Losing weight is simple, if you know the truth about food. The truth is you don’t need to deprive yourself or go on extreme diets. The truth is you need to eat a range of foods (some carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, a little meat (or protein) and dairy, avoiding too much fat and sugar). And the truth is you need to eat a bit less, with some structure. It’s too much to go into in this short message for today, but I recommend planning what you’re going to eat, a day in advance or the first thing in the morning. Be conscious of what you’re going to eat, making sure to have enough, and getting all of the food groups in, within some limits. My program on Beliefnet,

The Joy of Weight Loss Plan

at has some beginning guidance on structured food plans. And I also recommend the

USDA Food Pyramid

. It’s a good start for discovering what YOU need, individually, to stay healthy and find the right weight for you