By Peggy Edwards

It's a sad truth that some dieters will be successful while others will not. Why do some people suffer from endless setbacks and yo-yoing weight loss while others manage to not only lose the weight but keep it from ever coming back? Don't you want to know how to be part of the second group? Here are a few habits that you should develop to help you lose weight and keep it off:

1. Weigh yourself at the same time each day. There are some who will tell you to not to weigh yourself often while you are dieting. This is largely because the scale can easily be manipulated by things like water weight. If, however, you weigh yourself at the same time each day, you are more likely to get an accurate representation of your current weight. The Annals of Behavioral Medicine published a study that proved that people on diets who stepped on the scale each day lost more weight than those who didn't and were better able to keep the weight from coming back.

2. Keep a food journal. By writing down each food you eat during the day, you are more likely to stay motivated and stick to your diet. You are less likely to binge when you force yourself to write down every single thing you eat. It allows you to keep on track and see what happened if you do mess up one day.

3. Find a fitness routine you enjoy. When you are doing exercises you like, even if it is something simple like going for a long walk with your dog, taking a bicycle ride or playing a game of tennis, you are more likely to do the exercise on a regular basis. The regular exercise will help quicken your weight loss and increase your health. Even better, you'll be better able to keep the weight off.