Holidays are the toughest time of year when it comes to maintaining weight. Our best intentions can be hard to follow when holiday festivities beckon and seasonal stress wears down our defenses. Sometimes we stick to our guns, eating salads before parties and guzzling water instead of eggnog.

No matter how many magazine holiday diet tips we try to follow, though, those holiday pounds seem to sneak up on us. Potlucks at work, hours of cookie baking and countless trays of party food seem to conspire against us, and our best efforts end in defeat. However, as impossible as maintaining our weight during the holidays may seem, we can look forward to the possibility of losing weight when the New Year comes around.

The approach of a new year offers the potential to lose all of the baggage we picked up during the last twelve months, including the extra padding on our hips. Gone are the kids' pre-holiday school parties that always seem to require dozens of cookies. Adults have had their fill of parties by the time New Year's Day is over, which means fewer opportunities for caloric disaster.

Clearing the fridge of all those fattening treats opens up space for fresh, figure-friendly foods to help usher in the New Year. Combining healthy standbys with exciting new foods is a good way to rev up a weight loss plan. Although it isn't a good idea to fill the freezer with completely uncharted territory, experimentation makes losing weight a little more exciting. Exotic spices and unfamiliar snack foods are good ways to try new healthy treats.

Turning weight loss into an adventure is easier at the beginning of a new year. A new set of habits seems to fit naturally with a changing calendar. It's an opportunity to shed the mental and emotional baggage of the last year and start a fresh new chapter in life. Positive new habits are life-affirming and energizing, so starting a healthier eating routine is a perfect fit for that time of the year.

Connecting with others who are trying to lose weight adds another fun element into the equation. Friends and family members attempting to shed pounds will likely be thrilled to share their complaints and victories. Sometimes the people we know even stumble upon weight loss tips we may not have read about in magazines. Knowledge is power, but emotional support is even better.

The desire for shared experience is one explanation for the popularity of weight loss communities, both online and off. Groups and websites allow members to unload their disappointments, encourage each other and celebrate with others when they see results. Weight loss sites also usually offer handy calculators and other weight loss tools, as well as nutrition information and other practical advice.

Easing into a light exercise routine is another way to boost weight loss. It may be too much to think of starting a new diet and getting into a heavy-duty workout regimen, so short walks and extra trips up and down the stairs are a good starting point. A pedometer makes goal-setting easier and offers instant gratification. Exercise cuts calories, tones muscles and provides more motivation to stick to a healthy eating plan.