Looking to make 2010 your healthiest year yet? Many people make New Year�s resolutions that involve weight loss, exercise, and eating better, but many people fall off the wagon before February ever rolls around. Below are five tips to help ensure that you stick to your resolution.

1. Be realistic. No matter what you want to do, you have to be realistic about what you can accomplish over the course of a year. For most people, losing one pound a week is the healthiest way to drop weight, try to lose more and you are likely to become frustrated. If you do not currently exercise, starting with two hours a day at the gym will wear you out and prevent you from going back. You can always add on to your goal, but you will feel guilty if you have to lower your expectations.

2. Plan Ahead. It may not be January yet, but if you plan to hit the ground running on January 1st, it is important to start now. Join a gym, throw out your junk food, or go shopping for healthy snacks to stock your cabinets. Whatever you do, it will help ensure that you do not lose a single day, or, worse, become unmotivated before you even start.

3. Find a Buddy. Most things are more fun with another person, and your New Year's resolution can be too. Having a friend to share healthy recipes with, go on runs with, or go to yoga with makes keeping your New Year�s resolution less of a chore and more fun.

4. Make it Public. Tell everyone you know about your New Year�s resolution. The more people who know about your goals, the less likely you will be to cheat. If you have a blog or webpage, announce it there. Put your weekly goals somewhere where your family can see them. Most people will want to encourage you to reach your goals and may offer you useful advice. Ignore anyone who chooses to put you down; they are only jealous of your progress.

5. Try, Try Again. Some days will simply be better than others. Some days you will have the perfect workout at the gym, and on other days you may not even get through your warm-up. The important thing is not to punish yourself. Beating yourself up is not conducive to reaching your goals. Instead, remind yourself that you are not perfect, and try again tomorrow. You always have another chance to start over, even if you have had a whole month of bad days.