How many times have you started a fitness or weight loss program and did not achieve the promised results? How many stories have you heard from others who also went through the same programs with the same results as you? Why are there those few who do accomplish their goals using the same program?
The problem isn't the programs you chose because they do work. So what's the problem? The obvious answer to that is, the problem is you!
Most people starting diets or fitness programs want to have instant results, success and they want it to last forever while they go back to their old lifestyle and habits. Well the truth of the matter is that's very unrealistic. Deciding to lose weight, get fit and stay healthy is not something you can do for a short period of time, it's a lifestyle change. It's something that you have to be conscience of and work on daily for the rest of your life. For most of us, it's not an easy change especially if you developed bad habits over a life time. Changing lifestyles is hard, but it can be done, people do it everyday. Sure there are those of us who have medical problems, thus making it harder to change lifestyles but it's no reason not to do it, it just makes it a little harder. For those of us who have accomplished our goals, find that maintenance of those goals are a lot harder to achieve.
So now you're asking, what needs to be done to attain my goals? Well that's the real secret, in which I've already touched upon so far. The secret to starting, finishing and maintaining weight loss and health is:

1. Follow A Program
2. Commitment
3. Lifestyle change
4. Have A Plan

Why are these secrets to accomplishing your goals? I'll tell you starting with, Follow A Program. This is very important because you need a map to show you the way and keep you on the straight and narrow. If for some reason you get lost or stray off that course, your map can show you the way back. Pick a weight loss and/or fitness program to follow and stay with it. If for some reason the program doesn't fit the lifestyle change you want to make then choose another that does. Do not do this by yourself until you have accomplished your goals and learned how to maintain it.Commitment is the emotional glue that holds everything together. It is the reason the program you chose will work. It is also the reason that will help you find your way back to the map whenever you get lost or stray from your program's path. If you are not committed to accomplishing your goals then you are just wasting your time because when things get tough (and they will), you will not have the fortitude to continue. You have to be 100% committed to your goals. You have to stop making excuses when things go bad and take the word "can't" out of your vocabulary. Instead, start finding reasons to continue like, how good you're going to look when you go to the beach or how healthy you're going to be for the rest of your life. Find a reason or reasons that will drive you to continue your program no matter what happens.
As I discussed earlier, you have to make a lifestyle change. This means you have to change you eating habits and commit to exercising. You have to let go of your bad habits and develop good ones. It's silly to believe that you could start a weight loss and/or fitness program and not change your lifestyle. Changing your lifestyle is a very crucial step to your success. This is where most people's commitment is tested. This is how you know that you are ready to succeed or not. This is your first and highest hurdle to get over. If you can get over this hurdle the rest should be easier (but not always).
The last and most important secret is having a plan. A plan is your foundation to achieving your goals. The plan is different from your program in so a plan is a list of all the goals you want to accomplish. Goals you can achieve weekly, monthly and yearly. This way you are not always looking at the big picture before applauding your accomplishments. Your plan has to be written, with achievable dates assigned to them. Don't make your short term goals to hard because that's not the point. These goals will keep you motivated and your reason staying committed. Every time you achieve a goal, you should reward yourself with something that makes you happy.
In conclusion, if you follow a program, stay committed to yourself, change your lifestyle and develop a plan with achievable goals you will finally succeed where you have not in the past.