Blog Posts by The Editors of Prevention

As the saying goes, perfection is overrated-especially when it comes to your diet. Think about it: Setting up tons of rules or following a set plan down to the very last carbohydrate and calorie is complicated, frustrating, and, frankly, a recipe for diet disaster.

The reason: Being a perfectionist dieter is "the all-or-nothing mentality," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and the author of The Flexitarian Diet. "Real life is just not conducive to this perfect-eating attitude."

Whenever you start a new weight loss program, it's normal to want to follow the rules exactly-you want results. Try these "anti-rules" instead:

Shrink your belly with food


1. Never start on Monday

According to a study conducted by Brian Wansink, PhD, the author of Mindless Eating, 46% of people said their last attempt to start a weight loss program began on a Monday morning. His study found that by Tuesday night, 31% of those dieters had

In theory, New Year's resolutions are a fabulous idea. After all, what better way to start the New Year than with a fresh outlook on life? In practice, this annual ritual has become a bit of a joke, to the point that people make bets about how long their friends' and loved ones' resolutions are going to last. For some, it's gotten so futile that they've stopped making resolutions altogether.

The problem, says David L. Katz, MD, MPH, director of the Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby, Connecticut, and author of The Way to Eat, is that many resolutions are unrealistic and poorly executed. "Most resolutions involve inspiration but no preparation," he says. "For long-term success, a detailed and sustainable action plan is key."

With help from our experts, we've put together a list of resolutions for you to try. Many are a spin on the usual resolutions, but with tips for making them stick.

Excerpted from List Maker's Get-Healthy Guide

1. Take A Baby Step Approach to Health

If deep breaths, weekly yoga classes, and venting to your friends aren't helping you to stop stressing out and relax, you have plenty of company-and it's not your fault. New studies show that these supposedly tried-and-true anxiety busters are often just... well, a bust. Here are 5 surprising truths about what really helps manage stress-and what doesn't.

1.You never go to bed angry
Better strategy: Just get some sleep already

When you're mid-dustup and about to wring your husband's neck, the last thing you feel like doing is curling up in bed beside him. But deep down, many of us worry that going to bed angry just tempts fate. So we bargain, cajole, and then fight some more in an effort to resolve the dispute, thinking all will be well by the morning if we can just reach a resolution.
The fact is, forcing a discussion by bedtime can actually make things worse, says Andrea K. Wittenborn, PhD, an assistant professor in the marriage and family therapy program at

Lots of diets work for lots of people-the key is to find what works best for you. But if you're not sure where to begin, these 5 science-proven tips (that are easy to fit into any lifestyle) will get you started:

1. Snack on almonds
When salty cravings strike, bypass the pretzels or popcorn. In a study of 65 men and women who were following a low-calorie diet, California researchers found that those who noshed on the nuts shrank their waistlines nearly 50% more than dieters who didn't eat them, despite consuming the same number of calories. Likewise, Spanish researchers found that even without increasing exercise, a diet enriched with monounsaturated fatty acids (aka MUFAs, found in foods such as almonds and avocados) decreased the accumulation of abdominal fat, compared with a carbohydrate-heavy diet, which increased it.

Top 10 MUFA's for flatter abs

2. Fill up on fiber
"When you slow digestion, you slow the delivery of glucose [blood sugar] to the bloodstream," says

Throw a cookie party-and don't regret a thing! These 6 healthy versions of seasonal favorites are addictive, fabulously festive and have all sorts of bonus benefits. Happy ( and healthy) baking!

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Even though you're waist deep in holiday fun, there's no reason to wait until January 1 to put healthy habits in place-especially if you don't want all that food and drink to go to your waist (or butt, hips, or belly). In fact, smart everyday moves rather than big lifestyle overhauls are what add up to real results. "When you focus on just a couple of small changes at a time, you begin to ingrain some healthy habits that last for a lifetime, rather than trying an all-or-nothing approach that more often than not fails because it's too hard to follow," says Lesley Lutes, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of psychology at East Carolina University. Here are 6 simple steps (with proven results) to get started. Add just one or two a week to your regular routine and you can lose nearly 3 inches off your waistline and be about 10 pounds lighter come spring.

Fight off excess holiday pounds in 3 days

1) Take 10 minutes to eat a treat

Try this strategy to permanently

Busy much? Coffee isn't the only way to get through the day. New drinks and bars are popping up everywhere, providing a jolt of energy (from caffeine) in grab-and-go packages. Unfortunately, many of these products also contain added sugars or other health-harming additives that set you up for a crash.

The good news is that lots of foods without energy on their labels boost pep as well. "There's nothing magic about energy foods," says Nancy Clark, RD, author of Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook. Here what to pick and skip:

9 sleep myths that steel your energy

Worst: Energy Drinks

These beverages, like Red Bull, are caffeine-and-sugar cocktails that come in 8-ounce cans. Caffeine boosts cognitive performance, and glucose (the brain's main source of fuel) gives an added jolt. Many of these drinks also include a rain forest fruit called guarana, which contains still more caffeine.

Down a can and it's hard not to feel rocket fueled-but some people also

Staying alert and energized is more than a matter of a getting a good night's sleep. There are loads of little things-from the color of your sheets to your snooze button habit-that can affect fatigue. Here, a few "who-knew?" moves that could be zapping your zip.

1. You Wake Up to Beige
"Seeing a bright, vibrant hue when you open your eyes gets your adrenaline going--and that sudden surge of energy helps clear the cobwebs and kicks you into gear," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. Put a red, orange, yellow, or fuchsia throw pillow, blanket, or piece of art in the area you first see in the morning, or slip on a robe in one of these shades. You can even make breakfast visually stimulating (and get a nutritional boost) by pouring yourself a glass of antioxidant-rich pomegranate or cranberry juice with a sweet slice of orange.

7 reasons you're always exhausted

2. Your House Is Florally Challenged
Seeing a bouquet of blooms when they first woke up