You may have heard that losing weight is as easy as eating less and exercising more. Well it's true—taking in fewer calories than you use each day is the simplest way to lose weight. Never mind the fad diets, weight loss pills, and zany herbal remedies—it all comes down to a balanced diet and a regular exercise program.

In addition to traditional weight loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, there are now an astounding number of Internet-based weight loss programs. But do they really work? And how do they compare to traditional weight loss services?

What is the best diet to help you lose weight and improve heart health in the short-term? Find out here.

What do you need to do to have a healthy life? Get tips on what types of food you should eat, how much exercise you should do, and how you can live healthier overall!

Diet detectives: spotting sensible diets

Here are 10 questions to ask yourself when considering a new diet.

Cueing into your eating patterns

Learn how to recognize and outsmart triggers for overeating.

Most people consume far more calories than they realize. The culprit? A warped sense of portion size. Read more here.

Satisfying your taste—and waist—in international restaurants: Greek, Indian, and Japanese

Here's how to enjoy some wonderful ethnic foods without adding extra fat, salt, or calories.

For many people, starting an exercise program for the first time is quite safe. But depending on your age and whether you have certain cardiovascular risk factors, you may need to see your physician before starting a program of vigorous (as opposed to moderate) aerobic activity. The American Council on Exercise offers the following advice.

Walk this way to fitness

Walking for fitness is inexpensive, safe, and amazingly good for you. Read more here.

Let's face it, finding stairs to climb isn't always easy. No sweat. Add a stairclimber to your home gym and you can climb anytime, no matter what the weather. Read more here.

Here's a workout that will kick those excess pounds right off! Read more here.

Lauren Kaiser remembers the first time she tried to scale the 30-foot-high textured gray face that is Connecticut College's indoor climbing wall. Her climb was going well until halfway up when her mouth "got all dry...I looked down and said 'what am I doing up here?'" Read more here.

Here is a different way to energize your exercise plan, which may help you add miles—and meaning—to your workout: exercise for a cause. Find out how you can help.