As 2019 comes to a close and 2020 starts anew, all of the goals and accomplishments we wanted to achieve in 2019 that didn't come to fruition make it onto the "New Years' Resolution" list.

One of the most common New Years' Resolutions? Lose weight. And girl, we are going to DO IT this year. (Healthily, of course.)

Losing weight is a conversation topic you just can't avoid. Every scroll down Facebook leads you to a new diet (Keto, Whole30...) and every scroll down Instagram leads you to a new person you wish to look like.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that you need to lose weight, or that you don't need to lose weight. You can be overweight and still be healthy. You can be of average weight and be unhealthy. This is for the girls who want it. The girls who want their jeans to go on with less of a struggle, the girls who know how much better a healthier lifestyle will make them feel. The girls who have been big all their life or who just gained some freshman or post-grad weight or just know it is time to be a healthier version of themselves.

I aimed to start my weight loss journey every single month this year and failed. Maybe you did, too. Maybe you made some progress, or maybe you went backward. Whatever happened in 2018, 2019 is a time to start fresh.

The first step is realizing that you are NOT defined by your weight or your measurements or your jeans size. Whether you lose the weight or not, you are radiant and beautiful and worthy of love from others and yourself. If you choose to use the scale or not, that is your choice. But know that your success at reaching your goal weight is not indicative of your success as a person.

The second step is setting up a plan. Where do you tend to slip up? Do you eat tons of healthy foods but never step foot in the gym? Are you excellent at regular workouts but can't seem to say goodbye to pizza for a few days? Are both of these problems for you? Look at recipes, find easy meals to prep for yourself, get an accountability buddy for the gym. Write down daily workouts, track calories, do whatever you think will work for you. Set up a plan and stick with it. Make this plan REASONABLE, because if you make it too difficult, you'll give up quickly.

The third step is execution. (See? Only three steps, we can do this!) Print out your daily plan so you can see if you miss a day, or use an app like ChangeIt to set up a daily to-do list. At the same time, DO NOT get discouraged if you miss a day (or even a week). Messing up can be unavoidable, but giving up is a choice. Don't make that choice.

Being healthier can help you reach other non-scale goals as well. For instance, if skin-care is something you want to focus on in 2020, regular exercise can help with that. If saving money is something you want to focus on in 2020, not ordering or eating out on a regular basis can help with that. Exercise and healthy foods make me less tired, slower to frustrate and generally happier - all non-weight related benefits of a healthier lifestyle.

From one gal who wants to lose weight to another, 2020 is our year. Good luck as you start this journey, I know you can do it.