I was recently having dinner with friends and we commented how the scandals surrounding presidencies have changed over time. It went from no pot, to not inhaling, to DUIs or I did a little blow. And we laughed about how future pundits towards the middle of the century will be commenting on how strange and secretive the new president must be because she didn't post nude photos of herself on MySpace as a teenager.

Last year around this time I came to the realization that I was at my highest weight ever. I knew I was overweight, but when I checked my BMI I was shocked to realize that I had actually tipped into the "obese" category. My BMI was 30.8 and anything over 30 is considered obese. It was at that moment that I decided I needed to make a drastic lifestyle change.

When I was approached about contributing to the Good Health-athon for couples my first thought was, "But then we'd actually have to do healthy things instead of talking about doing them." My second thought was perhaps that was not the right reaction. Upon further reflection I decide that my initial reaction was saying an awful lot about us. Of course my boyfriend and I want to eat better. Of course we want to exercise more. Of course we want to be healthier. We talk a good talk but we falter at the stage where we'd actually have to do something. Yes, this Good Health-athon for couples was just what we needed.

O.K. So sometime in December I was minding my own business and I get this email that I missed because I was very busy minding my own business but actually the email was directly related to my business and so I guess, since I missed it, that means I wasn't minding my own business as well as I thought. (Inhale, exhale, I'm breathing. I'm breathing.)

For someone who likes to be active and reads a lot of fitness-related blogs and articles, I don't have strict fitness goals. When it comes to fitness, my approach is similar to what I talked about in my last post when I suggested taking a break from resolutions. You see, instead of telling myself that I have to do one particular activity at one particular time, I choose what I want to do and when I want to do it. If I was thinking about running today but the last thing I want to do is run?

In the spring of 2001 I went to work for WebMD and one of the message board communities I was responsible for was the diabetes community. At the time, I knew very little about diabetes. I knew the basic definition of the condition. I knew my grandmother had diabetes and managed it by saying "I'm not supposed to have this" as she dug into the macaroni & cheese or the potatoes and gravy for the second helping. I'd seen Steele Magnolias many, many times.

This is the time of year that many of us are setting goals in hopes of achieving success with our New Year's resolutions. And setting realistic goals can be what makes or breaks a good resolution. Have you set your goals yet? There are many theories about how to set realistic and achievable goals. But it's not always as cut and dry as all that. As with everything in life, something that works for one of us may not work for all of us. Here are some ideas that may help you find success.

Some Hidden Choices in Breast Reduction by Natasha Singer, which is most insultingly a part of The New York Times' "The Price of Beauty" series, explored the different options women are offered - and not offered - after a mastectomy. I'm sure that readers will be shocked - shocked! - to hear that women are not always informed of the different types of breast reconstructions available because some procedures are less profitable for doctors and hospitals than others. Profit above women's health? Who wouldda thunk it? Sigh.

Some people decide by the number on the scale. For others, it’s the recognition that their thighs are rubbing together, their boobs feel like over-cooked matzo balls, and the reluctant realization that their fat jeans are well on the way to becoming their skinny jeans. Monday December 29th, was my day of reckoning. I met three out of my four personal diet determinators,and that was it. No more pretending I could eat what I wanted without consequences. I was looking at the consequences.

When my daughter was born four and a half years ago, I had no plan for how long I would breastfeed her, I just knew that I would start off breastfeeding and then go with the flow. It so happens that in our case going with the flow meant that one month shy of her fourth birthday she was still nursing (albeit only once a day), and as I would soon discover, we weren't the only ones on this path. I wrote my thoughts about this shortly before her fourth birthday in a post titled On Nursing a Preschooler.

New Year's completes the Infertility Trifecta of Suckitude (at least for American, Christian infertile men and women) which starts with Thanksgiving, moves into Christmas, and ends with New Year's Eve/Day as you reflect upon another year closing of banging your head against the wall. Pass the champagne!

Beginning the first week of January, BlogHer will be making a commitment to help you find success with healthy living in 2009.