Let's debunk some of those diet myths.

MYTH 1: If you're going to eat out, order a salad because it's the healthiest choice.

Sad to say, ordering a salad may not always help in your weight loss effort. It is not uncommon to be served a salad that comes with extras such as croutons, mayonnaise, cheese, ham, eggs, chicken and bacon. Don't forget the various salad dressings that lovingly drench the vegetables. Your so-called healthy salad could end up with more calories than Burger King's Bacon Cheeseburger. The salad "extras" are the culprits that raise a salad's calorie, fat and salt content by a substantial amount.

If you want a low calorie salad, pile up on the leafy greens, have a variety of vegetables, choose lean proteins such as grilled chicken, shrimp, eggs, salmon, tuna, black beans, and chickpeas. No fried or crispy stuff. Don't forget to tell the waiter you want the dressing on the side.

MYTH 2: Switching from non-organic to organic foods help you lose weight.

Oh yes, organic food is definitely healthier because it's free from harmful chemicals such as hormones, preservatives and pesticides. Consuming them makes you feel healthier and scientific evidence seems to say it is more nutritious. However, if you are talking about weight loss, organic foods don't contain lower calories than non-organic foods. There isn't less carbs or fat grams. So when it comes to weight loss, eating organic foods may not be your solution.

MYTH 3: Look for "low-fat," "non-fat," or "fat-free" foods to reduce your calories.

If you are concerned about gaining weight, you naturally look for "low-fat," "non-fat," or "fat-free" products when out shopping. Unfortunately, products with these labels do not mean they are "low-calorie" or "calorie free." You might be shocked to learn that they may contain even more, if not the same amount of calories as the normal products due to added sugar, flour or starch thickeners to enhance it's texture and taste. Therefore, with these type of products, you may not be getting the calories from the fat content but from the other contents. So be careful when you shop and check the food labels to determine the amount of calories per serving.

MYTH 4: Really cut down on your eating to drastically reduce your calories.

Eat less, go on a diet -- isn't that the first natural thing we do when we want to lose weight? But be careful that you do not go below 1200 calories per day. You'll end up losing muscle mass which in turn leads to lower metabolism. Also, you may develop other health hazards such as gallstones and digestive problems.

American Psychologist published a report that examined 31 studies of long-term diets which averaged 1200 calories per day. They discovered that most of the subjects put on weight again after 4-5 years. University of Minnesota's associate professor of psychology, Tracy Mann, was the lead author of the report and this is what she had to say, "Psychologically, it's difficult for people to adhere to strict diets over a long period because they feel deprived and hungry."

The right thing to do is to determine the right amount of calories you need. Make it a modest number so you don't find it too difficult and quit half way. This number will depend on you activity level and your weight. Consult a nutritionist to help you plan your diet. Don't just cut down on food but also change your eating habits. Make healthier choices by reducing refined foods and choosing whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and eggs. They have fewer calories but are very rich in nutrition.

MYTH 5: You have to quit snacking.

Actually, snacking is not forbidden when you need to lose weight. If you have an active lifestyle, snacking between meals may be a good idea. Of course, the kind of snacks you eat is important. If you're wondering about potato chips, cookies or cakes for snacks, then of course you have to quit those. Examples of good snacks are fruits, yogurt, tuna and crackers, rice cakes, vegetables, boiled peanuts, granola bars and jelly. These in between snacks help to prevent overeating during meals, maintains your energy levels and keeps your metabolism going strong. Remember, what really matters is the total calories you consumed for the day and not how you did it.

There are many theories out there on how to lose weight. Do a little homework and find out first if what you heard or read is true or not. Remember, you don't just want to lose weight temporarily. Find a way to keep your weight off permanently and stay healthy at the same time.

Eat more fish

You may have read about the benefits of taking fish oil capsules to get those good for you omega-3 fatty acids. You can find omega-3's in fish like sardines, herring, tuna, mackerel, trout, and salmon. Studies have stated that if you consume fish you can boost your calorie burn and burn more fat by as much as 400 calories a day!

Eat more dark green leafy vegetables to burn fat

Dark green leafy vegetables like arugula, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, chard, and spinach are full of vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, and lots of fiber. These vegetables are packed with loads of antioxidants and they are so healthy for you, but what really helps you increase your metabolism is the fiber content in these vegetables. Your body is going to burn a lot more calories because of the work it takes to digest the fiber in these foods.

Eat more tomatoes

Tomatoes are really great for you because they have lycopene. Lycopene is the antioxidant that has been found to have natural cancer fighting qualities. Tomatoes are also a good source of fiber. The key ingredient for eliminating fat, however, are the acids in tomatoes that help your body get rid of fat from your system.

Eat more fruit

Whole fresh fruits have actually been said to have "negative calories." this means that your body will burn more calories digesting the food than it stores from eating the food. To ramp up your metabolism and burn more fat you may want to try adding fresh fruits like blueberries or strawberries or bananas to your cereal or your smoothies every morning.

Eat spicy foods, chilies, and curries

Have you ever eaten a spicy meal and felt your body break out in a sweat? The capsaicin in many hot peppers and other spices literally fire up your metabolism due to the "fire" it creates inside your body. Some studies have said that there is a 50% increase in metabolism after eating a spicy meal that contains capsaicin. So you may want to keep a bottle of hot sauce on your table and add it to your dishes at meal time.

Now you have five ways you can boost your metabolism and burn more fat. Tonight, you just might want to have some spicy Cajun blackened salmon for dinner, a big salad with lots of dark green leafy vegetables and tomatoes. And for dessert a fresh fruit salad.

Toxins

Toxins, especially drugs, can damage or destroy beneficial bacteria, allowing harmful bacteria to take over producing by-products like ammonia, purines, and ethionine, which can cause cancer. Toxins are more prevalent today today than they have ever been before. This coupled with waste build up in the colon just like they do in the pipes of your home. Advocates for colon cleansing believe that it provides health benefits by removing these toxins from their bodies, and boosting their energy and immune systems. If you don't purge your body yourself of these toxins on a regular basis, toxemia gets worse and worse, until the body cannot take anymore. The body then purges itself in the forms of such problems as diarrhea, pimples, acne, liver spots, boils, bad odor and perspiration, bad breath, etc. The body finally gives up the battle and succumbs to cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, and other fatal conditions.

Benefits

I believe that there are many benefits of colon cleansing. These benefits not only include health benefits, but also in how it relates to ones appearance as the skin looks more vibrant; blemishes, cellulite, and water retention disappear; and the whites of the eyes regain a youthful clearness. Some of the potential benefits of a colon cleansing may include a decrease in gas or bloating, more radiant skin and hair, and an overall slimmer appearance. Other benefits that people claim after the cleansing include the alleviation of menstrual pain, migraines, joint pain, skin problems, weight loss, breast cysts, sinus congestion, improved concentration, and many others. If you have ever been diagnosed with any of these problems, it would be foolish not to proceed with some type of cleansing program because the benefits far exceed the risks. Colon cleansers can help restore bodies to their optimum function, thus increasing the nutritional benefits that our bodies receive from the food that is digested.

Colon cleansing is preventive health care and there is no better place to rid your body of toxins that can cause many illnesses. It is a safe and effective alternative to problems that normally can only be treated with medication. A healthy colon is essential to good health, which makes colon cleansing a must. Unlike many natural therapies, colon cleansing just makes a lot of sense to have by everyone.

Sadly, there are no magic remedies, diet pills, or supplements for losing weight. It takes desire, persistence and lots of accurate information seasoned with ample amounts of supportive and caring guidance, to succeed.

Through the trials and tribulations of many failed weight loss plans we now know that if you try to manage your weight by making radical changes in your diet and lifestyle, you will eventually fail…around 95% of the time!

For a diet plan to be successful it must fit within the boundaries of normal day-to-day habits and activities. It must allow for the consumption of familiar foods in familiar and traditional social settings. The exclusion of "taboo" foods or your favorite fast food restaurant is generally a set-up for eventual dieting failure.

When you stop to think about, isn't it usually the things you are told that you can't do or have, that you desire the most? It's a part of human nature. We want what we can't have! Take it away from us, and surely this is exactly what we will want and crave the most…and this includes the foods we eat. Even the most highly regarded sources of information agree that we tend to focus on what we can't have.

So, a good plan for losing weight should not try to radically change your eating behavior. The plan should adapt to your daily activities and eating behavior. And of course any good plan should incorporate the benefits of good nutrition, convenience and practicality.

The bottom line is that we are all very busy people without a lot of time to spare. We're not about to turn our busy lifestyle upside down to follow some restrictive plan for losing weight. Oh…maybe something like this will work for a short period of time, but the facts don't lie. Short term loss is long term gain (in weight that is!). Although the "crash" weight loss diets may work for a short while, most of us will find that before long the pounds begin to creep back on…and there is good reason for this.

- We’re not going give-up eating at fast food and sit-down restaurants when we need a quick meal.

- We're not going to give-up eating with business associates, good friends and family or any other special meal occasions where dieting guidelines are difficult (or impossible) to follow.

- We're not going to completely eliminate the foods we love and crave.

- And we're most definitely not going to waste precious time preparing special dietary meals from "scratch" every day!

It's important to know that you don't have to stop doing any of the above to lose weight.

You can look and feel like a million bucks, take years off your appearance and have the energy and vitality to accomplish your dreams, by following a few simple guidelines. Here they are…

1) Take it one step at a time.

Some of the greatest accomplishments in life begin by taking one small step at a time. When we are challenged to think deeply, encouraged by others to succeed, and ultimately inspired to take action, great things start to happen!

If you have important weight loss goals you are not achieving, try to spend less time worrying about all the possible
"causes" and start concentrating on how you can make progress.

This is one of the keys to moving forward and a simple, but powerful tool for success.

Step #2 – Assess your dietary needs and lifestyle.

Awareness is the key!

Learn about your specific dietary needs (caloric intake) and daily energy requirements. We're talking a basic understanding here, and not having to go into any great detail.

Step #3 – Seek advice from friends and trusted authorities.

Don't believe everything you hear! There are thousands of diet "scams" on the market. When you find a trusted source, ask as many questions as you can about diet and exercise. Find out what has worked for others. But always be on-guard for "quick fix" approach…it won't work!

Step #4 – Start creating a SYSTEM of support.

About 85% of our "happiness" and well-being is determined by the quality of our relationships with other people. Loving, caring relationships and a network of friends, family, and colleagues lowers stress, increases longevity and helps us to accomplish our goals in life (including losing weight).

We are social creatures and we do our best when we have friends to cheer us on, offer support, give advice and hold us accountable when necessary. This makes it easy for us to succeed. So, surround yourself with people, tools and activities that make it easier to succeed than to fail! Arrange your living environment and social situations so that every thing around you pulls your forward!

Step #5 – Use your resources.

Read motivational tips, general health information and any other literature you can get your hands-on. Information is power!

Step #6 – TAKE THE FIRST STEP!

There you have it. So, get started today on "your" Road to Success!