When it comes to weight loss, calories count. But don't get bogged down with record-keeping.

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In these tough economic times, almost everyone is on a tight budget. But did you know that you can apply penny-saving principles to calories as well?

I'm not a big believer in tracking calories every day. Currently, I'm on board with the America Takes It Off: Shrink a Size program and trying to lose weight. While I don't plan to count calories every day, I have been using an online tool to count them for now. The practice helps me get a good grip on my eating habits, and it doesn't allow me to pretend I'm doing better than I really am.

I like the idea of banking calories and, in theory, it should work. However, I have a horrible sweet tooth. Like many of my co-workers, I've been trying to minimize sugar in my diet. I splurged on a tiny sugar cookie the other day and had serious sugar cravings for the next 24 hours. So, for me, banking up for a bigger treat is probably a bad idea. How do you think this idea would work for you?

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Last spring, NYC restaurants were required to post calorie counts for all foods. Each meal, each brownie, each special coffee drink... labeled with that little (or not-so-little) number. Now, months after the change was made, Self Magazine checked in with New Yorkers to see the results.

The magazine surveyed 100 New York women and found:

• 79% like that calories are clearly posted
• 55% order less now that they know what's in their meal.
• 13% have stopped going to certain eateries altogether.

Many of the women quoted in the article state that the calorie information has changed their habits. Either they're limiting the number of times they indulge in their favorite treats or they're opting for lower-calorie items instead.

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On a regular basis, I make a habit of informing both my personal training clients and lecture guests of exactly when calories count. For some reason, this topic often seems more complicated than it is, so let me lay it out for you clearly.

When Calories Count:

• They count on Friday night.
• They count on your birthday.
• They count when you are out drinking.
• They count on Thanksgiving.

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Would you steer away from that juicy restaurant burger if next to its menu description came a whopper listing of its calories? New Yorkers are facing this very question now that the city's chain restaurants are legally required to post calorie counts on their menus.

Officials are hoping that publishing calorie facts will inspire healthier dining and minimize out-of-control obesity. It might. Kind of like journaling your every bite might prevent you from over-eating, staring at the number 2,900 while you drool over the Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries just might cause you to pull in the reigns. Gazing at a Starbucks pastry case may become a whole new experience too. Apparently, people were recently seen backing away from the glass at one location as they read labels.

"Oh man, I never would have guessed it was that much," said one woman about the cookie calorie counts. "It definitely discourages me from buying."

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I just overheard some women chatting at lunch today about the "hotness" of Governor Mitt Romney. Will that help him in this election? All of the polls and newscasters are predicting Senator John McCain to win the most delegates today, Super Tuesday. Hmmm. Maybe Mitt's sexiness will help him pull ahead.

I just bring up the question, because the chatty ladies put it in my head. I do agree though, that Romney is a looker. If I were a single lady and he were a single man.......I'd let him take me to lunch. But, that doesn't really sway me. I'm not that type of voter. I actually think extremely highly of both candidates. I do find it funny in fact, that Mitt's looks haven't been a topic.

It's that time of year when eating becomes a sport and pounds pack on like there's no tomorrow. There's no better time than the present then to start burning those calories before they get the best of us.

We burn calories with every activity we perform, even sleeping. Keeping track of what we burn throughout the day and becoming aware of which activities burn more calories than others can help us stay the healthy course as we eat our way through the holidays.

Check out this calorie burn calculator and you can determine just how many calories you'll expend performing more than 40 different activities. If you weigh 165 pounds and mow your lawn for 45 minutes, you'll burn about 321 calories. Spend 30 minutes running a 10-minute mile (weight: 135), and you'll burn 318 calories. Cook that holiday feast for 60 minutes (weight: 195), and 185 calories will be gone. Plug aerobics, cleaning, skiing, or walking into this nifty tool, along with your weight and length of activity, and you'll be on your way to calorie-burning awareness.

Keep in mind that simply burning calories is only a portion of what you need to accomplish in your quest for health. A well-balanced, low-fat diet, plenty of rest, and a healthy attitude are also essential. Of course, moderation is key too -- even with exercise. And don't forget that when you exercise, you must invest your 100 percent. Going through the motions alone won't do much good. Give it your all instead.

Here's to a calorie-burning holiday for all!

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He's lost more weight than he ever imagined, and he's still losing. He's dropping more weight at home, in fact, than he did as a contestant on NBC's The Biggest Loser. And that makes him a winner, despite his eviction from the show.

Jim Germanakos, 41, is 136 pounds lighter today than when he first set foot on the Biggest Loser set. He's dedicated everything to his weight loss, he told Today Show host Ann Curry on Tuesday. He left the comforts of home, left his wife and kids, and set forth on a journey he says is still not complete. Germanakos wants to lose another 35 pounds. I have a hunch he'll do it.

How exactly will he do it? Well, he'll work hard, hit the gym, and continue practicing what trainer Jillian Michaels has been drilling into his head about nutrition. He will (1) count calories, (2) avoid trans fats, (3) limit processed foods, and (4) consume mostly organic products. That should do it for the man who is putting his health and family first, the man who has inspired his wife to lose 45 pounds, the man who has happily become: one big loser.

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The BodyBugg by Apex Fitness is an amazing tool which will legitimately help you manage your weight. This mini computer which is worn around the upper arm, measures exactly how many calories one burns throughout the day . Combined with a personalized program which allows you to chronicle your caloric intake, the BodyBugg offers proof of exactly what you've accomplished each day.

The program sets personalized caloric intake and burn rates each day, specifically for the goals you'd like to accomplish. Just putting the BodyBugg on motivates me to move more and sit less. If I come home at night and see that I haven't achieved my goal.....I go for a walk. If I come home and find that I've superseded my goals, maybe I'll allow myself a treat. Either way......it's nice to know for sure what I've accomplished. It keeps me honest, and the other folks I know who use the BodyBugg have had much success with it too.

The BodyBugg is lightweight, attractive, and extremely comfortable. I actually forget I'm wearing it. Slim enough to fit under any shirt without looking strange, this Bugg is worth a try. Set goals, receive definitive data regarding your efforts and make changes where necessary. Cool tool.

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CalorieSmart describes itself as a portable food and exercise diary. Keeping a food journal and tracking everything you eat is a successful way for many people to get a hold on their dieting and eating habits, and the CalorieSmart machine not only allows you to do that but it also helps you look up the calorie counts of certain food items and estimate/calculate the number of calories per serving from homemade recipes.

All this sounds great, especially from hand held machine that you can take with you anywhere. But will you really take this big blue monstrosity everywhere? I'd be a little embarrassed to whip that sucker out at a restaurant, I'll be honest. In today's world of sleek cell phones and Blackberries this thing looks a little outdated and cumbersome. Maybe I'm being overly harsh, but it reminds me of some of the first hand held video games from years ago.

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