Raul de Molina's tips for losing weight

Don't take pills to lose weight: "That's a mistake," say De Molina, who took them at the age of 17 and fainted as a result. "A lot of those pills actually make you gain weight once you stop taking them."

Have a snack on hand for when you get hungry, like a can of peanuts that says "South Beach Diet" on the label.

At restaurants, order your meal without salt and if it comes with sauce or dressing, ask for it on the side so you can control the amount you have.

Visual aids help: Put a photo of yourself when you were thinner on the fridge, or use the image of a celebrity who has a great figure for motivation.

Stay away from food: In his new book (Grijalbo), De Molina recommends that when you go to a party, stay as far away as you can from the finger foods and the buffet table.