We've all been there. You work out, diet and drop those 15 or 20 pounds, but afterward, your resolve declines. You start to skip your workouts and sneak a french fry or two. Before you know it, five pounds are back.

So how do you avoid this predicament? Keep exercising and weighing yourself, according to a government analysis reported by USA Today.

"Successful losers demonstrate discipline," says Judy Kruger, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control. "It takes a conscious effort to watch what you eat and how much, and to plan and make time to be active for at least 30 minutes a day."

So drop that french fry and get back to the gym. You've got work to do.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com