If you added a few extra pounds over the holiday or you realized that you NEED to make some changes to improve your health, feel better or get in shape you need a strategy THAT WORKS.

You don’t have to starve yourself, have a shake at every meal, or give up everything you love, but you do have to make some different choices.  Here are 5 easy steps that will help you get things started.

1. Think About What You Eat.

Vegetables and fruits make one heck of a combination on the battle to reclaim both your health and your body. There are tons of options you may never of considered.  Cucumbers, all kinds of creative salads, adding extra vegetables to salads, spaghetti or other pasta dishes, even baked goods like breads, muffins and cakes.

2. Set Realistic Goals

Here is the truth: you are not going to lose 50 pounds in 30 days, but you may lose 4-8 pounds a month safely. Having a realistic goal makes succeeding easier and it makes the process more rewarding. Set a goal that you can meet and celebrate the small victories.  Save those big lofty goals for the long term.

3. Think Long Term

This is a lifetime journey, not a sprint. Make choices that you can stick with and make sure they make sense for your busy lifestyle. Think of small ways to tweak what you already do, don’t jump off the deep end. If you love to indulge make sure you have days built in that you can enjoy a few guilty pleasures. If you love to cook consider taking cooking classes or exploring some new recipes that can accommodate your new healthy lifestyle.

4. Get Active.

The best way to improve your health is to start moving. Walk for 30 minutes a day, start a cardio routine, try yoga. Whatever you do, make it consistent and look for ways to sit less and move more.

5. Make Sure You Keep Measuring

Find ways to measure your efforts and make adjustments. My M400 Polar watch allows me to measure my success and it makes being active more intentional. I know how many steps I take every day, I can measure my heart rate to make sure that my workouts are really doing what they are supposed to do. I can also see how many calories I have burned every day, which takes the guess work out of maximizing my workouts and increasing my calorie burn.

As you eat, pay attention to what you eat and note improvements.  Don’t worry about going cold turkey, just focus on improving and making better choices.

Where you start is not as important as where you finish.  So, set a goal, take baby steps and focus on consistency, not perfection.