On New Year's Eve thousands of locals made a quiet vow to start the new millennium afresh.

Quitting smoking, exercising more or taking the time to stop and smell the roses -- the list of New Year's resolutions made around the Island is virtually endless.

Regardless of what your New Year's resolution is, just be sure to set one that has attainable long and short-term goals.

And for those who have decided to start the millennium off right by dropping a few unwanted pounds, Nutrition Services' Cymone Hollis offers these words of advice.

"Those of us that set New Year resolutions to lose weight, to eat better or to start exercise may have a difficult time committing to the resolution that they have chosen,'' she said.

But Ms Hollis did have some tips for keeping your New Years resolution to loose weight.

"First, set realistic goals. Too many of us set short term goals that should really be long term goals. Use your short-term goals as a stepping-stone to attain your long-term goals.

"Trying to lose more than ten pounds in one month is not a realistic goal,'' she added. "Don't set a lot of goals as you may fail to complete them all and may end up discouraged. Be aware that the weight did not accumulate quickly and should therefore be lost gradually over a period of months, a year or longer.

"Losing between one and two pounds a week is considered safe weight loss.'' Ms Hollis said anyone who losses more than two pounds a week is in fact losing water and muscle mass.

"If you become too anxious about losing weight you become side tracked and discouraged from using the conventional methods of weight loss.'' And she had words of warning for those who are considering trying a `fad' diet.

"Although, quick methods of weight loss are tempting, they can be more harmful than they are helpful,'' she warned. "Fad diets promote certain combination of foods, elimination of foods from food groups or focus on large amounts of one type of food.

"These diets are typically low in calories, nutrients and are extremely restrictive.'' She added: "Because they are impossible to stick to over an extended period of time, the average duration of a fad diet is three weeks.

"Fad diets won't teach you how to eat properly but they will encourage you to eat more and make you feel guilty.'' Ms Hollis said that the old adage -- change is gradual -- was very true when it came to losing weight.

"Try to be patient. Changing eating habits is a good short-term goal to use to reach your long-term goal to lose weight. Changing behaviours that have developed over the years takes time.

"Make one change at a time,'' she advised. "Add new changes to the list as you complete them.

"Focus on changes that you know are possible and attainable for you.'' For more information on fad diets visit Nutrition Services at the Victoria Street Clinic.