The wrapping paper has been gathered up, and the egg nog is finished.

The end of the year approaches, a time to contemplate taking steps to eat better, weigh less and exercise more in 2016.

To make sure your health resolutions last longer than New Year's champagne, try breaking down your plan into little steps, said Lezlee Shulik, a registered dietitian at Butler Memorial Hospital for more than 25 years.

“First of all, taking what you are doing now and doing a complete 180 and sticking with it ...” is difficult, said Shulik.

“People that set their sights too high can stick with it a short time but they don't become habits,” Shulik said.

“Say you want to lose 10 pounds. What does it take to lose 10 pounds? Break it down into things you think you can do,” she said.

Shulik said the decision to lose weight is more than one decision.

“You may have to shop differently, cook differently, exercise, turn down social invitations,” she said.

“You have to do it in little steps. If you don't go to the gym at all, start going once a week. If you go to the gym once a week now, start going three times a week,” Shulik said.

“We have a lot of tricks to help them stay on track,” said Linda Cunningham, owner of Jazzercise in the Greater Butler Mart for 25 years.

“For motivation, you must schedule it in the beginning. If you start a class in January, you should schedule your appointment like a doctor's appointment,” said Cunningham. “Write it on your calendar.”

“But don't obssess over it. Don't go every day because you will burn out,” she cautioned.

“It's important to go at a set time say, 9:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. After a couple of weeks, it becomes a habit,” Cunningham said.

Your New Year's resolutions should be about more than exercise, said Sandy Ihlenfeld, healthy living associate director with the Butler County YMCA.

Ihlenfeld said the best thing people can do is to resolve to lose weight in 2016.

“Losing weight is not exercise specific,” said Ihlenfeld. “Losing weight changes tons of health risks.”

Ihlenfeld also said to start small.

“Choose one thing and work on one thing only. Get on the scale every morning. Get an idea of your weight. You can start by eating smaller portions,” she said.

“Losing one pound a week is plenty. If you lose weight fast, you are losing bone and muscle,” Ihlenfeld said.

The same small changes work when resolving to eat better, said Shulik.

“Dietary wise it's the same kind of things. Start in small increments that are going to be doable,” she advised.

For example, she said, resolve to eat more vegetables. It's easy if you use frozen vegetables, she said. They're just as good as fresh vegetables and don't spoil.

“Add them to soups, stews and stir fries,” she said.

“Resolve to make a home-cooked meal twice a week,” she said. “Start with two meals a week. See if you can improve on this until it becomes more of a routine.”

Shulik said, “Look for alternatives to red meat. To get protein in your diet, use chicken or turkey, dried peas or beans or soy products. We as a country eat entirely too much red meat. Too much is detrimental to the heart and linked to certain types of cancers.”

Both Shulik and Ihlenfeld said making small changes and sticking to them can turn them into healthier habits.

“Studies say the average time to make a new habit is 66 days,” said Shulik.

Ihlenfeld said studies she has read show 46 percent of people with new resolutions are still on track after six months.

The key to success, Shulik said is not to consider a resolution an all-or-nothing proposition.

“Life gets in the way. If you have to work late and can't eat at home. Just because you have fast food that night doesn't mean you've failed,” she said.

“Make a healthier choice as soon as you are back on track. You don't have to make it all or nothing,” Shulik said, “You have to allow yourself some wiggle room.”

Sandy Ihlenfeld, the Butler County YMCA healthy living associate director, lists ways to improve your health in 2016:Exercise“Anything that increases the heart rate above its resting rate,” she said. “You need 150 minutes a week of exercise to change health. Cut that up any way you want, 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there. The key is moderate intensity. When talking to another person, you should be slightly winded.”Cut stress“A little bit of stress can give you energy. Chronic stress creates risks for insomnia, heart disease, depression and leads to obesity.”Stop smoking“It's one of the hardest habits to quit, but it also decreases a ton of health risks and saves a ton of money.”Cut back on alcohol“One glass of wine a day is OK. More than that leads to more than that. Alcohol affects neurotransmitters in the brain and increases depression, liver disease, heart disease, memory loss and stroke.”Get enough sleep“The average person should have 7 to 9 hours a night. Lack of sleep can lead to increased calorie intake. When bodies are tired they are looking for something.”Give back“Happiness is increased when we give to others.”Stay in touch“People with strong social ties live longer. Loners don't do as well.”Go back to school or learn something new“Boost your brain power. A lot of aging is just lack of use of both muscle and brain. You have got to keep thinking and keep moving.”Travel“Anything that takes you out of your typical surroundings can boost creativity and be revitalizing.”Save money by making healthier choices“Car pool, ride a bike, make a grocery list.”