The New Year always comes with high hopes and substantial goals. New Year's Resolutions are one of the best and worst parts about January. Many people want to kick start their year by eating healthier or working out more, but don't know where to start. We have provided six tips on how you can stick to your diet this New Year.

1.Have Realistic expectations

One of the biggest problems people face is setting unrealistic goals. You want to lose weight or change your eating habits, but you take an all-or-nothing approach and expect results quickly. When you have these impractical expectations and aren't seeing results you want, it is easy to become discouraged and give up. Setting short term, achievable goals can help keep you accountable. It is important to understand that if you really want to change, it needs to be a conscious decision nix your old habits. 

2.Reward Yourself

Just like you would reward yourself for a job well done at work, you can reward yourself for sticking to your diet. This may seem counterintuitive, but indulging every so often, will help you not feel trapped in your new diet. After all, eating one cookie will be better than eating everything else that isn't a cookie. Indulging can be beneficial so long as you don't head in a downward spiral and start to eat poorly everyday. If you do give in, make sure you make up for it by staying later at the gym, or eating less for dinner. It's important to note that the more you give in to your temptations, the easier it will be to do so the next time.

3.Don't Do it Alone

Starting a new diet can be intimidating, especially if you're doing it alone. It is shown that those who have an accountability partner are more successful at keeping to their diet than those who don't. It is even more beneficial if your accountability partner is your spouse. Both parties are then supporting the other in their efforts and agreeing to not have junk food in the house and to go to the gym together. Having close relationships will help you stay on track and achieve your goal.

4.Avoid Temptations

Have you ever walked by an unhealthy snack, seen it, and eaten it, even though you weren't really hungry? We've all done this and it's because we can't resist the temptation of something so delicious when it's right there in front of us. That being said, if you want to stick to you new diet, you must avoid temptations like this by not having those types of foods in your house. The "out of sight, out of mind" mantra works perfectly here.

5.Have Healthy Snacks

While avoiding temptations, it is easier to do this when you have healthy snacks around. Try not to go hungry. Hunger can be one of the biggest problems for adhering to your diet, especially if you're so hungry that anything sounds appealing. If you have healthy snacks around, you can munch on one of those instead of stopping somewhere convenient that's likely unhealthy. Snacks that are high in protein can help curb your hunger until your next meal. Examples could include peanuts, almonds, yogurt, and hard-boiled eggs.

6.Figure Out What Motivates You

Lastly, figure out what motivates you. Before beginning your diet, sit down and seriously think about why you're doing it. Create a list of reasons why you wish to eat healthier and read it often. Read it in the morning before you eat your first meal, read it when you go to sleep, and read it during your weak moments. This will remind you why you're doing it and will motivate you to push forward.

Sticking to a new diet can be hard, but these tips will help you achieve your goal. Adding daily exercise can also increase your chance for success with a new diet. Check out our blog on How to Stick to Your Workout Routine.