About half of all American adults (48%, according to a Marist poll taken in December 2010) say they are at least somewhat likely to make a new year's resolution in a given year. Their top new years resolutions – to lose weight (19%), quit smoking (12%) and exercise more (10%). Sound familiar?

The Marist poll also found that while 65% of people who made a resolution in 2008 kept their promise for at least part of the year, 35% never even made it out of the gate. That’s likely because that burst of motivation that comes with a new year often fades as our days fill up with commitments as they year flies by.

Sticking to Healthy Eating Habits in the New Year

If your goal for 2012 is to get fit and commit to healthy eating habits, you might want to consider becoming a vegan. Vegan benefits can make you healthy for life, protecting you from obesity, heart disease and cancer. Take your new years resolutions to the next level by transforming your life with a plant-based diet as part. Here are some tips to help you stick to it:

Do Some Research

Start reading more about vegan nutrition and vegan benefits. Planning a balanced vegan diet should be your number one priority. Surf the internet, read some books and in no time you will be an expert at this.

Write it Down

Write everything you want to achieve by becoming a vegan. Make a list of all the benefits you want as a vegan. Start your list with the phrase: By choosing to be a vegan I am… Also, write every obstacle you might face along the way. This will make you more aware of the challenges that are coming your way, and help prepare you to tackle them so you won’t get discouraged and drop the towel.

Don't Kid Yourself

When it comes to staying on track with your top new years resolutions of becoming a vegan, the most important thing is to be honest with yourself. Decide in advance how far you can go – and stick to their limit, no matter what. To start, have one vegan meal a day, if that's what you deem achievable.

Don't Scare Yourself

Research shows that in the long term, the pleasure of victory is a better incentive than the agony of defeat. Punishment is a poor motivator. It sets you up for failure. If all you do is punish yourself for failure, you won't stay motivated to change. Instead, reward yourself for sticking to your limits and focus on the benefits of changing to a vegan lifestyle. For instance, if your goal is to complete one full day of vegan eating, treat yourself to something you want like a new pair of shoes or a DVD each time you successfully complete a goal. Success tends to breed greater success. If you do slip back into old patterns, avoid recriminations. We all make mistakes. If you keep working at it, you will get better over time.

Get Better Role Models

Whether we realize it or not, people tend to imitate those around them. That's why the latest research shows that things like happiness, quitting smoking and obesity can spread like a wildfire through social networks. Surround yourself with positive people who can also be role models. Social support is critical to changing all kinds of behavior especially healthy eating habits. When it comes to achieving your new lifestyle and vegan benefits, good friends can not only help you through setbacks but also help keep your New Year's resolutions from ruling your life.

Put these simple steps to work when working to achieve your top new years resolutions (no natter what they are), and you’ll start seeing positive results. And if becoming a vegan happens to be one of your goals, you’re making a decision that will undoubtedly make you healthy for life. With an ever-growing body of research indicating that a vegan diet can aid in reversing the symptoms of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and cancer, you’re doing wonders for your health even if you cut meat and dairy out for one day.