Want to lose weight? Eat at home

So you want to lose weight?

You have a greater chance of success if you don't skip meals, eat at home more often and keep a detailed food journal. That's the conclusion of a just-released study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Research Center.

"Women who were able to keep a record of what they ate and how many they had and how many calories they are having during the day did much better at losing weight then women who were not able to do that," says Dr. Anne McTiernan.

She says women who ate at home or who prepared their own food, also lost more weight.

"That doesn't mean that you don't lose weight if you eat out at restaurants, it just means that it's a little more difficult, and you may have to be more active in determining what you're eating at a restaurant."

Dr. McTiernan says if you're trying to lose weight and it's not working, look at what you're doing and then rethink it.

Maybe you need a little extra help in meeting your goal? There are now all sorts of programs - including apps and websites - that can help you track your calories.