.

6.  Stay Positive

Everyone falls off the wagon at some point.  If and/or when that happens, you should not be discouraged. Remind yourself you are human and “mistakes” will happen. The trick is not having that bad “meal” turn into a bad week/month of eating poorly or missing a workout to being missing weeks/months of workouts. Take the time you need to regroup and then get back into your routine.

Disclosure: Lacey Lee is the manager of The Gym Downtown, which is also an AltDaily advertiser.