While the phrase, “going commando” sweeps American culture today, its origins remain uncertain. Nevertheless, it consistently elicits a knee-jerk, “heads up” reaction whenever it is used. As you can see, it works—right now I have your full attention, but if you think I am writing today about cooking or eating food while not wearing underwear, I'm sorry to disappoint you—I am not. That would be gross.

What I'm suggesting you do, is eliminate the habit of dressing your foods with sauces and condiments. They are high in fats and/or sugars, add nothing other than unnecessary calories and they “cover up the good stuff” on your plate or in a sandwich. One tablespoon of butter will add an extra 100 calories and the average salad dressing comes close to that number. A tablespoon is small and one is never enough. Two is better, right?  By making these simple changes over the course of an average day, you can save 500 to 800 calories without affecting the volume of real food you can eat. 500 fewer calories per day means 3500 per week = one pound lost. Walking at a pace of 3 mph, it will take an average person a little over 9 hours on a treadmill to burn that same 3500 calories. Which would you rather do?

Fruits are complete foods just as they are, so eat them like that, and eat your vegetables lightly steamed. If you must season your vegetables, use a sprinkling of herbs. Once you become accustomed to the true tastes of your foods, and train your mind to like those tastes—and you can train your mind to do that, you will look forward to eating them in their natural state. Peel a banana or an orange and eat it. Grab an apple. But don't mess with cutting, chopping, slicing, dicing, tossing and overdressing until you've turned your fresh produce into a high calorie dish. I agree that it's tough to eat a salad without some dressing, but you can cut it (half water, half dressing) and serve it on the side.

Few people can make such sweeping changes overnight, so I suggest you start out easy. Dedicate two days a week to eating in this manner. If that's all you ever do, and you do it consistently, over time you will lose weight.

So think about going au naturale with your fruits and vegetables, forgo the butter on your morning whole grain toast, don't sprinkle sugar on your breakfast granola, drink your coffee black, and drink water instead of carbonated beverages. It's easier than you THINK.