Editor's note: The ladies behind Fit Bottomed Girls, one of our favorite health and fitness websites, have generously shared some great tips to help you stick to your New Year's resolutions.

By Jenn Walters, co-founder of Fit Bottomed Girls

Remember back on January 1 when you were ready to take over the world, conquering one bad habit and replacing it with a healthy one? When this was the year you were going to change? When you were going to get healthy the right way? Does it seem like that was a long time ago? Like maybe somehow life has gotten in the way, and you've lost some of that energy that you were so full of on New Year's Day?

Don't worry. It's normal. This is about the time of year when people start falling off the New Year's Resolutions wagon and gradually climb back up on their unhealthy habits wagon. But, don't be one of those people! The hardest thing about losing weight and getting healthy is that you have to be consistent. Even through the times when it's not fun, when the motivation waxes and wanes.

So instead of beating yourself up for straying from your workouts or healthy eating plan, stay on the weight-loss wagon and follow these five tips to stay motivated after the initial elation of healthy living has worn off!

1. Remember it's a journey. Healthy weight-loss is a slow process that can be frustrating at times. It's not a diet (four-letter word!), and it's not a quick-fix. It's a lifestyle change. And a good one at that! So enjoy the long ride and stick with it. When it comes to being healthy, there is no finish line--just a life to enjoy every step of the way!

2. Avoid the scale for a few days. While you may have dropped a bunch of weight at the beginning of the month, the needle on the scale may not be moving as much now. And that's normal, so don't get discouraged. Stay on track and give the scale a rest for a day or two if it's driving you nutters. If you're eating better and moving your body regularly, your body is changing, no matter what number that thing reads!

3. Create a success and gratitude journal. If your motivation is waning, it's always good to remember to look back on how far you've come. Begin a journal where you keep track of your success--no matter how large or small (like walking your first mile, losing 5 pounds or swapping an afternoon candy bar for pita and hummus). Then every day, in the same journal, write down five things that you are grateful for. It can be the sun shining, a loved one or even a hot bath after a tough workout! When you're feeling low, go back and read through previous entries for an instant pick-me-up!

4. Focus on how you feel. The best part of getting healthy isn't about what you look like (although that's a perk). It's how you feel that really matters. When you feel yourself getting discouraged, think about how you feel now versus how you felt before you started your journey. Now which one feels better?

5. Recommit. This is one area of your life where you definitely don't want to be a commitment-phobe. And if you find yourself forgetting why you set a New Year's resolution to begin with, revisit it. Why did you? Why is it important to you? If you give up, how will it make you feel? Think about these things, and then give yourself a pep talk. Resolve to resolve again and again. You can do it. You will do it!



More about Fit Bottomed Girls: Launched in May 2008, the Fit Bottomed Girls website features multiple weekday posts with fresh fitness content for real women and girls (and even the guys) interested in increasing their health through physical activity and sensible eating. The FBGs pride themselves on their honest reviews and aren’t afraid to tell it like it is.

Jenn (above, left) and Erin met while they were both working for a magazine publishing company in the Kansas City area. They quickly noticed the big similarities in their lives: Both lived in Lawrence, Kansas, while their boyfriends were attending graduate school, and both endured a lengthy 50-minute commute. Once they became carpooling buddies, they realized that not only were they saving the planet one tank of gas at time, but they were also forming a fast and lasting friendship. Among dissecting all aspects of life, from reality TV to their existential crises, fitness was always a topic of conversation on those commutes. Health nut Jenn would keep Erin motivated when workout motivation was lacking, and the two would enjoy noon walks and Zumba classes together. It wasn’t until Erin sadly moved states away that the pair came up with the idea of a fitness blog—effectively marrying their love of fitness with their love of writing.

How do you stay on track when the new year's enthusiasm starts to wane?