1.  Read food labels. Never buy a food item without reading the ingredient list. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t buy it.

2.  Avoid "partially hydrogenated" anything. That means it contains trans fats, which are worse for you than butter. Trans fats can raise your cholesterol and contribute to heart disease.

3.  Keep snacking. Eat smaller meals and snacks throughout the day and avoid big meals with huge portions. You’ll stay thinner and live longer.

4.  Are those nuts in your pocket? I never leave the house without a little bag of nuts. Their protein and fat will satisfy your hunger and keep you from grabbing an unhealthy snack because you’re starving.

5.  Eat vegetables every day. I have a salad at almost every meal and then try for at least one or two cooked vegetables as well. Vegetables are full of antioxidants and the more variety of colors the better.

6.  Avoid soft drinks. Read the labels. A typical cola has around 40 mg. of sugar - that’s almost 1/4 cup of sugar! When I crave a soft drink, I buy one at Whole Foods without high fructose corn syrup and dilute it with sparkling water for half the sugar.

7.  Fast food? Keep driving. I haven’t been to a fast food restaurant in years. This will make the biggest difference in your health. Besides, there are more and more healthier places for quick food, like Subway, Panera Bread, Chipotle, & El Pollo Loco.

8. Drink green tea. This may be the ultimate health-boosting, anti-aging beverage. It’s reported to lower cholesterol, burn body fat, fight arteriosclerosis, strengthen the immune system, prevent bad breath and gingivitis, and protect against cancer, heart disease and other degenerative diseases. White tea is even better!

9. Think twice about artificial sweeteners. There are still too many unanswered questions about aspartame. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, “New research shows that artificial sweeteners stimulate taste receptors that sense sweetness in both the esophagus and stomach. Anticipating energy, the pancreas releases insulin, an important hormone for accumulating body fat. At the same time, chemicals are sent to the brain’s satiety center, which becomes confused as to whether or not the body is actually receiving calories. The result? You feel even hungrier and less full, which can lead to weight gain.” Dr. Andrew Weil also says we should avoid it.

10. Get Off Your Butt! You already know it but here’s a reminder. You have got to move. You don’t have to jog 10 miles or bench press anything. Just move. Walk through the mall; play with your kids; run with your dog; bike to the post office; put on some music and dance. No excuses. Just do it.