When it comes to weight loss, many people are looking for a magic pill solution -- that is, they want a quick fix that is easy and painless, and doesn't force them to modify their life at all. Many would love to keep on eating unhealthy foods while taking off the pounds, but it is possible?

WebMD has a thorough article on weight-loss drugs; I suggest you read it when you have a moment. Currently, there are only a handful of drugs that have been proven to be effective, and the rest are just a waste of money. And for those of us who are only looking to lose a few pounds? Forget it -- prescription medications are typically only prescribed to obese people as a last resort. Keep in mind that these drugs can have serious side effect.

Having gone from someone with an unhealthy diet to someone with a love of healthy living, I would have no desire to take weight-loss drugs if I became overweight. Why? Losing weight the old fashioned way is hard, but eating healthy and exercising is so rewarding, and your healthy habits should last a lifetime. Don't you think?

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There are about a billion different weight-loss programs out there, so how do you narrow it down and pick the one that works for you? The experts over at Yahoo health have made it easier for you -- they've compiled this list of diets you should avoid at all costs. What made the list? well ....

1. Diets that promise rapid weight-loss in a short amount of time -- if it works out to more than two pounds a week, you might be putting your health at risk
2. Diets that use pills, supplements, creams, etc. and promise results without exercise or diet changes -- Repeat after me. There. is. no. magic. pill. It takes hard work and anyone who tells you differently is lying.
   
3. Diets that are really different from how you eat now -- You'll have trouble sticking to it if it's too far from your comfort zone
   
4. Diets that have you eating less than 1,000 calories a day -- You'll be weak, tired and cranky. It's not worth it.
5. Diets that claim to be easy and effortless -- see #2
6. Diets that cut out whole food groups -- you won't stick to it, especially long-term.

What do you think -- did they miss anything?

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I would have thought the days of "weight loss in a pill" products were numbered (the credible ones anyway), but they just keep coming! The latest is from GlaxoSmithKline and it's called Alli. It's a version of Xenical, and it's the first drug to be approved by the FDA for sale without a prescription and over-the-counter in the U.S. It works by preventing some absorption of fat into the body.

The advertising of this product will be interesting, with more than $150 million dollars budgeted for marketing alone they plan on taking a slightly different approach than many diet pills have in the past: it's gonna take work on your part too. Interesting.

Learn more at myalli.com.

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