Fiber-up and Houdini the pounds away

Add more fiber to your diet and you'll absorb 90 less calories per day -- no supplement or exercise required. That's one Houdini diet magic trick that delivers something (skinnier) for nothing (no less calories).

In this informative article, Women's Health explains why fiber is your Number One weight-loss weapon. Here's one reason -- a U.S. Department of Agriculture study found women increasing their fiber intake from 12 to 24 grams absorbed 90 fewer calories per day than their counterparts who ate the same amount, but less fiber. If you're not getting enough fiber in your diet, start piling on those grams to 24 every day and you could lose nine pounds in a year without lifting a diet finger.

Don't miss Bethany's Walking the Walk challenge this past week, where she focused on consuming at least 25 grams of fiber each day. Finding those 25 grams was pretty easy, and she reported sustained energy and the disappearance of her typical 2 PM simple carbohydrate cravings. Mine hit around 4 PM -- I've got to get into this fiber magic act. To fiber-up, you don't need to eat a wool sweater like my Siamese cat used to do -- simply reach for more brown rice, beans and fresh vegetables, toss a high-fiber cereal in the grocery cart and keep snacking on fresh fruit.