This might sound like the most blatantly obvious news out there, but your weight has a very close connection with how much TV you watch -- as in, the more TV you watch, the more you are likely to weigh. Whether it has to do with the fact that people tend to snack a lot in front of the tube, or the fact that when you're watching TV, you're probably not doing anything active, the moral of the story is clear: TV is no good for your figure.

Keeping this in mind, maybe now's a good time to forgo some of your must-see shows for an evening walk? But if missing Lost is absolutely not an option, perhaps you can catch the lasest episode while on the treadmill at the gym? Or, at the very least, try to do some sit-ups and push-ups on the commercial break.

(via Calorie Lab)

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The other day, my Monday evening Ripped class had an unusual addition: A camera man. They were filming a segment for a special on TV, and wanted to capture some of the action from our class. And with the cameras rolling, I had one of the best workouts of my life. Why? I was showing off, of course. Studies show that when you know people are watching you work out, you work out harder.

While it's important to know your own limits, no one wants to be seen as that person who takes too many breaks or who doesn't lift as much as the rest of the class -- especially when you're potentially on TV. But even when the cameras aren't rolling, I find myself working out harder when I'm in the front of the class near the instructor and hard-core regulars because I know people will notice if I put my weight down.

So next time you work out, make yourself visible, or, if you work out alone, pretend someone is watching you. And show off! Give it your all and show people what you can do.

Growing up, I probably spent way too much time in front of a television set than I should have. But nowadays cartoons are out and everything else is in! Personally, I've stopped watching a lot of TV because I just don't feel productive after soaking up all those glorious moving images. If you've been wanting to break the habit of excessive television in your life, this article may be for you.

Here's a really great tip if you like to watch TV during dinner: Turn it off and indulge in the subtleties of food! I know so many people who do this. Whether they want a little entertainment or something to break the silence, television is the jester in the room. But if you turn off all the distractions, you can take in all the aromas, color and taste. Also consider that it's easy to over-eat if you're not concentrating on all that food in front of you. That's two benefits in one!

Another excellent piece of advice is to plan an escape route. If you've got a specific show you always watch, get an idea to do something immediately after. This limits your chances of channel surfing when it's done, wasting time on TV shows you didn't plan on watching anyway. Television is not evil -- especially during college football season. But it's easy to see how it can absorb your attention, free time and health. Check out the other "TV Dieting" tips if you want to learn ways to cut back a little!

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Emmy-award winning Rachael Ray, host of the syndicated talk program Rachael Ray, guru of two Food Network series, cookbook author, and magazine extraordinaire, has a thing or two to say about holiday weight watching.

The holidays are no time be watching one's waistline, Ray tells OK! magazine.

"Oh, I don't care about any of that crap," says Ray. "I try to eat well so I can afford not to worry about any of it, but I don't care about my size. I have clothes in four different sizes in my closet!"

Don't think this 39-year-old is careless year-round. A Mediterranean diet is standard fare in her family, and she's sure it keeps her healthy.

""It's largely olive oil, vegetables and meats," she reports. "We've never been much into sweets in my family, so I don't think the holidays are too bad for our arteries."

Check out OKmagazine.com for more stories and recipes from Rachael Ray.

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Turning off the tube is a great practice for many parents, but unfortunately, many use the device as a pacifier and/or babysitter. The thing is, more television viewing can lead to increased behavioral problems, according to a new study.

Two or more hours of watching television was found to lead to more behavioral issues in younger kids, including sleep, attention, and aggressive behavior problems. The kids that were observed for the study ranged in age from two-and-a-half to five-and-a-half.

But, even more disturbing, the research showed that those children aged at five-and-a-half developed fewer social skills if permitted to watch more than two hours of TV per day. Moral of the story: cut down on that television watching for those younger kids. Come to think of it, we could all use less of the tube in our daily lives.

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This almost sounds like a mistake: a TV network telling watchers to turn off the television to go outside and play. But, that is exactly what children's network Nickelodeon did this past Saturday in an effort to encourage kids to get some exercise in the annual "day of play" that many observed around the globe.

This is a great example of trying to do the right thing for kids of all ages. Television has been called the 'great babysitter' for ages, but there is no substitute for supervised play outside for the health and vitality of that growing child.

Did you participate in this last Saturday? The dead air began at noon PDT and the network featured the case history of a chubby kid who used to play video games and sit in front of the television all hours of the day. After joining the "Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge" program, the youth dropped 40 pounds (40?) learned to swim and ride a bike. Those are both excellent activities for youth fitness.

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