• 73.1% of you said that you would trust your diet partner to be honest. That's good news. The support of a trusted friend or family member can really help you stick to your weight loss plans.
  
• 77.8% of you admit that you would like to lose more weight than your diet partner. Well, I can't say I blame you. Weight loss isn't a competition (well, not unless you're on The Biggest Loser), but we can't be magnanimous all the time, can we?

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Best of Biggest Loser 2008(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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• Two-thirds of those surveyed believe their diet buddy is lying about what they're eating.
• Over 60 percent would be unhappy if their diet buddy lost more weight than they did, but 70 percent say it would also make them unhappy if their buddy didn't lose any weight. (So we're OK if they lose some weight, but not if they beat us at our own game. Nice.)

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• Set goals. Know what you want to get out of your workouts. A weight loss goal is fine, as is a goal of hitting the gym four times a week. Or, maybe you just want to have more energy. Either way, have that goal set in advance.
• Get a workout buddy. Whether it's someone with whom you're competitive or just someone who'll hold you accountable for logging the hours, a friend will help you get more out of your workout. Unless, of course, said friend is more likely to talk you into getting ice cream instead of hitting the gym. Then you need to find a new friend.
  
• Try something new. Are you always going hard, trying to beat your fastest time, or lift more weight than you did last week? Change it up and try a yoga class, or something less competitive. You might get a whole new perspective on exercise!

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Jose Luis Garza isn't the world's heaviest man, but he was fast approaching that record. Doctors estimate that Garza, who is bedridden, weighs about 990 pounds. Garza states that his obesity is due to eating junk food and greasy tacos. But his weight really spiraled out of control after both of his parents died; after their deaths Garza was depressed and started binge-eating.

Recently Garza pleaded for help and he soon got a phone call ... from Manuel Uribe, the man who, at one time, weighed 1,230 pounds. Uribe has since shed 550 pounds -- not an easy feat when your bedridden. Uribe called Garza to give him support, hope, and advice. Soon after, Uribe's girlfriend visited Garza with a gift of kiwis, grapefruit, pears, and a protein supplement Uribe's doctors had recommended.

While Garza and Uribe are certainly on the extreme end of obesity, the support they've shown each other is a lesson for us all. If you're trying to lose weight, finding like-minded people will be a key to your success. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

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• Well, don't nag, that's for sure. No teasing either, no mater how mild. Encouragement is the key.
  
• Stress that you care about your friend or family member's health. Talk benefits – like a lower risk of disease and higher self-esteem.
• Promise you'll be a partner in fitness. Exercise is more fun with a buddy, but it also increases the chance of success. We're all less likely to quit when someone else is in the game with us.
• Trash the temptation. If you live with your special someone, rid the cupboards of diet derailers -- chips, cookies, cupcakes, soda -- and work together to plan healthy meals.
• Motivate. Offer incentives, like compliments or gifts – how about a pedometer, a personal training session, or an offer to watch your pal's kids while he/she works out?
• Lead the way. Be a good role model by practicing good diet and fitness habits. And when roadblocks get in the way -- and they will -- just get back on track, together.

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Everyone of course! I recently returned from a fabulous vacation with my family at Walt Disney World in Florida. Our six-day adventure was non-stop fun, and a major highlight of this trip were our days at the Disney water parks. We enjoyed both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon to the max and would love to go back every sunny day of the year.

I had a little sad moment though as I chatted with a father of two little ones in the kiddie section of Blizzard Beach. We were commenting on what a challenge it was to keep perfect track of our children in such a busy, water-filled place. The poor guy told me he was alone with his children, because his wife didn't feel like she could go out in public in her swimsuit. He didn't want the kids to miss out on the water fun, so he took them himself. She stayed back at their resort.

It made me amazingly sad to think that this woman felt so uncomfortable in her skin that she couldn't even enjoy a beautiful day with her family at a ridiculously perfect place. I know we all feel self conscious at times (including me). And even as my profession is to educate and inspire others to be more fit ... I wouldn't want anyone to place their life on hold because of their body shape or size. That woman is a really special part of her family, and I imagine they missed her very much.

I know that people who don't have pets or who aren't big animal lovers can't understand how those of us with furry friends can possibly think of dogs and cats and friends, family members and even children. I suppose these people think it's ridiculous to shell out perfectly good money on specialty treats for pets. To an extent I can see where they're coming from -- fancy clothing for cats and dogs is a bit extreme in my opinion -- but I will happily spend hard-earned cash on fun stuff for my dog.

I know that I'm not the only one. Most major, dog-friendly cities (Vancouver being the first that comes to my mind) have got fancy dog salons and boutiques in pretty much every trendy neighborhood. While I usually stick with funny squeaky toys and the occasional cute new collar, other dog owners out there will open their wallets for specialized grooming products, accessories, clothing, bedding and more.

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It's always great to have close friends to help you though a rough patch in a relationship. They can give you guidance based on their own experiences, offer a shoulder to cry on or just listen to little (or big) complaints or concerns you may have.

However, as this piece suggests, it's not a good idea to go overboard when it comes to filling your best buddies in on all of the little details that surround your current relationship. Remember that what your friends say about your other half can influence the way you behave around and toward your partner, so make sure to keep your thoughts separate from theirs.

Also remember that your friends will believe what you tell them about your partner so if all you ever do is share the bad stuff, they'll have an unfair and biased opinion when doling out advice. It's a good idea to let your friends in on some of the good times as well. But don't go too far -- as the article mentions, there are private parts of any relationship that should be kept between the two of you. If there is something that you wouldn't want your other half to share with their friends, it's best if you don't talk about it with yours.

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Who out there has become a Facebook 'addict'? It's tough for many to not go overboard adding photos and searching out friends from high school and earlier. I think it's fun to see what everyone is up to and have the chance to send quick notes to say hello.

But quick notes don't equal a real, lasting friendship and the study reported on here discusses how those who use social networking sites and 'collect' dozens upon dozens of friends, will likely not be able to forge any true relationships with the friends they make on the site.

A real friend is someone who will be there for you physically and emotionally when you're in need. They'll make you laugh and keep you company when you're feeling lonely. The people you meet on Facebook you may never even see face-to-face, so if you're joining these kind of sites in the hopes of making new friends, it may be a better idea to join a local recreational sports team or hobby group.

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• They Always Want to Spend Time With You - Totally true, a dog will never abandon you for baseball, work or X-box.
  
• They Never Scrutinize What You Made for Dinner - Every dog I've ever had (mostly Labradors which, to be fair, are often compared to garborators), will eat whatever you give them with zeal, enthusiasm and appreciation. No complaints.
• They Always Want to Cuddle - Dogs revel in your attention and will give it to you whenever you're willing to accept it. The same cannot necessarily be said about a boyfriend.
• They Never Make You Feel Insecure - Your dog will always be thrilled to see you when you walk through the door, whether you've got a bad haircut, gained 15 pounds or feel all bloated. Although again to be fair, a smart boyfriend who knows what's good for him won't point these things out either.
• They Never Complain - If you've had a bad day and need to talk or need some time on your own, your dog will listen to your problems and keep you company on a solo walk.
  
• They Are a Great Judge of Character - Unless you've got a particularly aggressive pet that dislikes everybody, how your dog treats the guys you bring home -- and perhaps more importantly, how the guys your bring home treat your dog -- could tell you everything you need to know about your date. Basically if you bring a man home and he's not a huge fan of you dog (or vice versa), send him packing.
  

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• Pick someone who is fair and honest but not downright mean
• Choose someone who has your best interests in mind, who won't enjoy seeing you fail and begrudge you if you do well
• Find someone with similar goals. If you want to lose 100 lbs and your friend wants to lose 10, it might not work.
  
• Enlist someone who you see regularly, but not someone that you live with
• Choose someone who likes the same rewards as you. If your friend is a guy, he's probably not going to be motivated by the chance to shop for that perfect little black dress.
  

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