Weight Loss: 5 Truths

It's January and many of us have weight loss on the brain. Perhaps you're psyched about using the latest, greatest plan to slim down this "diet season." Honestly, I've never been a fan of trendy, fad diets. They make ridiculous promises. Sure, you may drop 10 pounds in a week eating cabbage soup and little else, but once you go back to eating like a normal person you'll gain it right back.

That's the biggest problem with most fad diets: they generally don't give you eating patterns that you can stick to long-term. Essentially, they set you up to fail. (Get a healthy 28-day weight-loss meal plan of delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes to help you shed pounds here.)

But I'll be the first to admit that there are kernels of truth buried in the shaky "scientific" rhetoric of many popular plans--real advice that will help you lose weight healthfully. (Drop 10 pounds healthfully with these 6 easy steps and super-cool tools.)

Without further ado, I give you 5 weight-loss secrets I've found hidden in fad diet and how to apply them with common sense to your own healthy weight-loss plan.

So if you are going to use a "faddish" diet plan to shed pounds in 2011, I urge you to read with a critical eye, sort the sensible from the silliness and only make changes that feel healthful. You may not lose weight as quickly but you'll keep it off longer and feel better while you're doing it!

What have you learned from fad diets?

Nicci Micco is editor-at-large for EatingWell and co-author of EatingWell 500-Calorie Dinners. She has a master's degree in nutrition and food sciences, with a focus in weight management.