Stay Focused, Not Fanatical

The first day: This time is going to be different. This time, you've got a diet plan you believe in, a house purged of temptations, a newly minted gym membership and sneakers so technologically advanced they practically run a 5K all by themselves. This time, you promise yourself, you will fully embrace a healthy lifestyle. So it's off to the gym for a cardio class, a quick weight circuit, some yoga and a lunch of naked lettuce!

Flash forward two weeks: You haven't been to the gym for a few days and that weekend wedding derailed your no-sugar-ever-again diet. But you'll get back on track... just as soon as you find those sneakers.

Flash forward one month: Gym? Who has time to go the gym? Walking is really a fine exercise and you certainly do enough of that. And the diet? Well, you've read some news stories that question the validity of a no-sugar diet. Besides, is life worth living if you can't eat chocolate-chip cookies? You've decided to eat what you like and just try to limit portion size.

Suddenly, it's swimsuit season and/or a significant event (reunion, party, vacation, etc.): Uh-oh. Wonder if that gym membership is still valid? Time to stock up on lettuce! And hey, what was the name of that diet that got Jennifer Aniston so skinny?

If your latest diet/fitness attempt seems like déejà vu, it's time to analyze what went wrong. Let's go back to "the first day" (without really going back). Notice that everything here looks a little extreme? I'm not just talking about the ambitious exercise schedule. From the top-of-the-line sneakers to the bottom-of-the-food-chain meal, what we have here is an overcaffeinated approach to fitness. It's simply a matter of time before that gung ho, coffee-achiever intensity crashes and burns. I understand the mentality that creates this problem: "Hey, I've got weight to lose and I want it gone! Now!" There's something about that urgency that seems to call for extreme measures. When it comes right down to it, we'd rather make big sacrifices than small changes. Somehow, it's easier to get up a head of steam about a three-day juice fast than it is about skipping dessert. But once that urgency evaporates, the excuses pile up, and you've gotten off track.

Here's how to stay focused:

Reality-proof your diet. Does your diet make it impossible to eat out? Take part in holiday meals and celebrations? Indulge in a planned treat or favorite food? If you can't stick to it at all times, for life, it's not a plan ‑- it's wishful thinking.

Don't innovate, renovate. Been inactive for a spell? Instead of plunging into an entirely new fitness regimen ("I usually run but I've heard Pilates is the ticket to flat abs!"), expand what you're already doing. You can always add novelty and variety once you've reestablished your basic routine.

Be accountable to yourself. Weigh yourself at fixed dates and chart your progress. Vague intentions to walk more or limit

Pace your expectations. If you've got a few pounds to lose, it's a marathon, not a sprint. There will be days when you're really making tracks, days when you're running in place and days when you're sitting by the side of the road trying to catch your breath. So don't just give lip service to the concept of "lifestyle" while secretly hoping for a quick fix. Instead, really wrap your head around the concept of tomorrow, and the next day and the day after that. Pretty soon, you'll find that slow, steady groove that brings lasting results.