You spend the final weeks of December indulging in all that the holidays have to offer an extra glass of eggnog, delicious frosted cookies and lazy days curled up in front of the TV. You promise yourself that youre going to start on that health goal very soon. Come Jan. 1, you vow to be in the gym seven days a week, packing salads for lunch and drinking eight glasses of water a day.

But then it doesnt work. Why? While it can seem motivating to make a New Years resolution to revamp your lifestyle, experts note that this isnt always the most effective approach.

Here are some reasons why looking at January as the time to start a new health regimen can actually sabotage your goals, plus some advice on what to do instead.

The statistics are not in your favor.