We’ve all heard the saying, you are what you eat (which, by the way is true) but recently I’ve begun to wonder, where you eat may be just as important as what you eat when considering your weight loss plans. Are the foods you eat at the office different then those you eat at home? How are they different? Are they different by time or consistency or sometimes type and amount?

Some people train for competition or an event like a 10K or a marathon better when they can concentrate and listen to their bodies. For others, working out is a meditation and they don’t need to distract their minds with outside stimulus - like TVs or music. For many of us, exercise can be more fun and motivating when we listen to an interesting podcast or groove to music favorites.

Well, we’re a little over a month into 2010 and the big question is: have you kept that new year’s resolution to get healthy, fit and lose weight? If you answered “no,” that’s OK! Honesty is the best policy and it’s also the first step is admitting you’ve got to make a change. Here’s the thing: you can’t expect to see any changes if you don’t make a plan, set some attainable goals and really promise, I mean, really REALLY promise yourself to stick to your plan.

The term “circuit training” is frequently thrown around in gyms and on weight loss television programs, but the question remains, what exactly does it mean?  And more importantly, does it work? 

According to Wikipedia, circuit training combines simple resistance training and high intensity cardio exercises to increase weight loss, muscle building and aerobic fitness.  An exercise “circuit” involves:

Leave your excuses at the door and start incorporating exercise into your day. Free exercise opportunities get your body moving, oxygen to your brain and burn calories without adding another "to do" to your your schedule.

Gym memberships are a great thing, if you can afford them and if there's one conveniently located so it's easy to get to. They're even better when you use them regularly enough to work out and reach your fitness and weigh loss goals. 

If you tend to have trouble feeling satiated when you eat or you’re the type of person who could always eat more, it's a good time to erase your current conception of food and start the New Year with a clean slate. Let’s take a step back and rethink your approach to food. Nobody really knows which came first in the US, the huge portions or the huge appetites. But it seems they are here to stay, so you should know what you are up against when trying to lose weight. Portion control is something you have control over and will help you lose weight.

Soup is comforting and satisfying and adding a little salad or whole grain roll can make soup a healthy, fulfilling meal.

Soup warms our bodies during winter months; as a meal, it can also add to a greater feeling of satiety than some foods. Because soup takes a bit longer to eat than a sandwich, it also allows our brains time to tell our bodies we're feeling full. Generally, "broth" soups have fewer calories, carbs and fat than their cream-based counterparts.

We all want to eat healthy and lose weight; the hard part is actually doing it. Throughout my own weight loss journey, no matter what weight loss plan I was on, I found that preparing my food ahead of time made me think about what I was going to eat before I actually ate it. It's one of the best ways to watch what you're eating and stay within your diet and weight loss goals.