With the new year upon us, almost every person has a resolution to eat healthy and work out. Wanting to lose a few pounds and get in shape is at the top of every one's goal list, and I too had this ambition.

For one month, I decided to eat clean and exercise daily. My goal was to eat low carbs, sugars, and fat — essentially, I'd only eat vegetables, fruits, and protein. The first two days were rough, but then the first week was over and I thought I'd be able to make it at least a month no problem. However, once I reached the fourteen-day mark, my diet plan was scrapped. I didn't quite make it as far as I'd hope, so here's three lessons I learned that might help you succeed in your diet.

Moderation

My biggest struggle when it comes to clean eating is finding a balance. I either eat the whole bag of chips, or can't have any. However, the biggest key to success in a diet is moderation. If you tell yourself you can't have any of your favorite foods ever, you're only going to want them more. Where if you decide to treat yourself to a cookie once a week, you will have something to look forward to and motivation to eat clean the rest of the week.

Eat Consistently

Although most of us grew up with the routine of eating three full meals a day, in order to boost your metabolism, you should really eat 7-8 small meals a day. Finding the time to eat multiple small meals will seem like you are snacking too much and will gain excess weight, but as long as the meals are healthy, your body will adjust and help burn calories faster.

Don't Obsess

When you're on a diet it's easy to think about all the foods you'd rather be eating. However, if you create a meal plan and stick with it, following it won't be as difficult. Don't stress over all the little details and take it on day to day basis, seeing results takes time and it will get easier!

In the end, I'm not going to completely give up on my diet I'm just going to make it more realistic to my lifestyle. While in college, I'm going to want to get Starbucks with my friends and if that means having a little extra sugar that day, it's okay. One of the most important things is to be happy and if that means eating chicken wings with extra ranch once in a while, DO IT.