It’s so hard not to gain a few pounds in the winter because I’m not as active. To get a head start on spring, three weeks ago I changed my workout routine, cut back on dining out, and reduced my calories to lose those five pounds that were still hanging around since the holidays. Yes, the holidays!

I really enjoy when the weather turns because I love walking outdoors (minus the allergies). Since there is no excuse for not working out, I have to rely upon my boring treadmill in the winter on cardio days. Exercising outside just makes working out more fun.

So, tell me how have you kept the weight off during the winter and how is your exercise routine going to change once spring arrives?

Lots of these programs advocate a very strict purging period of at least seven days, then gradually reintroduce certain foods to determine your “triggers.” I remember a guy who suffered from arthritis to the point of where it was very visible in his hands and he was also in a lot of pain. He went to a holistic doctor who practiced alternative medicine. The doctor stripped almost everything from his diet. Within weeks, he felt better and starting losing a lot of weight. He gradually began eating certain foods again, and gradually the arthritis started returning.

A friend recently told me about her brother who has diabetes. His chiropractor put him on a detox-type program and he has not only lost weight, but also his glucose levels have dropped significantly.

What we eat has a direct correlation to our health. Studies have proven that the old saying, “Garbage in, garbage out” is true. What do you think about these detox and elimination diets?

Have you developed an action plan to help you achieve your goal? You know that saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is very true. What concrete, measurable steps have you taken to ensure you consistently work towards your goal this year? Have you written down your goal and the action plan? What accountability methods are in place to keep you on the mark?

While many might think it’s too late to set New Year’s resolutions, it’s never too late to set life goals.

If I had to summarize the year with one statement, it would be “Life is full of seasons, some with peaks and some with valleys. Enjoy the peaks and grow from the valleys. Every valley has its reason, determine the why, get the lesson, and move on. Each valley only makes you stronger for the next and helps you truly appreciate the peaks when they come.”

What is it that you want to finally accomplish or at least get started in 2011? Losing weight? A career change? Getting that Masters? Nothing is impossible. You are only limited by your own fears – fear of change, fear of hard work, and even the fear of success.

Meanwhile, what about your diet and exercise habits? While the FAQs suggest that the drug is not to be used as a replacement for proper diet and exercise, most people make little to no changes and rely solely on the drug for weight loss. And, if you do make changes, then why take the drug? Just to speed up the results?

Despite the success of some, what happens when you stop taking weight loss drugs? You eventually gain the weight back. Then what? Start taking them again? The emotional roller coaster is very depressing. None of us blew up overnight, yet we want a quick fix. Our society has programmed us to believe there is a pill for everything. And, there practically is. However, only a lifestyle change will provide safe, sustainable weight loss results.