Jay Sullivan/Fitness MagazineBy Caroline Hwang

About to throw in the towel? Don't! You may be closer to your goal weight than you think.

When Weight-Loss Wanes
If the meaning of insanity is doing the same thing again and again but always expecting a different outcome, I must be certifiable. Why am I running an hour almost every day, thinking the scale might finally tip to within 10 pounds of my goal? I have this thought each morning while programming (read: punching) my weight into the treadmill console. Though the first 8 pounds came off relatively quickly, and I've been good about eating light and exercising, I am the same lousy weight I was five months ago.

Related: The Best Way to Beat Belly Flab

Is Your Scale Stuck?
Turns out there's a good reason so many of us hit the "final 10" wall. In a word: biology. "All of us have a built-in mechanism that protects against starvation. When caloric intake falls below caloric expenditure, a series of metabolic and physiological responses kick in to preserve and

These munchies satisfy your cravings and offer surprising health benefitsIt's the middle of the afternoon, dinner is hours away, but your stomach is growling. Should you have a snack? Yes, as long as you choose wisely. When done right, snacking can be a key component of a everyone's daily diet, says sports nutritionist Deborah Shulman, Ph.D. "Eating every three or four hours can help control your appetite." It can also provide nutrients you need before and after a workout, says Pamela M. Nisevich Bede, M.S., R.D., a nutrition consultant for Swim, Bike, Run, Eat! But be judicious with your mini-meals. Constant grazing can lead to weight gain; have just one or two snacks a day (each between 150 and 250 calories). Avoid prepackaged junk foods, and stick to whole or minimally processed options, which will not only satisfy your hunger and cravings, but also provide surprising health benefits, too. Here, we provide healthier options for every craving. (If you're trying to shed weight, avoid falling for these Top Weight Loss Myths.)

YOU CRAVE SALT
EAT: POPCORN

Stephen Welstead/LWA/CorbisI have always enjoyed art and being creative, and I wish I had followed that path more closely through school and into college. There were so many signs that I should have followed that path, but I didn't, even though that is ultimately where I have landed because it really was my passion. One of the main reasons I didn't follow that path is because everyone around me had been telling me that I was supposed to be a teacher. I also love working with kids, and I come from a family of practical, service driven people who thought that that meant that I should become a teacher, and so that's the path I followed. Had I pursued my interest in the creative arts, I'm certain I would be further along in my career now. So how do we help our kids find their passion and follow the right path for them?

Read More: 3 Steps to Finding a Passion That Makes You Money

My path to becoming a teacher met an abrupt halt when after doing my student-teaching I realized that while I loved kids, I really didn't

Be prepared for a snow daySnow days can be fun, but only if you're prepared. Do you know what essential supplies you might need to stay safe--and sane? Fay Wolf, professional organizer, joins Easy Does It host Ereka Vetrini to share her tips for getting snow day ready.

Wolf suggests keeping at least a three-day emergency stash for your family. To start, it should consist of about a gallon of water per person per day. She also recommends keeping food that doesn't require heat. "Things like peanut butter and jelly, canned goods, dried fruit, things like that," she says. She also notes that people often forget that it's very important to stock up on toilet paper--like Charmin Ultra Strong.

Related: 10 tips to be prepared for emergencies

In addition, Wolf says that it's important to stock extra batteries and battery-powered electronics in your emergency stash. Plus, she says, you should keep salt or kitty litter on hand to break up ice that may form on walkways. And finally, she says, "Cash in small bills is a