Just after the Super Bowl, I asked you how you felt about eating on special occasions. Do you stress about every calorie? Do you try to eat healthfully, but still take small portions of your favorites? Or do you not worry about it all? Here's what you had to say:

• 43 percent of you forget about the calories. After all, it's only one day.
• 39 percent of you take a balanced approach. You don't let it stress you out, but you watch your portion sizes so you don't go overboard.
• 17 percent of you count every calorie.

There are always going to be special occasions. I'm sure a lot of you have dinner plans to celebrate Valentine's Day this weekend. And, as most of you know, it's okay to treat yourself once in a while. So, on those rare special occasions, order what you want. But choose healthful options when possible and watch your portion sizes. Besides ... it's more romantic if you share a dessert, anyway!

Still have holiday goodies hanging around the house? I know it's hard, but it's time to stick them in the trash. January 1st is just two days away, and we want you to be ready.

Is weight loss on your list of New Year's resolutions? Here are five easy ways to make that resolution stick, once and for all. Here's to hitting your goal weight in 2009!

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It's Christmas Day and the last thing you're probably thinking about is pirates.

But if you've got time for a quick workout before your company arrives, Fitz and Paddie (a.k.a. Captain Feathersword of the Wiggles) want to help you stay in shape over the holidays.

While you're there, don't forget to look around ... and Merry Christmas!

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So your bags are packed, the car is stocked with festive wrapped presents and you're about to go over the river and through the woods when you realize ... you forgot to buy cousin Jimmy a gift.

We've all been there. At this point, you may not have time to purchase one of our favorite fit gifts, but there are still plenty of health-promoting gifts you can pick up on the way to your Christmas celebrations. Check out the gallery for ideas.

'Tis the season to be merry, and being merry usually involves copious amounts of food and drink. While there might be a salad or veggie tray at your disposal, it's more likely that the spread at your next holiday party will be stocked with unhealthy stuff, like egg nog, cookies, cheese and junk food.

What's your Holiday party weakness? Here's what you told us:

• 27 percent of you have a soft spot for Christmas cookies.
  
• 24 percent of you are crazy about chocolate -- but what else is new?
• 14 percent of you say alcohol is your vice.
  
• and seven percent of you said all of the above -- here, here!
  

Thanks for sharing!

It takes a hard-core fitness buff to run in the frigid winter weather. It takes just a touch of insanity to run in the winter ... in a Speedo ... wearing a Santa hat.

Need a little inspiration? Or maybe just a time-out from all the holiday hoopla to look at some hard bodies in Santa wear? Then check out this Santas in Speedos gallery over at Holidash.

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The days before Christmas are winding down. If you're in need of a quick gift, a DVD is a good choice. While a couple of hours plopped on the couch certainly doesn't do anything for fitness, many sports-themed movies have an inspiring message. So, when picking out a flick for your favorite movie buffs, why not choose one that motivates them to become more fit? Check out the gallery for some ideas.

When loading up your iPod with workout tunes, Christmas songs are probably the last thing you think of. FitSugar recently ran a poll asking their readers if they would work out to holiday music. At the time I wrote this, 73 percent had responded saying there's no way they'd work out to holiday songs.

Why the bah humbug, exercise fans? Exercise is good for your mood -- add a little bit of cheerful Christmas music to your workout and you'll be a right jolly old elf. (Without the bowlful of jelly.) While Bing Crosby is perfect for nights spent around a crackling fire, consider these relatively more modern songs for your workout:

• Santa Claus is Comin' to Town by Bruce Springsteen
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies
• All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
• Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson
• What Christmas Means to Me by Stevie Wonder.

What holiday songs do you think would be good for your workout?

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I was watching a re-run of a Ruby episode the other night, and Ruby said something I think most people struggling to lose weight have felt at one time or another. She said: "I feel like I'm being punished."

If you're trying to lose weight and all the thin people around you are indulging at restaurants or at holiday parties, it certainly can feel unfair. And that feeling of injustice can add another layer to the body image issues that often accompany obesity. In addition, holiday parties can leave many overweight people feeling self-conscious -- worried about what they're going to wear and feeling judged for every bite they take.

I've dealt with weight issues, and I've had those feelings. I've wondered if the person at the check-out counter is thinking, "Wow. She really doesn't need that candy bar." To succeed at weight loss, it's important to accept who you are and know that, while losing weight, things aren't always going to be fair. In addition, we're often harder on ourselves than others are. Rather than wondering about my buying a candy bar, most cashiers are probably just thinking about the end of their shifts.

If you're facing holiday get-togethers while trying to lose weight, check out these tips for sticking to your plan and enjoying the party without guilt or worry.

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Here's an easy way to fit in fitness while you're trying to get ready for Christmas.

Christmas is a notoriously unhealthy time of year -- rich dishes and sugar galore ensures that it's almost impossible to lose weight this time of year. But over at the Daily Mail, they have some simple swaps you can make to cut calories and hopefully inches too. Here are a few ideas:

• Champagne instead of mulled wine saves 131 calories
• Chicken satay skewers instead of mini cocktail wieners saves 83 calories
• Boiled potatoes instead of roast potatoes saves 131 calories
• Vegetarian stuffing instead of meat stuffing saves 70 calories per tablespoon
• Packaged gravy instead of homemade gravy saves 65 calories
• Fruit salad with cream instead of fruit trifle saves 216 calories

Do all of the above swaps and you're saving yourself 696 calories. No bad for a few easy substitutions, eh? Click here for more simple swaps.

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That Christmas shopping you're putting off is becoming dangerously close to "last-minute" Christmas shopping.

No worries, though, because over at Holidash you'll find the healthy gift finder. So now, not only can you hunt down the perfect gift ... you can give the gift of a healthier lifestyle at the same time.

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The holiday season is in full swing, which means that you need to keep a sharp eye out for holiday diet traps.

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What's one of the quickest, easiest ways you can think of to take your daily look from fair to festive? If you ask me, all you need is a little glitz!

Seriously, how many other times throughout the year do you get to wear anything sparkly? You know, once you pass the age of 14? While I might have a few eyeshadows with a bit of pearly shimmer, I don't reach for the sparkle too often, which makes it just that much more special when I do.

I understand some people's aversion to sparkle -- could anything seem less natural than glitter? But the thing is, most grown-up beauty products these days don't have actual pieces of glitter (and if they do, put it back on the shelf and slowly back away), and a little bit of shimmer can go a long way toward enhancing your natural beauty. Especially when those products are nature-based to begin with.

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Traveling this holiday season? You'll probably be spending some time in the airport, battling long lines, grumpy fellow passengers, unhealthy food options and -- worst of all -- icky airport bathrooms. Shudder.

Health.com recently rated the airports in America and came up with a list of the healthiest airports in the nation, based on things like healthy food options, cleanliness and convenient services that help take the stress out of travel. Here are the top five picks:

• Phoenix Sky Harbour International
• Baltimore/Washington International
• Chicago O'Hare International
• Detroit Metropolitan
• Denver International

Check out the rest of the list here -- how does your city's airport stack up?

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