New Year's resolutions you should make based on science -- and how to keep them

Health

Getting a good amount of cardio exercise seems to be strongly linked to many of the biggest benefits of exercise, and if you can do this in the morning, there’s recent research suggesting thatmorning is best time of day to work out to lose weight.To provide motivation to follow-through with your morning run, swim, or ride, experts suggestworking towards a goal (like a race) so you have a concrete objective, training with a friend, and making it competitive.

But the best exercise resolution is one you can keep, so pick something you can stick to

But if you really hate the morning or simply don’t have time then, don’t make a resolution you know you won’t keep. There’s a reason why approximately 60% of gym memberships people start in January never get used – they’re started by people with good intentions but who don’t really enjoy making gym visits a part of their life.

Experts recommend finding an activity that you like enough to make it part of your life.

For some people, that might be rock climbing, for others, running or swimming. Join a soccer league if you miss running around on the field – the team element and competition involved will make you stick with workouts week-in and week-out, which is what you need to actually keep up with your resolution.

If you’re going to try a diet for New Year’s, pick a way to eat healthy that’s backed by science

There’s an abundance of recent research supporting the idea that if you were to try to cut back on one popular ingredient, it should probably be sugar – and not fat, as many used to think.

Sugar consumption is more strongly linked than fat consumption to heart disease and overall risk of death, one major analysis published last August reported.

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