If you follow the fat diets, supplement companies and tv ads, you'd get a lot of conflicting information on how to lose weight, gain weight or simply maintain. But really, minus any medical conditions, here's the three basic principles that you will ultimately follow to reach a goal.

1. If you burn more calories in a day than you consume, overtime you will lose weight.

2. If you consume more calories than you burn, overtime you will gain weight.

3. And if you consume exactly the same number of calories as you burn, you?ll maintain your current weight.

It's simple but not easy. Doing this on a daily basis is not that easy. Tracking your diet is simple but it requires action and dedication.

Regardless, these three principles must be followed in order for you to reach a goal. It's simple and it's foundational knowledge you must have in order to succeed.