AOL's Diet department has come up with
this list of the the 100 smartest dieting tips. Usually I'm skeptical of things claiming to be the 'best' or the 'smartest' but I really think they're on to something here. Each of their tips is something simple that you can do, eat or say to help you at any point along your weight-loss journey, whether you're just starting out, you've hit a plateau or you're working the maintenance phase.
The ones that I am taking to heart are:
8. When dining out, make it automatic: Order one dessert to share.
16. Follow the Chinese saying: "Eat until you are eight-tenths full."
26. Have a V8 or tomato juice instead of a Diet Coke at 3PM.
72. Try two weeks without sweets. It's amazing how your cravings vanish.
95. Yoga can burn 250 to 350 calories during an hour-long class.
Read
the list and let me know which ones are most helpful for you!
I'm horrified every time I think about the man who clipped his nails for what seemed like forever on an Amtrak train ride I recently took. What makes people think leaving behind shards of nails in a train seat is okay? I've seen people do this on subway cars and even in a lunch room! And that's certainly not the worst (or grossest) behavior I've witnessed. At AOL Health, we're putting together a story on gross public behavior and I'd love to hear from you. Tell me about the grossest things you've witnessed people doing in public. From puking to spitting, we want to know your true gross-out tales.
Did you know almost 
The good news is that a 
Mary J. Blige recently released a new album, one that at least partially chronicles her path to wellness. Blige not only fought off depression and addiction, she committed herself to a healthy lifestyle as well, one that includes vigorous exercise 5 days a week and a healthy diet. While she acknowledges that it isn't easy, she also recognizes the importance of clean living. You can read 
Do you know people who seem to be bypassed by every cold, flu and other home or office bug with nary a sneeze or fever? Those people always exist, and we can't help but be jealous. What makes them that way?
If you ask me, motivation is the single most important thing to tossing out your bad habits and re-building a healthy lifestyle. After all, if you don't really want it, ultimately, you won't feel the drive to go after it. 
Sometimes when you're really looking for weight loss or fitness results it's easy to get discouraged and hit a plateau. Adding some extra reps with the free-weights or cutting a few more calories every day can sometimes be a good answer, but not always. 
One of my pet peeves is people who say things like, 'I can't wait until I'm off this diet so I don't have to go to the gym anymore ... ' and 'when I'm done this diet, I'll eat an entire large pizza on my own ...'.I mean, kudos to them for sticking to their plan temporarily, but don't they realize that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a life-long thing? It's not about vanity, about losing the pounds, about fitting in to those college jeans. At least it shouldn't be, anyway. It should be about your health -- because really, that's the most important thing.
Making a change toward a healthier lifestyle is one of the best decisions you can make. Creating that change takes knowledge, however, knowledge about nutrition facts and fitness. 
Summer Slimdown Guide: Instant self-confidence boosters
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Summer Slimdown Guide: Calorie-free foods (or close to it)
