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Today you begin. Do not wait for the right time, the next opportunity, or a better day - begin now. Put pen to paper and follow my lead.

Action is essential to weight loss, transformation, and feeling better about myself. So, I commit to these actions:

- I will exercise vigorously for at least 30 minutes.
- I will write down everything I eat.
- I will be physically active for 45 minutes everyday, whether it means that I must workout morning and evening, bring sneakers to work, school and walk at lunch, or whatever it takes.
- I will eat more slowly.
- I will drink more water.
- At the end of every week, I will look at the food that I am eating and have (honestly) written down to (fearlessly) assess whether I am taking care of body or punishing it.
- I will then make decisions about my next meal, and the ones after that, to ensure that they really do healthfully and efficiently fuel my body.

The party (literally) is over. And that’s the good news because your life’s greatest celebration is in taking actions everyday that make you feel (and look) better!

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Eva Longoria Parker, 32, is replacing Mischa Barton, 21, as the face of Bebe. Eva posed for the new Spring/Summer advertising campaign for Bebe Sport. She is very tiny, but seeing these pictures is great motivation for me.

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Here are the top 25 ways to stress less, reach your goals and feel happier every single day.

1. Show off, in style. Lost weight but need to drop a few more pounds? It makes sense to wait until you reach your goal to buy a whole new wardrobe, but do invest in a few fabulous pieces that fit you right now. When your clothes fit well, your progress starts to show — and that has the power to foster self-confidence and keep you motivated to continue working out and eating healthy.

2. See your good side. Instead of zeroing in on your trouble zones when you look in the mirror, consciously shift your attention to body parts you may rarely think about — like your beautiful eyebrows, mouth, shoulders and hands. Then take a minute to describe them — out loud — in positive terms. This helps you get a more complete picture of your attributes and gives your body image an instant boost.

3. Stop watching the workout clock. When you’re using any cardio machine (treadmill, bike, elliptical trainer), put a towel over the display screen so you can concentrate on how exercise makes you feel terrific rather than on how long you’ve been working out or on how many miles you’ve got left. You’ll have a better appreciation for what your body can do if you’re not caught up in the numbers.

4. Find realistic role models. Ask women you know for real-life advice on coping with stress, losing weight and juggling work and family. Seeing what helps the people around you will give you ideas for simple strategies that can also work for you.

5. Set simple, but doable, priorities. Attempting to accomplish everything perfectly is impossible — and leads to a sense of failure and unhappiness. Instead, trim your to-do list so you can focus your efforts on the things that are most important to you today.

6. Strike the right balance. Too busy trying to be a good friend, spouse, mother, daughter, neighbor and employee that you neglect your own needs? Put your well-being first by doing something for you — even if that means just getting a manicure to pamper yourself — at least once a week.

7. Give your life meaning. Sound lofty? Maybe not. Research at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro found that people who have a sense of purpose are much happier in the long run. To create a vision of what’s meaningful to you, ask yourself what excites you and what goals matter most.

8. Get moving. The easiest way to ease tension is by doing some sort of exercise every single day (even if it’s just for a few minutes). Working out is a proven way to lower stress hormones and boost feel-good endorphins.

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You may believe your self-esteem is tied to the number you see on the scale. Many people do. Some become so focused on what they eat and how much they weigh that it compromises their quality of life. They detect a weight gain and feel down about themselves. They notice a drop in pounds and their spirits magically lift.

Basing happiness on the scale can be physically and emotionally draining. Take this advice from Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. — Don’t weigh your self-esteem, it’s what’s inside that counts.

Now is the time to enjoy power foods that both nourish your body and make you feel good. Here’s a few.

- Fish and chicken
- Lean beef
- Fruits and veggies
- Whole-grain breads and cereals
- Milk, yogurt, and cheese

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LA Fitness is offering a “free pass” to those that want burn off those extra holiday calories. It doesn’t matter if you’re currently a member and it is a great way to start a healthy habit for 2008. Exercising on a regular basis is the best thing for your body and a gym offers many ways to help.

To take advantage of this opportunity, visit here to print out a guest pass.

The January, 2008 issue of Spain’s Elle magazine features Spanglish star Paz Vega. She is wearing nothing but Swarovski Crystals meticulously glued on her body.

I can’t imagine looking that good wearing jewels as an outfit. Just looking at these pictures makes me want to go to the gym!

Miss Vega, who has always been slender and athletic, once dreamed of being a sports star.

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Sex life in a slump? Put down the Harlequin, and pick up your sneakers.

Research shows that a little huffing and puffing in the gym can lead to more heavy breathing in the bedroom. “Exercise makes you feel better and improves your energy level and self-image,” says American Council on Exercise spokesman Richard Cotton. Exercise also keeps your “equipment” in better running condition.

Specifically, exercise:

- Gives you more energy
- Tones muscles, burns fat, and helps you feel better about your body
- Boosts your mood and sense of well-being so you feel sexier, more confident
- Builds strong and flexible muscles, so you’ll be less worried about hurting yourself
- Provides physical fun you can have with your mate, so you feel closer

Additionally, a Boston University School of Medicine study found that sedentary men could significantly lower their risk of erectile dysfunction by burning at least 200 calories a day (the equivalent of walking about 2 miles briskly). Women benefit too, says female sexuality researcher Cindy Meston, PhD, who found that women are more sexually responsive following 20 minutes of vigorous exercise.

Exercise activates the sympathetic nervous system, which encourages bloodflow to the genital region,” she says. “It’s better than a glass of wine or a bubble bath.” While any type of exercise can do the trick, says sex therapist Laura Berman, PhD, coauthor of For Women Only (Henry Holt, 2001), here are a few that may be more likely to get you in an amorous mood.

- Pilates increases bloodflow to the pelvic region.
- Strength training builds and stretches your love-life muscles and boosts confidence.
- Belly dancing loosens your hips and pelvis.
- Taking walks together and talking can do wonders for the emotional aspects of a relationship.
- Yoga increases flexibility.
- Doubles tennis builds teamwork–as long as one of you isn’t too competitive.
- Salsa, tango, or swing dance lessons offer a reason to hold each other close–and set off at least a few sparks!

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Okay, I’m addicted to the snooze button.

It’s true. I’m absolutely sure I couldn’t live without it. It rules my life. Try as I might, I can’t quit — I have to hit it. If there was meeting for this type of thing, I’d be the first one on the podium.

Despite my many snoozes, I still manage to function. I just rationalize in bed every morning: “Well, I’ll grab breakfast on the run,” “Those pants don’t really need ironing,” or, at my worst, “If I don’t wash my hair…” — anything for another hit. I still make it to work on time, I’m just perpetually rushing.

Thing is, I make it to work or school because, obviously, I’m required to. But the real challenge is waking up early to do what I should, but don’t absolutely have to do — go to the gym. The only time I can reasonably fit exercise into my busy schedule is before work or after school, which means that annoying alarm clock is going off at 5:30 a.m.

Just follow the steps below and you’ll see waking up for the gym isn’t really all that hard to do.

1. Get your clothes and gym bag ready the night before. You’re going to be sleep-walking when you first get up, so don’t risk forgetting something important, like socks or shoes. Make sure everything is together before you hit the sack.

2. Set your CLOCK nine minutes ahead. Sure you’ll know you have about 10 extra minutes, but that’s not the point. You’re not going to set your alarm for 5:39 a.m. are you? Probably not. You’ll still set it for 5:30 and end up with (at the very least) some sweet snooze time.

3. Set the ALARM for about 15 minutes before you normally do. This allows for approximately two more snoozes. You’ll feel like you’re pushing it and sleeping in (like you always do, you sneakster!), but you’re actually going to wake up on time. It’s an amazing trick, but my body falls for it every morning.

4. Set up an espresso machine on your nightstand. This way, all you have to do when the first alarm goes off is reach over and flick on the machine. You snooze, the goodness brews. By the time the alarm goes off (again), the smell of rich coffee will have filled the air and your senses will be awakened.

Once you’re up, all you have to do is brush your teeth, throw on a sports bra, grab the bag you already packed and go get your pump on!

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Don’t forget to enter the contest for a Free 1 Year Subscription to SHAPE Magazine!

These days, there are so many ways to shed those unwanted pounds, and though there are certain healthy living standards, each person must do what will ultimately work for them. So I found this article on five different approaches to weight loss pretty fascinating. It follows five women, their different approached to weight loss, and what the pros and cons of each approach are. One did gastric bypass, one did liposuction, one modified her diet only, one took up weight lifting and one became a runner. Each has her reasons for choosing the path she did, and each was successful in the journey.

Missie Davisson
24, Martial Arts Instructor, Vancouver, WA

Method: Gastric bypass surgery

What I Wanted: A body that is strong and resilient, lean and alive, and bursting with the energy of youth and strength. Obesity runs in my family. My grandmother was 400 pounds—big enough to be buried in a special coffin—so I knew this was a battle I was going to have to be fighting my whole life.

How I Got It: Surgery was not an easy way out; it was a tool that gave me a second chance. At 334 pounds and size 32, I had borderline diabetes, severe back pain, sleep apnea, insomnia, and occasional depression. I had tried every weight loss plan there is. Now, I weigh 160 and wear size 10.

Why It Worked: During the surgery, my doctors stapled off a 2-ounce pouch from my stomach and then rerouted my small intestine to the pouch. Now when I eat, the food bypasses the larger portion of my stomach and goes into that pouch, so it takes only a cup and a half of food to fill me up.

What It Cost: $25,000. All but $2,000 of my surgery was covered by insurance, but it took a year to get the coverage approved.

Upside: There are so many. I’m an athlete now, the top-rated female karate black-belt fighter in the Northwest. I feel closer to my husband physically. At the movies, I can cuddle up next to him and have half of my chair left. I used to not even go because the bars on the seats hurt so badly. I’m an active part of my 4-year-old’s life. (She was born 2 years before the surgery.) I can now go for bike rides with her; before, I couldn’t even sit on a bike without flattening the tires.

Downside: Choosing to have an elective surgery that I could have died from was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done.

Biggest Surprise: Being obese was like being in prison, but I didn’t know it until I got to taste life as a healthy person. Also, my shoe size went from 11 to 9, and I no longer have flat feet.

What’s Ahead: “Obesity is a chronic disease, so Davisson has to be vigilant for the rest of her life,” says bariatric surgeon Patricia S. Choban, MD, an adjunct professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University. On average, over 10 years, weight loss surgery patients regain about 12 percent of what they lost, and up to 20 percent require follow-up operations to correct complications. Also, because postoperative patients can’t eat very much and have trouble absorbing vitamins and minerals, nearly 30 percent of them develop nutritional deficiencies, which can happen at any time.

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Weight Watchers’ spokeswoman, Jenny McCarthy, shows off her incredible body at the beach. She looks fabulous! This is motivation for me to continue with my weight watchers diet plan!

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