Even when we're eating smart and making great choices, extra calories can sneak in and derail our efforts. Break out a food journal or use a food-tracking app like MyFitnessPal to make sure you're not overlooking the occasional extras. And whenever possible, measure and weigh your portions to make sure you're accurately counting calories. That 6-oz. salmon fillet might really be 10 oz.; your daily pour of salad dressing might have sneakily doubled in size.

Try eating more "whole" foods -- fresh fruit & veggies, lean protein, reduced-fat dairy, etc. -- and less of the processed & packaged stuff. Also, eat at home more often. Both of these tactics are smart because they lower the chances of consuming excess calories. Packaged foods can be as much as 20 percent off in their calorie counts (mom-and-pop companies are less reliable than big-name brands), and you never really know exactly how many calories are in your restaurant meal (it depends on the person making it). I've also found that cutting back on starchy carbs can really jumpstart my weight loss.

Click here for TONS more weight-loss tips and tricks. Good luck, and let me know how it works out for you!