February is officially here, and this is the month when many people give up on their New Year's resolutions. It can be tempting to call it quits if, after weeks of working out and dieting, you've witnessed no alteration in your physical appearance. But don't give up just yet! There may be some hidden issues that are hampering your efforts.

Don't latch on to fad diets
The South Beach Diet, the Atkins Diet - even the Baby Food Diet. There have been a number of peculiar yet popular diets that have come out over the years, and while they may work for some, they often end in disappointment. Instead of banking on a passing trend, stick to what's tried and true. Low calories, lots of fruits and vegetables, and minimal carbs and fat will likely help you far more than a fad you hear about on TV.

You can't pick and choose
Maybe you like working out at the gym, or perhaps you have no problem cutting out sweets, but to be successful in your weight loss efforts, you need to find a healthy balance of diet and exercise. Exercising won't do much good if you are loading up on calories, and saying "no" to a second helping of food will mean nothing if you don't get your heart pumping regularly throughout the week. Combining these two healthy lifestyle choices, however, can make a big difference.

Don't starve yourself
You may think that a successful dieting method is to cut way back on the amount of food you take in, and while moderation is a good thing, this strategy can go too far. If you don't eat enough food to sustain yourself, your body may begin to store fat in order to have enough energy throughout the day. Instead, eat regularly throughout the day, just monitor the foods you're consuming.

Consider plastic surgery
If you're eating well and exercising regularly but still not seeing success, you may want to consider talking to a board-certified plastic surgeon about your options. Liposuction can help individuals who have stubborn pockets of fat on the body that simply won't go away with diet and exercise, so consider asking your doctor about this aesthetic surgery option.