Get by with a little help from your friends

Following healthy eating and exercise plans can be tough to do on your own. GET SOME SUPPORT! Find a buddy to walk with or join you at the gym. Compare grocery lists with a calorie-counting pal.

Just Journal

Jotting down your daily diet is one of the best ways to stay on track. Even if you're too crunched for time to record every calorie, just writing a little description of each meal and snack can have a huge impact.

Sneak in Exercise

Even if you can't get a full workout in one day, you can always squeeze something in. Go for a few calf raises while waiting in line at the bank -- or get a walk in before dinner. Do bicep curls with soup cans while you wait for the oven to preheat. Stretch in the shower (careful -- don't slip!). Commit to doing at least SOME physical activity each day.

Be Prepared

Holiday shopping may be over, but you can still have a spree at the supermarket. A stocked kitchen is KEY to success, so print out Hungry Girl's latest grocery list and hit the aisles running (okay, walking). Make sure to consider all your snacking and mealtime emergencies.

Rethink Your Resolutions

One of the main reasons resolutions fall short is because they aren't reasonable. If you're determined to lose 30 pounds by the end of January, you're setting yourself up for failure. If you've never exercised before noon in your life, yet you've made up your mind to hit the 6 a.m. cycling class five times a week, you probably won't do it. Adjust your goals and make them realistic. Who says resolutions need to start on the 1st, anyway?

Keep It Fun

Face it -- if your meal plan is boring and your exercise routine is lame, you're never gonna stick it out for the entire year (let alone beyond that). So add some excitement. Find great new recipes to try out and different forms of exercise.

Rely On Reminders

With all that's going on, you might need some "shoulder taps" to keep you from forgetting your New Year's wish list of personal goals. So buy yourself a cute calendar and fill it with activities. Schedule workouts. If they're written in your calendar, you'll be more likely to do them.

Forgive, Don't Forget

If you slip up and miss a day of exercise or accidentally inhale an entire week's worth of chocolate in one sitting, don't beat yourself up about it. It's okay to acknowledge where you went wrong so you don't repeat your mistakes.