Mankato Free Press, Jan. 21

It could be that your resolution to lose weight and be healthier got tossed out with the last empty bag of Reese’s Bells.

Don’t despair. Improving your health doesn’t have to be tied to New Year’s. We’re only entering the fourth week of 2018 and any day is a good day to evaluate how to make your life better. For one thing, as temperatures begin to moderate and we gain more sunlight every day, it will be less challenging to move around outside.

A benefit to tackling better habits these days is that the information keeps getting better. Successful weight management no longer means starving yourself, frequently “cleansing” or only drinking protein shakes. As more studies reveal how moderation and mindful eating (vegetables, vegetables, vegetables) are key, it’s clear that complete denial of real food is not a long-lasting strategy.

For many, a healthier lifestyle means more focus on better food choices more often, portion-size awareness, regular exercise, and use of easy-to-use tools that help track calories and exercise. Achieving optimum health is about adapting a smarter lifestyle, not jumping from one fad diet to another.

The percentage of adults age 20 and older who are overweight or obese is 70.7 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With the growth of obesity and type 2 diabetes and the complications that go with those conditions, figuring out a plan to scale back weight gain can have measurable health benefits.

As with any dramatic change in routine when it comes to health, talking to medical professionals is advised. Dietitians and nutritionists have specialized training in food science and can help people develop individualized plans. They also offer general advice through a number of mediums, including a regular column in this newspaper.

Getting discouraged is natural when it comes to discarding bad habits and adapting good ones. It takes time and patience. That’s why having a support system can be so helpful, whether that means an online app that encourages you with email when you log exercise minutes or record calories, doing morning walks with a friend, or joining a group or class that has similar goals.

You don’t have to tackle your objective alone. And put down that clearance bag of holiday candy — or at least share it with as many people as possible so your portion size is realistic.