Tracey Tann ParkerTracey Tannparker is a full-time nurse in the coronary care unit of Beth Israel Medical Center and a part-time, dual-degree nursing and public health student at Hunter College. Here Tracey explains how she found creative ways to eat right with her busy schedule.

Q: What were some of the changes you made?

A: Since I was working nights and so busy with school, I didn't really have a set time for eating. I was just trying to keep up with the readings and my assignments-I was eating because I had to and not really paying attention to what was going into my body. The school assignment had me focus on what I was eating and how I never had time to have an actual meal. I would just grab something along the way. Constantly being on the move limited my food options, so I started eating soups. You can always sit on a bus or train and eat a cup of soup.

Tracey Tannparker is busy! She is a full-time nurse in the coronary care unit of Beth Israel Medical Center and a part-time, dual-degree nursing and public health student at Hunter College. Here, Tracey explains how she increased her physical activity without going to the gym.

Q: Did you make any changes in your physical activity?

A: I didn't go to the gym or anything like that. Like I said before I wasn't really thinking about it all that much, but once I realized that I had lost a substantial amount of weight I noticed that I was walking a whole lot more and taking a lot of stairs.

Tracey Tann Parker is busy! She is a full-time nurse in the coronary care unit of Beth Israel Medical Center and a part-time, dual-degree nursing and public health student at Hunter College. She found that getting healthy meant that she had way more energy!

Q: Have you noticed any differences in the way you feel after your lifestyle change?

Looking back, I was tired all the time. Now, I have a lot more energy and my step is a lot quicker. When I started school I had a suitcase on wheels that I carted my stuff around in. I remember in the beginning it was really hard for me to pull it. As the months went by, it got easier. I'm moving better, and other things are moving better, if you know what I'm saying (motioning to her stomach).

Tracey Tann Parker is busy! She is a full-time nurse in the coronary care unit of Beth Israel Medical Center and a part-time, dual-degree nursing and public health student at Hunter College. Here she offers her personal tips for getting healthy through small changes and doing things that work for YOU!

Q: What advice do you have for others looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle?

A: Make substitutions and additions to your existing lifestyle. Don't focus too much on a diet plan-like telling yourself that for breakfast you can only eat this and this and for lunch only this portion. It won't work as well and it will be much harder.

Did you make a resolution to be healthier in the New Year?

Having trouble staying on track? It's never too late to make a change!

Most resolutions fail because people set unrealistic goals and don't have a plan in place to make the change.