Everywhere you look, you see articles that outline five, 10 or 50 tips for healthy weight loss. Weight loss isn't rocket science. It doesn't require countless hours of calorie and carbohydrate counting. And you don't have to exercise until you drop.This article breaks healthy weight loss down into three easy-to-follow tips. Why follow a 50-step weight loss regimen when you can break it down into three simple steps?

1. Willpower. You must have the willpower to maintain a new lifestyle in order to succeed in your weight loss goals. This first, very essential step is where so many fail. If you lack the willpower to say 'no' to that candy bar or soda, how can you expect to reach your weight loss goals?

2. Be smart. Set realistic weight loss goals in a realistic time frame. Healthy weight loss is estimated at three to four pounds per week. Next, read everything. You need to read the labels of foods you eat to ensure you're putting the proper nutrients into your body. Read magazine articles or blogs written by people who have lost weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Join message boards or online support groups.

Don't turn to fad diets. Fad diets or crash diets will not maintain weight loss. Thousands of people every day turn to one fad diet or another in hopes of rapid weight loss. These people will tell you about the weight they lost while strictly following their chosen fad diet, but they will also tell you how much weight they gained back after discontinuing the diet.

Keep moving. Exercise while listening to your favorite music or do sit-ups while watching your favorite TV shows.

3. Maintain your new lifestyle. This goes back to the first step. By the time you've mastered your willpower and learned to change your lifestyle, maintaining a balanced diet will be easy.

The first and most important part of losing weight is having the willpower to make it happen. Second, do it intelligently. Eat healthy foods and exercise. Finally, be prepared to maintain an entirely new lifestyle. There you have it. Weight loss is as simple as 1-2-3.

If you have already followed these steps to healthy weight loss and you still have extra weight in your stomach, here's one more recommendation. Try a colon cleanse. Over the years, the colon collects toxins and fecal matter that just build. In fact, the colon can hold up to 35 pounds of undesirable matter.

Herbal colon cleansing kits can be purchased from most health food or natural remedy stores. Most herbal colon cleansing kits consist of a variety of herbs such as aloe, fennel and garlic, to name a few. Herbal remedies are generally 100 percent natural and harmless, but to be on the safe side follow the second step above-

be smart and ask others as well as your physician.

Eating foods high in fiber like long grain rice, whole grains, fruits and vegetables are also a viable colon cleansing source. Not only do you receive the nutritional benefits from the foods themselves, you also gain the benefit of flushing unwanted toxins from your body. Whichever cleansing method you choose, be sure to drink eight to 10 glasses of water per day. Sufficient water intake helps maintain normal bowel movements so you receive the benefits of your new eating habits.