Whether you went overboard scarfing down Christmas cookies or spent the last four weeks devouring mom's home-cooked meals, one thing's for sure: it's a new year, and with it comes the age-old resolution to lose some weight.

Being home on break can leave students without a routine, giving them free rein to snack uncontrollably. Holiday treats can exacerbate the problem, but Iris Epstein, registered dietitian at the Nutrition Improvement Center in Pomona, N.Y., said end-of-the-year excess isn't the culprit.

"People shouldn't worry what they gain from Thanksgiving to New Year's, but rather New Year's to Thanksgiving," Epstein said. "The average person only gains between one to two pounds during the holidays, so those four weeks aren't the problem; it's the other 48 weeks of the year that is making us obese."

Epstein said people shouldn't feel guilty or punish themselves over the holiday time when they might slip a little, but rather work hard throughout the year to be able to enjoy overindulging during those few weeks.

"Most people look at it in the opposite way," she said. "We have to learn how to fall off the good track for four weeks and do good all year so we can look forward to the holiday time and allow ourselves to be okay with gaining three pounds due to that."

Not everyone blames holiday food for weight gains during break. A lack of things to do and general vacation ennui are also cited as contributing factors.

"At school everything is very scheduled so I know after my class I'll go to the gym and then have a meal or something, but at home nothing motivates me to get up when I'm just watching TV," said Danielle Carroll (freshman-business administration). "Plus, at home I'm always just eating whatever's around and snacking but at school I don't do that often because I have a set time to eat meals."

Alexa Goldberg (freshman-communications) also feels that not having a set schedule makes her eating routine worse at home, and the abundance of family food and leftovers lying around doesn't help matters.

"Although the food at school isn't bad, it doesn't compare to home-cooked meals," she said.

The difference between options and cost of food can also be a factor for some when choosing whether to eat healthy when home. For the freshman Carroll, already having her on-campus meal plan paid for makes eating at home more expensive.

"It's harder at home because you have to spend your own money, so you go for the cheap stuff which is usually unhealthy, while at school its already paid for so its easier to choose from a healthier variety," said Carroll. "You want to hit up all of your favorite restaurants and spots when you're home, too, which makes it hard."

Goldberg said bagels are her "thing," but while she doesn't consume too many carbohydrates at school, at home it's a lot more difficult.

"I really don't like the bagels offered at school, but when I'm home I know I can get a good bagel so I get them a lot," she said, adding that at school she is forced to get up for classes, but at home she stays up and wakes up much later.

Epstein said in order to get back on track and into a nutritional routine, people need to make a mental commitment first.

"It starts in the mind, so they have to make a commitment to themselves first," she said. "Fad diets don't work, and, even if they are a start, ultimately they don't last."

Her suggestion for starting with a clean slate in the new year is to clean out your apartment or house of any foods that could trigger bad habits.

"Restock your kitchen with whole foods, whole grains, fruits and veggies," she said. "Also, look at your bad habits from the year before and learn how to read food labels, control potion sizes and find an exercise routine that you find enjoyable, even if it's hula-hooping or playing virtual sports on a Wii."

Epstein said that setting smaller goals is more realistic, and that, instead of going on a new diet, it is better to look at your bad habits and try to go back and correct them.

"If you eat in the cafeteria at school, start with low-calorie foods like a salad," she said. "But watch what you put in a salad because it can add up to over 1000 calories."

Epstein said successful weight loss is all about awareness, whether it's "changing restaurants that you normally go to, eating less processed foods or counting calories and taking in lower sugar content."

Epstein said keeping a food journal to record what you eat each day is an efficient way to keep track of how many calories you are taking in daily.

"You can sit in a class and write down everything you're going to eat while your professor is speaking," she said.

Epstein warns of one major threat to shedding pounds: weekends.

"If you go out and drink Thursday through Saturday night, set a goal to only drink two out of the three nights you are out," she said. "Cutting alcohol can make a huge difference in calorie intake, and 20 minutes on a treadmill won't help 800 calories worth of alcohol consumption from the night before."

While many students may be dreading the start of another semester, they can look forward to getting back to their weekend routines of empty calories from alcohol, as well as a set schedule during the week.

"Once the semester starts and I get into the routine of my class schedule I will figure out times to go to the gym," Carroll said. "I'm really excited to get back into a routine."