One writer over at College Candy says the season is ripe for muffin tops -- not the actual tops of actual muffins, but the excess skin that hangs over the tops of shorts, pants, and skirts when these items of clothing are just a tad too small. This problem, coined the One-Size-Too-Small Syndrome by said writer, affects lots of college-aged girls (one might argue it affects more than just college girls) and should not be mistaken for an overeating problem at all. It's clearly a size issue. You can be a size four and still have a muffin top. All it takes is a size two piece of clothing to cause this all-too-annoying problem.

This female writer from NYU knows what's it like: "I'm definitely not a tiny girl by any means, and I completely understand the battle with body image," she says. "I get a little unhappy anytime I have to purchase something in a large instead of a medium, but if the medium makes me look like a sausage trying to escape its skin, is it really worth wearing? Is it really going to look like you're a size medium to anyone but yourself? Of course not! I may groan when I have to reach for a size larger in that cute little dress or jeans but if it lays just right and fits as intended, so be it."

NYU girl draws from comments made by Stacy London of What Not to Wear when she makes these points: (1) The only person who sees the size of your clothing is you. (2) What matters is the look and if you can pull it off. (3) If you must go up a size to look like you can breathe (or to actually be able to breathe), then bite the bullet and do it.

I get it -- I'm all about feeling good in my clothes. And as for breathing: It's a must have for me. How about you?

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2007 was a crazy year, and with the health of our world and its people starting to take a top priority throughout, it's no surprise that this was a year of much controversy. MSN Health recently did an article on the top trends of 2007.

What was hot this year:

• Sleep medication. Too many people suffer from insomnia, so the search for a cure was on.
  
• Tricking your kids into eating their veggies. Hey--whatever works!
  
• Going Green. And thank goodness for that -- we need to make major changes to save our earth.
  
• Medical Tourism. Travelling abroad for medical procedures is on the rise, both to avoid the high and the long waits in our home countries.
  
• Kids' Mental Health. The prevalence of autism, bipolar disorder and ADHD in kids has raised more than a few eyebrows.

What was not:

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I was reading some archive material today and found an interesting article from this past April. Are you ready? Here is the jist: diets don't work. Uh-oh -- them's fighin' words, right?

UCLA researchers stated that most dieters gain the weight they lose right back In fact, many gain more than they lost and end up being heavier than before the diet even began. Sound familiar? It does to me -- I've been there.

I love it when academia studies diet studies and pulls out the real information you'll never find in the marketing materials for low-carb food items and diet plans.

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If you love the taste of butter, but don't love all of the fat and calories involved in the consumption of it, Smart Squeeze is for you. Since other butter substitutions like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray are full of fat....Smart Squeeze stands out as the only choice providing genuine butter flavor with zero fat and only five calories per tablespoon.

Did you know that I Can't Believe it's Not Butter spray has zero calories and fat ONLY IF YOU USE 1.25 sprays? If you use any larger portion though.....you're screwed. I'm not even sure how one could accomplish a .25 spray! One teaspoon bags 20 calories and 2 grams of fat. Deceptive in my book. You really have to read the fine print to figure that one out.

So! If you want to enjoy a guiltless buttery piece of corn on the cob or some toast....go for it. Just get it in the white bottle with the green cap. Smart Squeeze is truly a smart product.

People are either going to love the author interviewed in this article or they're going to hate her. Corinne Maier, a French mother of two, has written a book called No Kid: 40 Reasons Not to Have Children. From what the interviewer says about the book, it sounds as though Maier is pretty fierce and truly feels her life was better before kids. In the actual interview though, she seems slightly more humorous (albeit in a dark way).

Maier believes the French Government promotes the idea of family in that country in order to keep the economy running -- more kids equals more consumers to sell goods to after all, and also ups the amount of future earners contributing to the country's pension programs.

But Maier also has plenty of personal reasons not to have kids, 20 of which are listed in the piece. They include:

• You will lose touch with your friends.
• Your child will kill your desire.
• Children sound the death knell of the couple.
• You will be duped into thinking there is such a thing as a perfect child.
• You will be expected to be a mother before you are a professional or a woman.
• Children are dangerous. They will take you to court without a second thought.

Some of the reasons are harsh and some humorous, but I also think that some ring true. Possibly the most shocking thing about the book is that this woman, who lives in a society where having kids is often thought to be the only way a woman can really ever be fulfilled -- and in which those of us who haven't had or don't want children are viewed with pity or scorn -- is willing to admit that she regrets having children.

What do you think, is Maier selfish and crazy or courageous and honest?

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One of my biggest guilty pleasures is the TV show "What Not to Wear". I don't really enjoy clothes shopping and I'm not great with make-up or doing my hair -- mascara and headbands/ponytails is often as good as it gets -- so I love the idea of a show that takes people like me and gives them a helping hand.

So I was pretty excited to come across this article by the show's resident make-up artist, Carmindy. She always looks great in minimal make-up and has pretty fantastic skin, so I figure she knows what she's doing! Apparently, great skin isn't necessarily hard to achieve. Carmindy recommends washing with a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type both in the morning when you get up and again before bed. It's also important to use a moisturizer daily and find one with SPF to protect your skin from the sun.

For more advice, as well as ideas for the best types of cleansers and moisturizers for oily, dry and combination skin, see what Carmindy has to say here.

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We always focus on making lists of things we need to do and inevitably end up feeling stressed out and overwhelmed by it all, when in reality a "not to do" list" may be much better for both our productivity and our health.

No, nobody is saying you should suddenly start shirking responsibilities. But by taking some time to realize what you waste time on every day you can make a list of things 'not to do' and you'll end up making room for all kinds of other things. By having more control over your time you'll naturally reduce stress and be productive. And that's good for all of us!

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One of the most frustrating things to me, as a fitness trainer is to see people who work so hard towards fitness get duped. The I Can't Believe it's Not Butter spray is one of those things. Now....I'm not suggesting the folks who make that product are liars. Cause they're not. I think the idea of their product is incredibly deceptive though, due to the fine print.

Did you know that the I Can't Believe it's Not Butter spray has zero calories and fat ONLY IF YOU USE 1.25 sprays. WHAT!? Who does that? If you use any larger portion though.....you're screwed. And how exactly do you accomplish a .25 spray?One teaspoon bags 20 calories and 2 grams of fat. Most people never read that fine print. In fact, most folks I know claim to pour it on their rice, pasta, and bread because they truly believe it's a completely fat-free product. Who knows how many thousands of fat calories these poor people have been unknowingly consuming for years? Do you think it's fair and reasonable for them to advertise ZERO CALORIES on the front of the bottle?

When I lecture on fitness I always address this topic, and I can't tell you how many jaws come crashing to the ground when I drop this information bomb. First looks I get are of shock. Second looks I get are of pure anger. They feel cheated and they have every right to. Of course, it would be nice if they read the ingredient lists which lists OIL as it's number two ingredient. But I still feel bad for the consumer, because they are lead to believe the product is completely fat-free and can be used at leisure. Fortunately though, I've found an amazing substitution which is legitimately fat-free, low in calories and delicious. I even bake with it!

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Ugh! I just read Women's Health magazine today, which I happen to love. I was so annoyed though! The magazine reports on the latest research, and I really felt like they crossed the line with relevance this month. There was this clip about how research shows that when you eat a meal high in trans fats, eating some walnuts with it could be beneficial. What?!?!

What the heck is the world supposed to do with that information? Stash a baggie of walnuts in their glove compartment just in case they go out for a really greasy meal? I suppose they're suggest that on top of eating a really greasy meal, ingesting about 200 calories worth of high fat walnuts would somehow improve the situation. With information like this being published, I'm not surprised the average Joe is totally confused on how to go about getting fit and staying healthy.

Folks, it's really not all that confusing. Make the great majority of your meals and snacks nutritious and low in fat. Enjoy lots of fruits, veggies, lean meat, and some starchy carbs. Sweets and fried foods should be a rarity. Avoid using oil, butter, grease, or fattening sauces. Exercise most days of the week. Huff and puff when you do cardio, grunt when you train for strength, and wince just a little when you're working on flexibility. Carrying nuts around just in case you go overboard on the birthday cake would be majorly OCD.

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