Growing up, I used to watch Jack Lalanne's early morning exercise show, the one where he and wife Elaine were dressed up in those goofily retro, shiny bodysuits. If I remember correctly, he was on before the good stuff — sci-fi movies — came on.

Now that I think about it, their costumes made them look like fitness gurus from the planet Maximus Deltoid.

Anyway, I'm starting to diet and workout again, and when this happens, I always think about Jack. I remember one of his exhortations in regard to weight loss was the mantra, "calories!"

His formula was simple — burn more calories than you take in daily and you will lose weight. Even though we have been in the midst of a running battle over diet technology for the last 30 years, I have always believed Jack was right. All the food-centric concepts are wrong. Wrong!

I know all kinds of studies have been done, but let's face it, studies are nothing more than an easy way for journalists to keep the shuttlecock of controversy in the air. This study refutes that one but supports this one, etc.

What I haven't seen is anyone trying to prove the simple idea that burning more calories than you take in is a long-term, reasonable way to lose weight. All the diet systems are out there to separate you from your money — and distract you from just dieting and working out for 30 to 60 minutes a day.