The number one most sucessful healthy choice is when we can make a healthy alternative in to a habit.

Working out for only 3 months and then leaving is certainly better than never.  Cutting back on fast food is better than not.  Drinking water rather than soda is a great start. All things healthy work best over the long term.

When you can take a habit of drinking soda four times a day and change your habit to drinking five glasses of water a day you will enjoy long term benifits not just cost savings. 

There are many tricks and mental conditioning techniques you can use to set your mind and body in the right direction without all of the daily stress of doing so.  To climb a mountain you need to take the first step.