If you're having a hard time staying fit, a new study featured on Science Daily has just the answers you need.

Researchers from Loughborough University asked 60 students to fill out questionnaires about their health goals and to keep tabs on their progress in a journal. They found that those who kept a fitness diary were more likely to stick to their plans and achieve their goals as compared with those who didn't.

Aside from recording their activities, reflecting on successes and failures, setting mini-goals, and working with a support group also increased the participants' chances of meeting their health targets.

So as you walk the road to fitness, keep track of your journey. Writing down your activities doesn't only give you an idea about what areas you can improve on, but also supply you with the discipline and the motivational boost you need to keep on going.

(Photo by Rory MacLeod via Flickr Creative Commons)