Don't wait until the new year to start your diet.  The time to start dieting is now – during the holidays. This advice sounds counterintuitive but if you're overweight, you need to start dieting sooner rather than later.

Many people tell themselves that they will begin their diet at the start of the new year.  Because they've promised themselves that they're going to rectify thier weight situation in the future, many people consider this a free ticket to do whatever they want until the new year begins.  During the holidays, they then  over consume and end up gaining more weight. This then makes the New Year's task even greater.

Consider the price that you're going to have to pay if you allow yourself to be unrestrained during the holiday season. Many people will end up gaining 5 pounds, in December alone, due to an excessive consumption of candy, cookies, etc. If you consider that the average female can only lose one to one half pounds per month and the average male can only lose one and a half to 2 pounds per month, and it may take you four to five weeks just to erase the damage done over the holiday season. That's a long time.

Why create such a hole?  Why not diet during the holidays.  That way, even if you're only mildly successful dieting and still find yourself consuming your fair share of cookies, candies, and treats on intermittent days, the odds are you will at least breakeven on the weight gain/weight loss battle.  Then when the new year starts and the temptations are not as high you can begin your weight-loss assault in earnest.

Besides the above reason, it's never good to procrastinate.  The new year is not a magical time.  The time to form good habits for exercising and eating right  begin today. Do yourself a favor, and start living healthier now.