Going on a diet anytime soon? Our society is inundated by diets and weight loss and if you were to go to any bookstore you will literally find hundreds and hundreds of the latest fad diets. Whether it's low carb, low calorie, blood type, gene type, the bottom line is that weight loss is a billion dollar industry.

In fact, the most recent studies show that approximately $58 billion is spent annually on weight loss products including diet drugs, books, exercise videos, artificial sweeteners, diet sodas, meal replacements, websites, health clubs, etc.

Here is the sad part: research shows that 95 percent of people who lose weight will gain it back within 3 years.

Beyond three years, the rate is even higher. Even the FDA cannot show that one weight loss company has shown proven and effective weight loss on a long term basis.

Obesity affects about one in four adult Americans, and during any one year, over half of Americans go on a weight-loss diet or are trying to maintain their weight. For many people who try to lose weight, it is difficult to lose more than a few pounds and few succeed in remaining at the reduced weight.

So what is the ultimate long term solution?

Going against conventional wisdom, avoiding diets all together is your best option.

Optimal results, meaning long term, will not come with counting calories, measuring your portions, meal replacements or diet pills.

It will come, however, with such things as unprocessed foods, foods free of additives and preservatives, raw foods, foods rich in Omega-3 fats, foods with plenty of antioxidants, for example.

How is it possible to lose weight in a healthy manner when the product that we're losing weight with is unhealthy? Are we not replacing one problem with another one? The fact is, it is entirely possible to lose weight in an unhealthy manner.

You simply cannot go wrong with a "diet" of raw, unprocessed, unrefined foods. Losing weight just becomes an added bonus behind such things as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, increased energy, enhanced immune strength and better mental health among many other things.

To go on a "diet" instead of just having a sound diet can lead to an emotional roller coaster along with frustration and disappointment for unaccomplished goals.