Weight loss and maintenance is as individual as you are. What works well for one person may be sheer torture for the next. Hitting the gym every day at 6 a.m. may keep one person on track while causing the next person to shriek in horror. Luckily for the millions of us out there trying to lose weight and keep it off, there are also plenty of options.

Find what works for you and stick with it until it either no longer works for you or until you get bored with it; then move on. There’s always another technique just up the road. For some people the idea of living and breathing food and exercise keeps them motivated and on track, making food and exercise a non-issue works best.

You may also find that at different stages of your weight loss your feelings about food and exercise may change. In the beginning you may find that a rigid diet and exercise weight loss lifestyle works best only to find that once you’ve reached your goals you prefer a less focused, more relaxed approach to keeping it off.

Fortunately for us there’s always new a technique or trick to help us reach our goals. Keep an open mind for new approaches that will help you through tough times and all the emotional changes during your weight loss journey. And know that it’s ok to change things up as needed.