Those who explicitly make New Year's resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain our goals. Here are 10 steps to ensure your success at weight loss.

A ketogenic diet, such as the Atkins diet, is a diet in which you consume virtually no carbohydrates, instead filling up on protein and fat. Consuming few or no carbohydrates puts your body into a state of ketosis, which can cause unwanted side effects.

When you're in a hurry or don't feel like cooking, fast food often becomes an option for just about any meal.

If you've ever tossed a gallon of ice cream into the trash after a marathon session of trying to zip your pants, you're probably not alone. Ice cream and other snack foods take the lion's share of the blame when the numbers on the scale go up.

Regardless if you are a vegan, omnivore or vegetarian, one thing always remains the same -- you cannot spot reduce weight in your belly. This simply means that dozens of ab crunches performed daily will have little effect on your belly flab.

If you are diagnosed as morbidly obese, you must set time aside to take care of your health. Morbid obesity is linked with a long list of serious health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.

Excess fat in your abdomen should not be dismissed as a natural part of aging. The middle-age spread and love handles increase your risk of developing chronic disease more so than other fat in your body.

Caloric burn is determined by multiple factors. Metabolic demands indicate how many calories are burned to support organ and physical health. Any additional caloric burn is determined by age, weight and activity. Even sedentary activities, such as talking, boast a surprisingly substantial caloric burn.

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, marketed under the trade name Vyvanse by Shire Pharmaceuticals, is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in both children and adults.

Mowing the lawn is a necessary chore, but at least you burn calories when you do it. If you have a push mower instead of a power mower, you gain even more workout benefits.

The grapefruit diet involves adding half a grapefruit to every meal. Several versions of this diet are available online, but they are all very similar. The diet is purported to help you lose a significant amount of weight in a time frame ranging from seven to 21 days.

The accuracy of consumer weight scales varies widely, which makes it challenging to track your progress. This is especially true if you're on a targeted weight loss plan, or you are an athlete in a sport such as wrestling or boxing, where you must reach a certain weight to participate.