If you do not have the proper tools to help you succeed then most of us fall short, right. Well, here are some helpful tips to make sure you are staying on track. It takes hard work, commitment, a healthy eating plan—and a few secret weapons.

Have a support system:
Whether it's your family, a workout buddy, friends on the Message Boards, having someone you can lean on when you're struggling can make all the difference between making it and giving up. Ideally, you can rope in your cousin, sibling, or BFF to take the journey with you. That way, you'll support each other.

Keeping Track of your habits:
How many calories do you think you ate today? 1,500? 2,000? 3,500? No idea? When you don't follow a meal plan or track the foods you eat, it's hard to pinpoint how many calories you're eating and if you need to adjust those numbers to gain, lose, or maintain your weight. Consistently, studies show that when you log your food, you are up to twice as likely to lose weight. Measure your portions and record everything you eat, and you'll see results soon enough. The same goes for your exercise.

Adding supplements to your diet:
While a solid, nutritious diet including fresh fruits, veggies, lean protein, and "good" fats goes a long way toward helping anyone reach their fitness goals, sometimes you need to hedge your bets a little. That's where supplementation comes in. When you're eating at a calorie deficit, you might not be able to get all the vitamins and minerals you need in a day. Incorporating a multi-vitamin into your daily tasks is highly recommended.

I hope this has helped. Tell me how you have implemented these into your daily routine.