Foregoing fat for a profit.

• Author: Kern, Merilee
• Position: Mind & Body

WHILE EVEN the most well-intended health-seekers strategize their diet and fitness approach at the top of a New Year, far too many revert back to their bad habits and poor choices that sabotage their weight-loss endeavor and undermine their overall well-being. However, one need not wait until the next shiny New Year rolls around for a renewed resolve to shed those unwanted pounds, as there is no better time than right now to make healthful, life-altering adjustments to the daily routine. Even just a few simple, but key considerations can make all the difference between a successful--and even profitable--weight-loss endeavor and a wellness pursuit that falls far short.

Jimmy Fleming, cofounder of Healthy-Wage--a purveyor of corporate and team-based weight loss challenges and financially-induced diet contests for individuals--offers these insights on five critical elements needed for the best chance of success with a weight-loss initiative:

Map out specific goals and time frames. You are far more likely to achieve your diet resolution if you spend a few minutes thinking it through. Sit down at your desk and dedicate even just 10 minutes of your life to strategizing your resolution. Put pen to paper or, better yet, send an e-mail to a friend or family member, and make a list of the things you are going to do to change your weight. Simply stating that "I am going to lose weight" is not nearly specific enough, but it makes a good headline at the top. Write down a date when you will achieve your first goal. This date should be in the near future--one month is a good bet.

Now, make a specific, realistic goal. Most weight specialists agree that you are most likely to succeed if you do not starve yourself. Instead, plan on losing one to two pounds per week. In fact, setting a modest goal--say, one pound per week--can spare you a lot of hunger and stress. You even might forget you are on a diet. Suppose you choose 1.5 pounds per week and a one-month goal date: your goal will be about six pounds--piece of cake (so to speak). Put your goal and goal date on your calendar (e.g., "Weigh 150 pounds" as an entry for March 31).

Go back to your piece of paper, or e-mail. Under your goal and goal date, write down the word "food." Ask yourself: what exactly is my eating plan? Are you going to follow a particular diet? If so, when are you going to start? Your answer should be "right now." Do not be afraid. This is going to be great. If your diet requires that...