Did you overdo it during the holidays? Too many cookies and not enough exercise? It happens to the best of us. (Yours truly included…never met a Christmas cookie I didn’t like.)

Don’t wait another minute to get started. Now’s the time to get back in the saddle to take control of your eating and exercising. (Yes, I know New Year’s is this weekend…that’s no excuse.)

The goal is to focus on consistency.  When it comes to changing your body, diet is 70% of the equation, while exercise is 30%. With 100% dedication, you’re ready to go.

Workout Plan

Commit to this workout 5x a week for 12 minutes or 3x a week for 20 minutes. It doesn’t matter if it's first thing in the morning, during lunch or before bed. Pick the time that works best for you and DO IT!

Complete 10 repetitions of each exercise before moving onto the next one. Repeat until you hit 12 minutes or 20 minutes.

1. Jumping jacks
2. Squats
3. Push ups
4. Crunch
5. Walking...

Are you ready for the big game? Do you have your Super Bowl diet strategy in check? Whether you’re rooting for the Falcons or the Patriots, one thing’s for sure, you don’t want to wreck your diet as you cheer on your favorite team. With some pre-planning, you can enjoy the game, the food and the festivities without wrecking your diet.

Some of the tips from How to Party Like a Rock Star Without Wrecking Your Diet still apply. But here are some additional ways to keep your diet on track:

1. Eat before you go to the party or before your guests show up. Take that edge off so you’re not starving. Have a nice big salad to fill up your belly and lessen your chances of overeating.
2. Drink lots of water. Many times hunger is mistaken for thirst. More importantly, for every beer, glass of wine or mixed drink you have, be sure to drink a glass of water. Not only will it help keep a hangover at bay, it will also prevent you from eating too much.
3. Prepare ahead of...

Had a little too much to eat or drink on Spring Break? Want some post-vacation diet tips to get you on track? I feel ya. I just returned from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. After five days of eating and drinking without much regard to counting calories and macros, I feel bloated, fluffy and out of shape. Blech. With summer less than two months away, I’m ready to attack my diet and workouts with a vengeance.

You don’t want to crash diet or do two-hour workouts to make up for falling off the wagon. Here are 3 post-vacation diet tips to get you on track:

Post-Vacation Diet Tip #1:
Drink lots of water – In addition to helping you feel full, water will help get rid of bloat and water retention. Drink 8 oz. before every meal and try to consume at least one gallon of water for the day.

Post-Vacation Diet Tip #2:
Return to your usually scheduled workouts – You may be surprised to know that you’re more active on vacation than when...

When it comes to losing weight, stress eating or emotional eating can quickly derail even the best laid plans.

How do you know when you're stress eating? Typically something triggers you. This could be anything from getting a rush project at work to finding out a loved one is sick. Your heart starts racing and you start searching for food. You mindlessly start putting food in your mouth without much thought to the taste or the quantity. And once you start eating, you just can’t stop. We’ve all been there. It’s not fun. But if you plan ahead and stay aware of what you’re doing, it can definitely help!

Here are some ways to prevent a stress eating spiral:

• Distract yourself
  Take a walk, phone a friend, get in a workout, clean the house.
• Occupy your mouth
  Brush your teeth, chew gum, drink water, pop a mint.
• Take a moment
  Stop and take a moment to realize that you’re stress eating and ask yourself why. Journal, talk to yourself or meditate. Getting to the root...

It's 3 p.m. You’re tired…you’re bored…or maybe you’re both. It’s nothing a sugar fix couldn’t handle, right? STOP! Step away from the candy bar! When a sugar craving hits, you need a game plan.

Here are four ways to avoid the grips of the sugar monster.

1. Keep your hands busy
   It’s hard to eat when you can’t use your hands. Type an email. Take up a hobby like knitting. Do a load of laundry. Clean something — anything! Tackle your to-do list. Do whatever you need to in order to distract yourself until the craving subsides.
2. Keep your mouth busy
   You can’t consume sugar if there’s something already in your mouth. Pop a piece of gum or sugar-free candy. Make a cup of coffee or tea. Call a friend since it’s pretty hard to hold the phone, talk and chew. Start chugging water. I find that this fills my belly and many times will help keep me full
3. Keep your body busy
   Stop that sugar craving in its tracks and get away...

'Tis the season for potlucks, office parties and family gatherings…don’t be a party pooper. Here are some tips to rock your party without wrecking your diet:

1. Plan ahead
   My favorite quote is “when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” If possible, find out what’s on the menu ahead of time and then plan your strategy. Are vegetables and lean proteins available? Are you bringing food to the party? Make sure it’s part of your diet plan to ensure you have options.
2. Eat before your go
   Whether it’s a cocktail party or a full-blown dinner. Don’t go in starving! It’s a plan for surefire disaster. Have a small snack. It could be a handful of almonds with an apple or a small yogurt.
3. Keep your hands and mouth busy
   If you feel your willpower dwindling because you’re in the middle of a room with all of your favorite foods, hold a drink in one hand and your purse in the other. Or hold a glass and an empty plate. Work the room and chat up...