It's seems like you hear about a new diet plan all the time. Low-carb, meal replacement, plans where you purchase your meals, plans that teach you a new way to eat ... the options are limitless. I wondered what diet plans you have tried:

• 29 percent of you have given Weight Watchers a try. With online and in-person meetings to choose from, Weight Watchers has great built-in support. Weight Watchers teaches nutrition and exercise habits to last a lifetime. "That's Fit" reader Julie said, "I have tried many diets in the past, but what finally worked for me was Weight Watchers. I lost 50+ pounds and have kept it off for two years and counting."
• 23 percent of you have tried more than one plan. I know this is where I fall! Switching diet plans isn't a bad thing if the plan you're on isn't working for you. Just be sure you're not diet hopping because you aren't seeing immediate results. Weight loss isn't meant to be instant ... slow and steady wins the race.
  
• 16 percent of you tried The Best Life. Though the plan is different, The Best Life is similar to Weight Watchers in that it teaches you habits you can maintain for life. After all, a healthy weight comes from healthy habits. Check out more of Bob Greene's advice right here on "That's Fit."
  
• 14 percent of you have gone the low-carb route with The Atkins Diet. The Atkins Diet is based on the principle that if you reduce your carb intake (especially refined carbs like white flour and sugar), your body will burn more fat for energy.
• 5 percent of you have tried Slim Fast. Meal replacement options like Slim Fast give you calorie-controlled bars or shakes to take the place of regular meals. It's not a bad way to jump start a diet, and the convenience of the meal replacements works well for some people. However, "That's Fit" reader Connie said, "Long ago I did the Slim Fast diet. It was boring. I have found that a diet journal with a healthy diet of all types of food works the best for me. I keep track of what and how much I eat and adjust my diet accordingly."
• 3 percent of you have tried The Zone Diet. The Zone Diet follows the principle of balance. It recommends eating 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fat at each meal.

Not sure what diet plan is right for you? Check out "AOL Health" for information on many different diet plans.

Two tips for a more healthy diet: Plan ahead. And eat dinner at the table. It's that simple, according to RealAge.

Most people have no idea what to serve up for dinner until the very last minute. That's dangerous, the perfect opportunity for a spin through the drive-thru or a frozen meal thrown in the microwave. Planning ahead is key. Think about what you're going to eat and shop ahead of time. You'll be more likely to include fruits, veggies and other healthy fare in the mix if you do.

As for eating at the table, it's good for you too. It'll help you slow down, enjoy your food and cut a few calories too.

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January 1st is just two days away, so spend some time today getting ready for it.

The weather outside might be frightful, but bikini season is lurking mere months from now. I know, I know ... it seems crazy to think about wearing bikinis when it's December. (Unless you live in Hawaii, in which case, I'm jealous and I would love to come visit.) But if you make the strides to get your body in bikini shape now, you'll be smoking hot come summer.

Shape magazine has a five-month Bikini Body Countdown program that's sure to get you looking great in your itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny suit. Shape provides instructions, videos and a list of gear that you'll need for each month. It's not too soon -- so check it out now.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Fitz, I'm sick of feeling sick at the end of Thanksgiving Day. I seem to eat all day, even when I'm not hungry. I literally feel like the clothes I put on that morning don't fit me anymore. I'm dreading it this week. What do I do? Alex

A. Gobble Gobble, Alex! I mean ... don't Gobble Gobble, Alex. (Bad joke, I know). Holidays, particularly Thanksgiving, often lead to really weird amounts of mindless eating. It doesn't help that this particular day is actually based on a feast. Darn Pilgrims! Why couldn't they show their gratitude with a running race? I can help you avoid this scenario, though. No one likes to unbutton their jeans to be able to sit down. It's uncomfortable, embarrassing and depressing. So let's get proactive, make a plan and stick with it.

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My sister's friend is training for a half-marathon in February. She wants my sister and me to do it too. So my sister drove up my driveway the other day, called me on my cell phone, and beckoned me to her car window where she handed me this Hal Higdon 12-week training plan intended to prep me for conquering 13 miles, all in one shot. This is the same me who has only ever run as many as five miles at one time. My long runs lately are three miles. Hal's training schedule features three miles as a short run. I'm not sure about all of this. Either is my sister.

Runner's World calls the half-marathon the hottest race distance out there, perfect for newer racers like me who have maybe finished a few 5K or 10 K events (I've run three 5Ks, doing another on October 4). The half offers a worthy-yet-doable challenge without the training and racing grind of the marathon, say the running experts.

Doable. Sure it's doable. I have enough confidence in my abilities to know I can complete a half-marathon if I really set my mind to it. But do I want to? That's the question. Do I want to train harder than I do now to maintain my average level of fitness? Do I want to put a squeeze on my work and family schedule? Do I want to accomplish a physical feat I've never before attempted. Lots to think about. Gotta give Hal's program some thought -- and this Runner's World plan too (a nine-week commitment). Then, I guess I'll make the call.

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Are you already stressing today about what you'll do for lunch tomorrow? Here's an idea: Pass on the temptation to eat out -- it's much healthier and much more affordable to brown-bag it -- and consider throwing some of these items together. Don't wait until the craziness of morning arrives, though -- do it today so all you'll need to do as you head out the door for work is grab your lunch and go.

• Think fruits and vegetables, and drop a few servings in your lunch box. Portable fruits, like apples, oranges, and bananas, are great for snacks throughout the day.
  
• Top sandwiches with cucumbers, tomatoes, and spinach.
• Work in some whole grains but vary your choices from day to day so you don't get bored. Try popcorn, whole grain crackers and bagels, rolls, pitas, and tortillas.
  
• Consider making extra portions of healthy dinners so you can pack up leftovers for work the next day.
  
  

The message here: Plan ahead to beat the lunch rush -- and eat well too.

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In my expert opinion, yes! Disney World is the healthiest place on earth. I just returned from a five-night, six-day vacation with my husband and two children and was blown away by the amount of physical activity both offered and required of ourselves in order to indulge in the full Disney experience.

We pushed our double-stroller miles through two theme parks, climbed thousands of stairs and jumped an equal amount of waves at two water-parks, danced our tushies off to live bands at various Disney resorts, and played game after game with our children as we giggled, oohed and ahhed at all the Disney magic. As a fitness trainer, one of my biggest obstacles is convincing my clients not to trash their fitness efforts when they head out on vacation. Disney offers the perfect opportunity to not only maintain one's fitness level, but improve it.

The physical adventures are endless, and Disney World has made a deliberate effort to increase the availability of legitimately nutritious, low fat, and lower sugar foods. Fruit stands have popped up all over the theme parks, and children's dining has switched from burgers and fries to grilled chicken with carrots and grapes offered as side dishes. Soda has been dumped for low fat milk! I can't get food that "clean" in my own neighborhood, unless I cook it myself! Of course, the old junkie favorites like popcorn, fries, and ice cream are still available, but if you do care about your health and want to maintain it on vacation ... Disney makes it easy.

I rode bikes with my mom and my son on Sunday. We covered nearly seven miles on our trek around town, stopping at Walgreen's to accomplish an errand and then landing at my sister's house to rest and refuel. While there, I coaxed sis into running two miles with me. Then my mom and I rode back home -- Joey said "no way" to more riding and hung out with his cousins instead. Today, I walked. Tomorrow, I'll probably run some more.

I'm all about mixing it up this summer. Don't want things getting too stale. So I'm putting biking, running, walking, and back-yard exercising on my to-do list. There's also swimming. And jog-strollering. And the trusty gym. And kayaking at a local lake. There's a lot I can do this summer. And that's my plan -- to do a lot.

What's your summer shape-up plan? Give it some thought -- the season is just around the corner.

Men's Journal in January listed all sorts of life list ideas. Compiling all the things you ought to do before you die, these editors spotlight some pretty good picks, 45 of them to be exact. A man with a plan gets more done, they say. Here are some of the plans they've chosen for you.

• Go winter camping

• Raft the Grand Canyon

• Touch an elephant

• See the sunset from Key West

• Hike the Appalachian Trail, or at least some of it

• Learn a language

• Hug a tree

• Rescue a dog

• Forgive your parents

• Volunteer

• Teach a kid to ski, ride, or swim

• Learn to cook a meal other than breakfast

• Go vegetarian for a month

• Try yoga for a week

• Build your own house

• Scuba dive

• Work for what you believe in

• Make your child's life list your own

Some pretty healthy stuff, don't you think? Want to add anything to the list?

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Finally, there may be something on the horizon capable of sweetening our food and drink without adding to the chemical craze that keeps us wondering if sugary additives will one day poison us. It's called Rebiana, and it might just be the sugar substitute we've been waiting for.

Rebiana, a plant from Paraguay that uses leaves from the stevia plant, is unlike other additives: It begins its life as a living, breathing organism. Wow, it's natural -- and reportedly tastes good too.

Rebiana is currently spending its days under the microscope to ensure it's up to task of widespread use in the United States. Stay tuned for more developments.

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Is shaping up in 2008 proving to be a bit more difficult than you anticipated? I doubt you're alone -- after all, no one said changing your life was easy. eDiets recently came up with a list of things you need to do if you're trying to get fit this year:

• Make your workout non-optional. You wouldn't ditch out on work because you didn't feel like it, right? So don't ditch your workout either. Your health is very important.
  
• Work out at home. Getting to the gym is sometimes the hard part, so bring the gym to you.
  
• Be patient. It took you a long time to get out of shape, so don't expect to reverse that in an instant.
  
• Make a workout plan ... and a back-up. That way, if your plan A doesn't pan out, you don't completely miss out.
  
• Don't be a slave to your mood. If you're grumpy when you work out, go anyway. You'll feel better.
  
• Plan for short workouts. That way, you'll have an easier time convincing yourself to do it.
  

I think these make a lot of sense. Want to know more? Click here.

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All you need to remember for this diet plan is the number 5, says Harley Pasternak, trainer to the stars and author of The 5 Factor Diet.

Eat five meals per day, advises the most sought-after trainer among celebrities. Besides three main meals, have two substantial snacks so you never get hungry. Also, try to include these five components in every meal.

• A lean protein, such as chicken, fish, or egg whites.

• Filling carbs, like sweet potatoes, beans, brown rice, or oatmeal.

• Healthy fats. Try olive oil or nuts.

• Five grams of fiber, best obtained through fruit, vegetables, or whole grains.

• A sugar-free beverage. Water, tea, coffee, an unsweetened energy drink, or diet soda all count.
  

And finally, exercise five days per week. Strive for 25 minutes on a treadmill, take a Pilates class, or power walk with a friend.

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I'm wary of detox plans. I think that for the most part they're fads and I don't know if it's really all that healthy to starve yourself for days or even weeks. Having said that however, I've never actually tried one and so really can't comment on their effectiveness.

If you're interested in getting on a detox bandwagon, why not read this author's experience with the Lemon Detox, a program apparently favored by Madonna, Beyonce and Mick Jagger. Also known as the Maple Syrup Detox, the plan's website claims that those who have tried it out report benefits including resistance to illness, weight loss, increased energy, improved concentration and healthier hair and nails.

According to the author of the piece, an essential part of the diet is drinking a palm and maple syrup mixture, along with plenty of water. You don't have to avoid food, but if you do eat, it's got to be organic. The fearless writer claims that she didn't feel hungry, weak or grumpy and she lost weight, slept better and woke up feeling 'perky'. Doesn't sound so bad. Still, I think I'll stick to eating healthy. Would you give it a try?

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Dieting isn't just a physical thing -- it's a mental thing too. In order to achieve your weight-loss goals, you have to be positive and confident in yourself. But that's not always as easy as it sounds, especially if you're used to beating yourself up over your weight. WebMD has some great tips on how to change your thinking and get thin:

• Have patience: weight-loss is a big, long, difficult journey. Don't get frustrated if you don't achieve your goal in a few days
• Picture it: Imagine yourself thin, and imagine how good it will feel.
  
• Be realistic: You're not going to lose 10 pounds a week. Expect to lose 2 pounds a month, and re-evaluate that goal after 6 months.
  
• Set small goals: Don't plan on running a marathon right off the bat -- aim for something manageable, and make a bigger goal once you're comfortable with that
  
• Seek support: It's much easier when your friends and family are on board with your plans
• Plan: create a detailed plan -- don't think you can just wing it
• Reward yourself -- often: The best way to keep something up is to implement a rewards system -- just make sure the reward isn't food!
• Identify your bad habits and slowly try to break them
• Keep track of your progress: Weigh and measure yourself often to find out where you are on the journey.
  

How do you think yourself thin?

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