As the new year begins, today marks the start of many new resolutions.

Each year, the temptation of looking good for summer and finding the ‘new you’ has many of us choosing resolutions that may or may not last as long as we first thought. 

Always a popular choice is the diet resolution, for some this means joining the gym and eating healthy, for others it is a consistency of yo-yo and fad dieting.

The effort it takes to ask for seconds of the Christmas roast compared to working it off later at the gym seems incomparable and it has many of us asking, is a diet really worth it?

Ballarat Nutrition Group dietitian Judy Prendergast said a diet would work if you went about it the right way, with the success of a dieting resolution resting in the hands of good choices and determination. 

“People get to New Year’s Eve and decide they are carrying too much excess baggage and need to do something about it, but unfortunately use fad diets to assist with weight loss, although it is good for the short hand it’s not good for the long hall,” she said.

“People are often missing out on good nutrition and important vitamins and protein.”

Ms Prendergast said food choice and planing were essential to losing weight, with bad eating habits or fad dieting playing a extensive role in the failure of diet resolutions for many.

“People need to keep in mind that losing weight is a long hard road, it takes a lot of effort and will power,” she said.

Ms Prendergast said people needed to look at what they were eating and avoid foods high in fat such as deep fried foods and pastries.

“Look at your problem areas. Planning is important so that people eat good amounts of the right food.”

The Ballarat dietitian said it was important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegies, chicken, fish, and breads.

Sticking to a diet seems to be where most attempts to lose the extra Christmas holiday kilos come to a halt.

“Part of it is boredom because it is the same thing day and day again, it may be too expensive or people can’t find the time.”

Ms Prendergast suggested putting variety in your meals by looking at cookbooks and sharing your progress with family and friends to avoid losing interest in your quest to lose weight.

“Small amounts of brisk daily exercise are also important.”

If a diet resolution is on your tables this year, Ms Prendergast urges those to do it safely and don’t give up.

Judy Prendergast’s tips to help you stick to a diet:

• Make sure you plan your meals, always stick to your shopping list.

• Always have food in your cupboards, this will help resist the urge to get takeaway after a busy day at work.

• Ensure you keep variety in your meals to avoid becoming bored.

• Don’t weigh yourself everyday.

• Tell your friends and family, encouragement will help boost your commitment.