And a Happy New Year

One reason most New Year's resolutions fail is that we try to do too much.

Looking back at the old year, we may be pleased with our accomplishments, but we also remember, all too clearly, our failures and disappointments. Another year older, we feel increasing pressure to reach our goals before it is too late.

With the best of intentions, we make those lists. Lose 10 pounds. Organize all the closets. Find a better job. Do Date Night every week. Finish the novel. Make love more often. Take a French cooking class.

It's overwhelming.

Losing Weight Peacefully

Weight-loss diets usually don't work. Yes, it is possible to lose weight by following a plan of some kind. Whether it's a crazy, rapid-loss fad or a nutritionally sound, medically supervised program, almost any kind of diet will work for a while. But the results don't last.

No matter what method they use, the overwhelming majority of dieters regain the weight within two or three years, and many become even heavier than they were before.