It’s the day after Christmas, and I ate a ton. Some of my gifts are also intended to contribute to the battle against the Bulge. The gifts also included a box of sweets and a fifth of Scotch, both of which I will consume, but slowly and most importantly with accurate calorie tracking in my journal. I am a firm believer that you can eat whatever you want as long as you track the calories.

My spouse, as always, produced more food than our crowd could devour, so the fridge is full of leftovers. Some land mines hidden in there along with some fruits and salads that are in the most virtuous way.

Again, the key is to eat sensibly and keep track of calories. We allowed a bit of a burst yesterday, and the hormonal response to the feast may have raised our metabolism, which may be a good thing, if we shut down the intake today and stay on track at least until New Year’s Eve.

Now there is a week to go until the next event, New Year’s Eve and Day. This could well be a repeat for many people. Which makes the week in between the most important to batten down the hatches and get back on the show.

It’s also time to start thinking about the new year. New Year’s resolutions are notorious for being made and forgotten. That doesn’t mean your resolution should be written off as unlikely to succeed. It’s yours to make, and yours to keep. And you can make it work.

Think strategically about what step or steps you will take to stay on task. A daily walking regimen, keeping a daily calorie journal, and attending weekly support groups have all been great devices that have helped me. They may also be appropriate for you. But it’s not for me to say.

It is up to you to choose and commit. Use this week to reflect on this idea in the back of your mind. Think about how you can stay on track in whatever you decide to make a part of your new year.

I lost 75 pounds last year. (more or less) Significant. What actually happened is that I became healthier. And that’s a good thing. I can’t tell you how much better it makes me feel. It has also set the stage for a new optimism that allows me to think about new horizons for the coming year in other areas of my life.

I have not overcome my battles with my waistline, and my frequently failing willpower. But now I have had enough successes and enough welcome praise to wish for continued success. By sharing my progress with you, I hope to keep my battle in mind, as well as inspire others.

This is not easy, but it is possible. As I have said and will repeat often, the first step is to decide to do it. For those of you who can read this, I hope you decide to do it today, and make it formal on New Year’s Day in your own way. Next year is going to be wonderful.