Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty

For the new year you have to be realistic.

Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.

I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years'.

The main thing is to go into the New Year with the right outlook and view it as a lifestyle change, not just a temporary program with a quick turnaround. You need to take several classes and find something you like and can live with. Also, any weight loss program involves diet and exercise, not one or the other. Just take baby steps and don't go crazy.