New Year’s Eve is a holiday that millions of people rejoice over, while others find it one of the most stressful days of the year. The social stress of bettering oneself with the new year is heavyset on the shoulders of people everywhere. Resolutions may seem harmless, but the pressure of keeping self-made promises can be very hard for many. One pressure, specifically, is dieting.

With the pressures that come with dieting, unhealthy lifestyle habits can form. Dieting, especially for teens, can be even harder than it is for adults according to South football and basketball coach Tyler Vivian.

“I actually don’t recommend New Year’s diets. The goal is lifestyle change. Diets work in the short term but it’s about creating everlasting results. I believe healthy food and healthy habits can limit stress or pressure. Find balance with enjoyment and discipline,” Vivian said.

Part of finding such a balance is having a good attitude about your diet, and yourself. Jack Michaud ’21 takes New Year’s dieting as a challenge to conquer.

“Diets for me are all about the mental and physical side of it. 90% of diets are about convincing yourself that you can do it, that you are capable of making change for the better in the new year,” Michaud said.

On the other hand, Kate Weidig ’22 is not a fan of the pressure that New Year’s dieting brings, as she believes that while diets can help lose weight and get more healthy, the mental aspect is achievable without the diet itself.

“In my opinion people shouldn’t need a weight loss excursion to feel good about themselves. If you want to have a good attitude about yourself, that is something that diets can make harder to happen because of the pressure it brings,” Weidig said.

From allowing treating oneself, to sleeping on an average schedule, Vivian said there are many solutions to help with teen mental and physical needs.

“To start, when you have a craving, chug a glass of water, process and ask yourself if you really want or need it. If you do then enjoy it. Find what works best for you, schedule consistent eating times,” Vivian said. “You can lose weight without working out just by changing your eating habits.”