Happy New Year, I'm Monica Reinagel and you're listening to the nutrition divas quick and dirty tips for eating well and feeling fabulous.

So how are those resolutions coming along? One week into January and most of us are still sticking to our healthy diet and exercise regiments.

By the time March rolls around of course,

almost 80% of those well-intentioned plans will have been abandoned.

I think the problem is that we put far too much faith in our

willpower, which as research shows probably won't be enough to power you through the tough

times.

According to researchers Roy Baumister and Kathleen Voes,

most of us have a relatively limited supply of willpower.

And when we call on our willpower to help us resist temptation, we actually

deplete our reserves, leaving us less able to resist the next temptation. Not only that, but the mental energy we spend exercising our

willpower drains our capacity to perform other cognitive tasks. Let's say for

example that you show up at your weekly staff meeting to find that

Linda has brought a batch of her famous homemade chocolate chip cookies to the meeting.

The cookies smell delicious, and you know from previous experience that they

taste every bit as good as they look and smell. Nonetheless, you're determined to

stick to your resolution to avoid sweets.

90 minutes later, the meeting is finally over and you've made it through without a single cookie.

Good for you.

Unfortunately, the effort it took not to eat those cookies during the meeting

made you less able to concentrate, problem solve, and to contribute at the meeting.

And then, on your way out of the conference room you walk by a bowl of

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