I love celebrating the new year, and the concept of resolving to become "better" in whatever sense that resonates for you. That's why I share these thoughts -- because nothing frustrates me more than the January shine, the February wane, and the March drop-off.

Healthy eating and living isn't about sacrifice; it's about recognizing the gift of life you've been granted and honoring yourself. Filling our bodies with processed foods weighs us down both physically and emotionally, limiting our ability to shine.

Before putting all of your energy (literally) into your workouts, be sure that you are prepping yourself by eating the foods that provide you with the nutrients your body needs. A successful pairing of exercise and nutrition is not beyond your reach!

There is something about the anticipation of a new year that gives us a clean slate and prompts us to recommit to improving ourselves. Use that energy to jumpstart your transformation.

Why not pick up a few new, healthy habits before the start of 2013? By following these simple tips, you will be able to leave the extra holiday pounds (and the guilt that comes with them) in 2012.

Simply put, I define spiritual practice as something you do every single day that draws you deeper into who you really are, by connecting you with your divine self.

The lack of a publicly-accessible database of labels is inhibiting the innovation in the area of healthy nutrition and marginalizes the benefits of using labels by the consumers.

We're all great at describing the huge gaping hole that's sinking the ship, but that won't keep the ship afloat. We need to act, not throw our hands up in despair. And to act, we need to believe there's a way out.

I recently received a wonderful thank-you letter from a client of mine who lost 150 pounds in just eight months! I thought I'd share his story with you because much of what he went through is such a common experience.

Self-awareness is the key to long-term weight loss and weight maintenance. That means paying attention to what we think, what we put into our bodies and how we feel. If these thoughts are below the conscious level, then we can do nothing to change them.

Variety may be the spice of life, but it seems to be the undoing of eating well. It's much easier to call it good when the choices are limited. Subject someone to a buffet and there's a tendency to want to at least sample everything -- and to go back for seconds, and thirds, and fourths.

Whatever choices or chances have brought you to the place you are that you're unhappy with right now do not matter. The only thing you have now is now.

Since I tipped the scales at 360 pounds when I'd just turned 17, I know how daunting a task it can seem to have over 150 pounds of fat to lose! I tried every plan under the sun -- the pills, the drinks, the machines, the trainers -- and every time, I would make some progress and backslide.

As the holiday season approaches, it seems we all want to channel our inner "Martha" and cook up a storm -- which I love, since cooking is my life. So I offer some food for thought on being healthy through the season of partying.

Last week we talked about how TV can deter you from making healthy lifestyle changes, particularly if you're trying to eat differently. Now, let's think about what steps you can take regarding television and healthy living.

The reason we don't always make healthy choices is simply because it is hard. Even people who are highly motivated and have strong willpower may fail to establish healthy habits in the long term if they don't adopt the right methods.

Minds are strange things. Our conscious experience of the world feels separate from the body that we inhabit. Discussions about the relationship between mind and body happen both in college dorms and in the philosophical literature. But does this discussion really matter?

For those that are living always "on" in an always-connected, overwired world, there simply is never enough time. Especially for sleep. All too often, when there is time for sleep, we can't. Our minds are too busy to turn off.

Do you go off of the wagon when you are hungry and have nothing to eat? Do you realize you're starving and the only food available is something you'd prefer not to eat but "it'll have to do?" These are the times that you are most vulnerable to sabotaging your hard-won efforts.

How many people do we all know, including of course ourselves, who eat and drink too much of the wrong things and, despite modern medicine, have gotten heavy and out of control? Too many, for sure!

If you've begun to make a lifestyle change -- a new diet, exercise routine, stress reduction activity, or anything else -- consider that there will be times when you may need or want to get off your lifestyle wagon.