Losing weight and keeping it off can seem like an unattainable goal. Good intentions aren't always enough to overcome the frustration of those sore muscles from your first workouts. How do you determine the key to successful weight loss?

Once you've made the commitment to lose weight, you need to set a goal. Are you trying to loose weight to fit into some old clothes that you used to wear, or are your goals more ambitious? Are you interested in feeling more fit and improving your overall health? You should set a weight loss goal to give yourself something to achieve.

Record your progress at least once a week. You should only weigh yourself once a week and keep track of your weigh-ins. List the foods you eat in a daily food diary that is part of your journal. You will be more aware of what you are eating since you will be keeping track of it, and this will lead to you making better food selections.

If you get to the point of true hunger, you are asking for weight loss trouble. Once hunger has taken control of your consciousness it is difficult to resist the urge to eat any food in the immediate vicinity, and this food may not be the healthy choice you require. Decide what you will eat ahead of time, and keep sensible snack foods on hand at all times. Whenever you can, you should pack your lunch. Not only will you save money by doing this, you will also remove the temptation of unhealthy foods by not having the need to purchase food on the go.

Eating right and keeping up to your regular exercise regimen is the best way to lose weight. Rather than aiming for exercising daily and burning out, try to schedule 3 or four workouts a week. Make sure to avoid letting your workout routine get stale by constantly mixing things up and adding new exercises. Join a dance club or class, for example, if you already enjoy dancing.

Take all the junk food out of your kitchen. Having only good foods around like veggies and fruits will help reduce some of the temptation. If you do not keep unhealthy foods in your home, you will be less likely to consume snacks that make you put on unwanted pounds.

Let your friends and family know that you have long term weight loss goals. They will help you stay inspired to follow your plan and attain your weight loss goals. Tell them to firmly nudge you to get going again whenever you feel like you may stop.