With 41% of the American population on a diet, it's no wonder that fad diets pop up frequently. Whether you need to lose 5 pounds or 50, looking for a magic pill or an easy solution -- in my opinion -- is human nature. But as savvy That's Fit readers know, fad diets never work in the long term. Healthy habits are lifelong habits, and fad diets rarely are sustainable for the long haul.

Here's a peak at some of the latest diet fads, including the Astrology Diet and the Blood Type Diet. The diets in the article most likely will help you lose weight for a while, but do you really want to be checking your horoscope to help you decide what to make dinner for the rest of your life?

So if dieting isn't "in the stars" then what does work? According to dieters who have taken it off and kept it off, it's this:

• eat a diet low in fat
• watch your calories
• eat breakfast
• weigh yourself often
• get 60 to 90 minutes of exercise most days of the week

No fads, no gimmicks -- just plain, old fashioned sensibility and hard work. It's not a magic pill, but unlike fad diets, it is a road map to lifelong success.