Make your New Year’s resolutions count

It's something we learned at a young age: New Year's resolutions give you focus in the new year. Amidst our hectic adult lives, though, it's hard to hold strong to those goals. Are they even worth making?

The verdict is yes, although they need to be made into long-term goals. According to Tara Caldwell, a registered dietitian at Anders and Dunaway Nutrition Consultants, "New Year's resolutions are a good jump-start to healthier lifestyles if we turn them into long-term, lifestyle changes."

That means pushing ourselves to make our goals last past Easter. However, of the 45 percent of people who make resolutions, only 8 percent are successful in reaching their goals, and 1 in 4 people fail year after year, according to a University of Scranton study found in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

When sitting down to make your resolutions, there are a few things to keep in mind.

LOSING WEIGHT

"I encourage people to set realistic goals. We call them SMART goals," advises Caldwell.

She refers to an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-based. Apply all five requirements to your resolutions this year and you'll find yourself with a list of goals you're more likely to keep.

Now that you have your list, let me guess. You want to lose weight. It's no surprise given that the diet industry market is about $60 billion, according to a Marketdata weight loss forecast report released in December 2014 for 2015. About 108 million Americans are believed to be in the hunt to lose weight. How can you be the one who succeeds? Keep it simple. Don't expect to lose 20 pounds in January. Accept and enjoy that healthier lifestyle changes take time, but yield longer results.

"If you skip breakfast, stay healthy by slowly adding in a smoothie or protein shake," suggests Caldwell.

Quick diets backfire, so stick to simple goals that will make it easier to maintain.

EXERCISING MORE

Exercise is another popular goal. "Staying in shape is all about consistency. People have to set small goals that lead to bigger goals," says Del Schlangen, a personal trainer at Gold's Gym.

Don't get discouraged that your new gym membership doesn't seem to be paying off quickly enough, and don't give up when you can't make it through that tabata class without taking a break. Start with what you're able to handle and build from there.

QUIT SMOKING

Maybe the recent rise in cigarette prices is the push you needed to quit smoking. Still seems difficult?

"Remind yourself why you're doing it and push for that," advises Krista N., a smoking coach at Nevada Tobacco Quit Line. "Take baby steps. If cold turkey doesn't work, cut back little by little. Do what works for you, and, most importantly, never give up."

If you need help and encouragement quitting, visit smokefree.gov for support, tips, and planning.

Whatever your goal may be for 2016, be honest with yourself about what you want to achieve and, with some patience and hard work, you can make this year successful.