According to recent studies, working out in a group makes you happier than working out on your own does, and it's not just a state of mind -- your endorphin levels actually rise in a group exercise setting. If you're anything like me, this is big news because let's face it -- I'll do pretty much anything to make the workout less painful.

But not everyone enjoys social sweat sessions -- some prefer to hit the running trail with only an iPod for companionship. Yet others can't live without it -- they need other people around to motivate them to keep going. So I'm wondering, which are you?

Last week, I asked you if liquid calories were a big part of your diet. Want to know the results?

• 49 percent of you said nu-uh, no way. You stick to no or low-cal drinks only. It's just not worth it.
• 41 percent said not really. You indulge sometimes, but it's rare.
• 5 percent often do -- you like to treat yourself.
• 5 percent said you do all the time -- drinks are what keep you going!

Speaking of drinks, can you guess how many calories comes in a can of Red Bull?

You can cut out all the fast food, junk and sugar from your diet you want, but if you don't face the facts about the liquid calories you're consuming, losing weight can be a hard battle. That's because so many people underestimate the damage drinks can do. That large juice you had with lunch, the fancy Frappuccino you had this afternoon, the fruity cocktails or beers you're looking forward to after work -- they can all add up, and in some cases, these beverages can cost more calories than a Big Mac!

But if you're careful about your waistline, you're probably already drink-savvy enough to stick to low-cal beverages. Do liquid calories make up a big part of your diet?

Last week, I asked you if you turn to comfort food in times of need. Your answer?

• 60 percent of you are human -- you try not to, but sometimes you just can't help it.
• 21 percent of you definitely do -- it's the only thing that helps.
• 10 percent of you don't give in to your cravings -- you know it won't do you any good in the long run.
• 9 percent of you don't even think about food when you're stressed. Lucky jerks.

Going back to school? Comfort food will lead to the Freshman 15, but we know how to avoid it.

In her most recent GOOP newsletter, Gwyneth Paltrow talks detox. And ... it's a little bit scary. She talks about doing the Master Cleanse last year, which she describes as "hallucinogenic (in a bad way)" and says she wants to do a different sort of cleanse or detox to drop the holiday pounds.

She talked to her doctor, who actually said the Master Cleanse "can be dangerous because the liver is not supported by the nutrients it needs." He explained to her that it's possible to detox while eating as long as you're not eating the wrong stuff.

Gwyneth created a menu plan for a "seven-day elimination diet," saying "I will be suffering along with you to kickstart my year a bit lighter." So, does that mean being rich and famous doesn't make a nasty detox any easier? Who knew?

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I wrote in November about the world's first liquid chocolate bar, officially named the Lava Bar and much to my surprise, the post generated 122 comments and a flurry of passionate discussion about a tie that binds us all: chocolate.

Among the spirited discourse sparked by this chocolate in a pouch was a general sense of misunderstanding about the product that is not a chocolate syrup but so much more. I don't know this because I've tried it -- although my husband did and reports that it's absolutely magnificent. I know this because Ken Berke, Lava Bar President and CEO, tells me so. He also tells me that while the Lava Bar currently is not suitable for those searching for the ultimate in health foods, it may one day appear in a sugar-free variety. For now, though, this treat is strictly an indulgence -- best used in moderation, of course.

Berke has a lot more to say about his product, born from an idea that struck him in 2005, and he's here to share it all with you, the readers who proved via wild and crazy comments that the Lava Bar is one hot topic. Read on.

So you're the man who created the sweet treat called "Lava Bar." Why such a creation?

Because I love chocolate. Period!

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I don't know about you but during the days when I ate chocolate, I thoroughly enjoyed savoring each and every bite. The enjoyment I got from tasting, chewing, and swallowing chocolate is what kept me coming back for more. Not knowing when to call it quits is the very reason I've given up the habit of eating this sweet treat. But that's just me.

For those who still indulge -- and those who don't care for the actual eating of chocolate -- the Lava Bar™ may be in store. It's new. It's unique. It's the world's first liquid chocolate bar.

The Lava Bar™ comes in a flexible film, foil-lined squeezable pouch containing 2.5 oz. (approx. 70 grams) of gourmet, molten Lava Chocolate™. Just tear open the perforation at the top of the pouch and it's as easy as squeezing that chocolate right into your mouth. Each packet comes complete with two servings, each with 140 calories, eight grams of fat, and 13 grams of sugar.

This is no chocolate syrup I'm talking about. Nope. It's a pre-melted chocolate bar, perfect for chocolate lovers everywhere. Well, not for me. If chocolate was still on my menu, I'd want the real deal. How about you?

Also: Craving chocolate? You may be neurotic.

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I always get a kick out of the bizarre gimmicks that people use to stay slim. For instance, have you heard of this trend of ruining your food? People will dump a whole container of salt/sugar/hot sauce/liquid soap on their food to keep them from eating any more. It seems extreme, but for someone who picks at their food while it's in front of them, I can see how it works.

Here are some other gimmicks from WebMD:

• Dinner-for-breakfast diet: Have something hearty in the morning, a salad for lunch and some fruit in the evening. This way, you're eating the most calories in the morning, and you have a chance to burn them off.
  
• Container diet: Measure all your food for the day into a Tupperware container and munch from that throughout the day. When it's gone, you're done eating, so you'll have to learn to ration.
  
• Liquid diet: By giving up chewing and living off of liquids, you can drop weight fast. A smoothie for breakfast and soup for lunch and dinner, plus lots and lots of water, will help you shed the pounds without feeling deprived.
  
• No white stuff diet: If you haven't already, cut out the white stuff -- sugar, flour, rice and dairy. What's left? Veggies, protein and whole grains. Really, you can't go wrong with this one.
  

What gimmick works for you?

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For many of us, the reason we're overweight or obese isn't down to what we're eating -- it's down to what we're drinking. Soda, alcohol, juice, smoothies, lattes -- these are all major sources of calories, yet we don't think of them that way because we don't sit down with a knife and fork to eat them. CNN has done a report on this as part of their America's Killer Diet feature.

Keep in mind that drinks have a lot of calories. A large soda with your burger and fries has about 400 calories -- that's more than the fries! A syrupy sweet coffee drink from Starbucks can have upwards of 250 calories. And beer? 160 calories a bottle. For more calorie counts, check out this post on Fitbuff.

Here's a challenge: Quit the juices, the soda and the booze for a week and see if you lose any weight as a result. Drink water and tea instead and eat as you normally would. I bet you'll notice a difference -- if not in your weight, in your energy at least.

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Have you been dieting for years with no luck? By now you're probably blaming anything and everything for your lack of weight-loss -- your job, your metabolism, your spouse, etc -- anything as long as you don't have to look inwards and place the blame on yourself to realize that you're not giving it your all.

WebMD has put together a list of the top reasons you're not losing weight:

• You eat too fast
• You skip meals
• You drink too many calories and think they don't count because they're liquid
• Your portions are too big
• You underestimate the calorie value of add-ons like salad dressing and sauce.
  
• You engage in 'mindless eating'

I myself am guilty of a few of these. If you are too, don't beat yourself up, but do look at changing these habits ... doing so might mean you're finally able to loss weight successfully.

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Your body has no idea that liquids contain nutrients.

Or so that's the theory scientists have come up with based on a recent study that took the idea that liquids are less filling to the next level. They found that although liquid and solid calories of comparable nutrient value filled people up about the same right away, the people who had the liquid calories reported feeling hungrier sooner afterwards. And in the study it didn't seem to matter if the liquid/solid fullness comparisons came from high carb, high fat, or high protein sources -- a glass of juice or milk isn't nearly as filling in the long-term as a piece of fruit or a hunk of cheese.

Interesting. I can totally see this principle working in my life everyday -- can you?

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Many of us don't think twice about having a beverage with our meal. We tend to look at the food on our plate as the main source of calories, and ignore that beverage sitting next to the plate.

It's not new information, but here's a reminder that those calories can really add up. Studies show that people eat the same amount of food whether they have water with their meal or a beverage like pop or juice.

If you replaced three beverages per day with water, you could cut roughly 400-600 calories from your daily total calorie intake. In other words, you could lose about one pound per week simply by cutting three beverages like regular soda or juice out of your daily routine!

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