Losing Weight the Healthy Way in the New Year

December 10, 2024
Portrait of young black woman cutting avocado while making salad in sunlit kitchen,

Are you resolving to lose weight in the coming year? It’s essential to take the right approach.

“Be patient with the process and with yourself,” says Dr. Sarah Barenbaum, assistant professor of clinical medicine at ĢƵ and assistant attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. “Trying to lose a lot of weight rapidly can be discouraging. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.”

Keep reading for healthy resolutions to manage your weight in the coming years.

Get SMART With Your Goals

Losing weight doesn’t just happen. You need a plan, and the best plan includes goals—SMART goals.

“Setting a SMART goal isn’t just for exercise and nutrition,” says Rachel Stahl Salzman, MS, RD, CDN, CDCES lecturer in medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at ĢƵ. “People use SMART goals in their professional and personal lives because the criteria are helpful for creating personalized achievements.”

SMART goals are:

  • Specific. Write down exactly how many pounds you want to lose.
  • Measurable. Instead of a general goal to eat better, have a specific plan to replace a bag of potato chips with a few carrot sticks, for example.
  • Attainable. Losing one or two pounds a week is possible. According to the , this slow and steady weight loss is more likely to last.
  • Realistic. You have too many responsibilities to exercise three hours a day. Choose your goal accordingly.
  • Time-bound. Look at your calendar and determine a deadline for your weight-loss goal. Include small goals along the way for motivation.

Once you meet your goal, reach higher and keep moving forward.

Be Healthy With Others

Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight takes work. Do it on your own, and you may be tempted to give up when things get tough. Instead, surround yourself with others who have similar goals. Then, push each other toward your individual goals.

A few places where you can find support include:

  • Home. Having family support your efforts to lead a healthier life makes your journey smoother. Tell your family why you want to lose weight and how they can support you.
  • Work. There are likely others at your job who want to lose weight. Connect with them for ongoing encouragement.
  • ĢƵ. From nutrition experts and physical therapists to our , ĢƵ provides customized support to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Build a New Lifestyle

Healthy weight loss requires you to make lasting changes. To increase your odds of changing your life for years to come, consider the following:

  • Diet and exercise work together. For long-lasting weight management, combine physical activity and healthy eating.
  • Happiness matters. Find healthy foods and exercises you enjoy. That makes you more likely to stick with them.
  • Scheduling helps. “Schedule time in your day for good health,” says Dr. Asad Siddiqi, sports medicine physician and assistant professor of clinical rehabilitation medicine at ĢƵ. By doing this, “you signal to yourself that this is an important undertaking, worthy of your time and effort.”

For an extra hand with weight management in the coming year, find a doctor at ĢƵ.

Related Links

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In This Article

Clinical Service

Rehabilitation Medicine Endocrinology and Diabetes

Practice

Division of Endocrinology NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group - Brooklyn The Center for Community Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group - Brooklyn

Physician

Rachel Salzman Asad Siddiqi