Out with the old, and in with the new. New year, new you.

So many overwhelming mottos. New Year's is often a time to reflect on the year's end and strategize on improving your lifestyle. The most popular New Year's resolution is to lose weight, which can be intimidating to some. But it doesn't have to be.

In order to lose the weight you want and keep it off, you must decide why you're losing it, to begin with. Ask yourself the following questions: Is it because of health reasons? Would it benefit your overall wellness if you lose weight? Or is it only because you're insecure and comparing yourself to other people?

Weight loss should be a personal benefit, not something out of spite or jealousy. Sometimes you may feel the only way to achieve personal happiness is by being "thin and beautiful", but you're already beautiful in your own way.

If you're choosing to lose weight because of health reasons and increased energy, then start looking at your diet.

Try to cut back on foods that are high in sugar, as they can cause joint pain and decreased energy throughout the day. Sweeten your coffee with honey instead of packets of sugar.

Or instead, swap your coffee for green tea, an immune system booster that also helps lower cholesterol. Also, try to eliminate processed foods from your diet altogether, as they are made with added salt and sugar, and provide empty calories and no nutritional value to your diet.

The most important thing you can do is drink plenty of water. Your body is made up of mostly water and weight gain can be linked to dehydration. Keep a glass or bottle at your desk, next to your bed, in your bag, car, and on your person as often as possible. Sometimes when you are thirsty, your brain tricks you into thinking you're hungry and therefore you overeat, when in reality you're dehydrated.

It's recommended to drink eight glasses of water per day, but if you decide to workout or are constantly thirsty, you should drink more.

Aside from drinking water, you should really try to get six to eight hours of sleep per night. Cut off all access to electronic devices an hour before you go to bed. Sleep is the best way to keep your weight down, as your metabolism works best when your body is at rest.

Behind sleep is exercise. When exercising, stay hydrated and maintain proper form. Ask a friend to escort you to the gym and help you get in the proper stance.

When dieting, make sure to eat balanced meals with protein, grains, fruits/vegetables, and even fats. Do not let carbs and fats scare you; just make sure they're the good kind (unsaturated fat, complex carbs).

Most importantly, love yourself and compliment yourself on your progress. The best kind of weight loss does not happen overnight. Create a schedule/game plan and stick with it. Start off slow and gradually increase the difficulty of your goals. Lose the weight, not yourself in the process.