Losing weight can sometimes seem tiresome and even impossible. Even if at first you are motivated and excited about losing weight, pitfalls along the way can leave you feeling discouraged, frustrated and ready to give up on your goals. What secrets are used by those people that do manage to lose weight and keep it off? What are the secrets to successful weight loss?

It is important to define a specific, measurable goal before you start losing weight. It does not matter what your desired end result is, whether it be one size or 50 pounds. Having a specific goal will increase your odds for success.

Keep a record of your weight loss every week. Keep a journal to log your weekly weight loss, and compare how you do each week. Use this book to keep track of the food you eat. Record everything you eat on a daily basis to hold yourself responsible for what you eat. Even just the act of writing it down will discourage you from wanting it.

When your stomach is crying out for food, it's very easy to fall into the trap of choosing the wrong thing to eat. You aren't making good decisions about what to eat - you simply want to eat anything you can get your hands on, as fast as possible! It is possible to avoid this by snacking regularly and eating meals at specific times. Take food with you when you leave the house, so you are not forced into unhealthy fast food. You'll spend less on food, and probably eat fewer calories as well.

Eating healthy foods is not the only thing that is important to lose weight; exercise is also a needed element for any weight loss plan. To achieve steady weight loss, both diet and exercise are key. It is a good idea to become involved in activities that give you a workout but are also enjoyable. When you find it too hard to get started when you work out, try to find someone to take walks with. Have your family join you for some exercise. You'll be working out without even trying!

A key step in getting yourself healthy is to throw away all the junk food and temptations in your home. If you have an ample amount of healthful choices on hand, the temptation to reach for junk food will diminish. Simply by removing junk foods from the kitchen and pantry, you'll make it easier to avoid being tempted by the foods that add inches to your waistline.

While you are trying to lose weight, ask your friends for support. You have to do the heavy lifting yourself, but there's nothing like a support network to keep you motivated to lose weight. Call your friends if you need a little motivation to keep going. Your support system can be a huge help all the way through your weight loss journey.