Making a New Year’s resolution is the easy part; keeping it is a horse of a different color.

Perhaps you’ve already looked 2014 square in the face and resolved to make a positive change in your lifestyle. Could it be that your burning desire is to lose weight?

For most of us, we start out with good intentions but within a short time tend to revert to the same old bad habits.

With that in mind, I conducted a search of the Internet and came up with some ideas on how you and I can stay motivated. Here they are:

• Try to eat at roughly the same time each day, this will help you to avoid unplanned meals and snacks, which are often high in calories.

• Choose reduced fat versions of foods such as dairy products, spreads and salad dressings where you can. Use them sparingly as some can still be high in fat.

• Walk 10,000 steps (60 to 90 minutes) at a brisk pace each day.

• If you snack, choose a healthy option such as fresh fruit or low calorie yogurt instead of chocolates or chips.

• Look at the food labels and be careful about the manufacturer’s claims. Check the fat and sugar content on labels when shopping and preparing food.

• Don’t heap food on your plate (except vegetables). Think twice before having second helpings.

• Break up your sitting time by standing up for ten minutes out of every hour.

• Choose water or sugar-free beverages. Unsweetened fruit juice is high in natural sugar so limit it to one glass per day.

• Slow down when eating. Don’t eat on the go or while watching TV. Eat at a table if possible.

• Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, whether fresh, frozen or canned.

Happy New Year and best wishes for developing a healthy lifestyle in the weeks and months ahead.

Clif Knight is a staff writer for the Hartselle Enquirer.