The new year is upon us and many of us will be making resolutions to improve ourselves. While self improvement is always a good thing to ponder, you might want to take some time to remember previous years and how successful you were in meeting your goals. Statistics show most people don't do so well. Hey, I'm the first to admit I've been horrible at my resolutions. But instead of just throwing in the towel, let's look at the reasons we aren't sticking to our goals. By understanding how to set proper goals, maybe you and I can both reach some significant self improvement goals in 2014.

Now that the bulk of the holidays are over, you might be noticing some bulking of the waistband. If you're like me and you've been indulging in some things you wouldn't normally eat, a healthy detox smoothie might be just the thing to jump you back into healthy eating.

Workout headphones, let's talk about them. I have gone through countless sets of different brands and styles of things that deliver music into your ears and I've found something to be very true: You need different headsets for different applications.

Ah, the holiday appetizer table. Filled with all sorts of goodies that have been passed down for generations - or at least since the 70's. Sausage balls, pigs in a blanket, lil' smokie franks in bbq sauce, crudites, and the ever popular shrimp cocktail. While a vegetable/dip platter and shrimp cocktail might very well be the healthiest thing you eat all season, I've got a serious beef with what people do to shrimp in shrimp cocktail. It's usually overcooked, rubbery, and flavorless. Who knows how long it's been sitting out since it was probably bought preassembled at the grocery store. Don't deny it, I know you've eaten it. I have too, I'm ashamed to say.

While we are celebrating the holidays and probably eating more than we should, many of us are already planning how we're going to lose some extra pounds in January. There's a good chance one of your New Year's Resolutions is to lose weight and get healthier. 

Over the holiday season I've been trying to reinforce the fact that festive food doesn't have to be unhealthy to be delicious. Even casseroles and stuffing can be done in ways that we cut out the unnecessary fat, calories, and preservatives and retain even more flavor than the unhealthy originals.

This is not by any means your standard running shoe review. First off, it's not about any particular shoe at all, but rather about finding the right shoe. Second, I'm not an avid runner and have little experience with running more than a few miles. Third, I'm a big guy on a big frame that is concerned about the effect of running on my knees.

Simple, easy, fresh. Over the years I've learned the best dishes I make and want to eat on a regular basis involve those 3 factors. Roasted vegetables are one of my favorite things to do since carmelizing them in a bit of healthy oil brings out the flavor of your food while still retaining the health benefits.

Your grocery store carries all types of fresh veggies that are great for roasting however you always get the best flavor from vegetables that are in season and grown locally instead of shipped from across the world. Wintertime in the U.S. means that alot of vegetables aren't being grown nearby since the cold weather keeps that from happening so it can be challenging to find the freshest foods.

In my last few health tech reviews, I've talked about the passive tracking of Moves as well as the health app titan, MapMyFitness which are both extremely well developed apps that offer different features for different types of users. The last part of this trifecta of health apps would be amiss if I didn't talk about RunKeeper, yet another amazing health tracking app.

The big turkey day is over and I'm worn out. I cooked on and off for 3 days, I'm bloated from too much great food, and cleaned till my fingers are nubbins. Lining up at midnight for Black Friday? Hah! I'll leave that for the masses.