The holidays, believe it or not, like it or not, are rapidly approaching. With them comes the fear of overeating or the fear of having to avoid the abundance of tasty morsels. This is all followed by the fear of having to set yet another New Year’s Resolution to lose weight. Agreement can be found among experts that the best way to lose weight and keep it off is to cut calories gradually, eat a balanced diet, and engage in regular exercise.

Since it takes three weeks to make a habit, we have time to make these changes and have them in place before the feeding frenzy begins. Finding a weight-loss program that works for the individual, however, can be a challenge. Some things to look for are a healthy eating plan that cuts calories without eliminating specific foods or food groups, regular exercise, and slow and steady weight loss goals, ideally no more than three pounds per week.

Also necessary are some guidelines to keep the weight off after it is lost. Choosing the right weight loss program takes time, but because it affects one’s health, the effort and wait (and weight) are well worth it. The right program will allow the weight to be lost, kept off, but will also decrease risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions. So let’s go! Let’s get a head start on the resolution!