1. Change the way you describe your goals.
“Call it whatever you want, but don’t call what you’re doing a ‘diet,’ ” says David Grotto, RD, author of The Best Things You Can Eat.
“Diets have a beginning and an end — and that’s the problem.” You will only succeed, Grotto says, when you make a lifelong commitment to a healthier lifestyle.
2. Make your goal meaningful.
Shift your focus from “I want to fit into those jeans” to “I want to feel good and have more energy.”
SLIDESHOW
Surprising Reasons You’re Gaining Weight
Internal goals — like you how feel instead of how you look — tend to have greater staying power over time. Concentrating on the feel-good benefits you’re getting also helps you to stick with something.