According to Statistic Brain, the top five New Year’s Resolutions for 2017 were:

5. Do more exciting things (6.3%)
4. Quit Smoking (7.1%)
3. Better Financial Decisions (8.5%)
2. Life / Self Improvements (12.3%)
1. Lose Weight / Healthier Living (21.4%)

Resolutions are started with the best intentions and with true motivation. However, only 58.4 percent of people keep their resolutions past 4 weeks (and we're four weeks into 2017 already). In addition, only an estimated 8.8 percent of people truly accomplish or complete their resolutions.

Why? Why do people fail to meet their resolutions? Why do people set goals and then never meet them?Because they failed to set clear goals, (I want to lose 20 pounds to decrease my health risks).Because they failed to make their goals specific, (I’m going to lose 20 pounds instead of I’m going to lose weight).Because they didn’t make their goals measureable (create a starting point to compare for progress).Because they expected immediate results, (patience is a virtue!). Because they kept their goals a secret, (if you don’t tell anyone and you fail, no one knows, right?).Because they didn’t schedule time for their goals, (they want to get healthy, but “don’t have time” to workout). Because they have “all or nothing” thinking, (I cheated today so I may as well cheat the rest of the week and start again on Monday).
​I’m here to tell you: DO NOT TO GIVE UP!

Don’t quit. Simply take stock of where you are, re-evaluate your goals (or resolutions), and make any adjustments needed.

For example, after a medical issue last year, the pounds that I had lost previously crept their way back on. I set a goal to get back to my eating plan, exercise regimen (once I was cleared), and get rid of them for the last time. However, I had an accident and fell down the stairs, resulting in a back injury and a concussion. This set my already delayed progress back several weeks. I finally was able to get an MRI, clearing my concussion status, and my doctor gave me permission to "start slow" with an exercise routine. My progress will not be as fast as I had hoped, but it’s a start.

Now, I will need to look at where I am (recovering from an injury, requiring physical therapy for several months), re-evaluate my goals, (I’ll have to decrease the amount of weight I want to lose per week/month due to the amount of physical exercise I am allowed), and make adjustments. I don’t have to quit, or give up. I just need to look at it from a new perspective and understand that there will be a different outcome on a new timetable.

Legendary Vince Lombardi said, “It isn’t whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.”
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Setbacks, issues, and "going off your plan" are not reasons to give up. Simply acknowledge them for what they are, turn your concentration back to your goal, and recommit to it - and to yourself.