Size matters. At least that’s the theory when it comes to items ranging from bank accounts to body parts. And across all socio-economic factors, there is one size that all women truly care about – their dress size. Trust me, this I know first-hand. Wearing a size 18 at my largest, there was no greater thrill than being able to fit into a single-digit number right off the rack post weight-loss. But now it seems that we can’t trust the size of our clothes anymore to monitor weight gain. Not when vanity sizing is deluding perceptions and possibly hurting our health.

Vanity sizing takes place when clever clothing designers slap a size eight label on an actual pair of size 12 pants. From a marketing perspective, I grudgingly admire its brilliance. Make a woman feel good about the fit on those black pants or wrap dress, and she’s going to buy more. However, Dr. Oz recently aired a segment exposing the dangers of this practice. Turns out it is keeping people in denial about weight gain.

Take a typical size 12 dress for example. Back in the days of Marilyn Monroe, it had a standard 26 inch waist. In the ensuing decades, manufacturers added more inches to that figure. Now a standard size 12 can have a 36 inch waist. That’s a whopping 10 inch gain around the middle of one’s waist, which is the most dangerous place to store body fat.

While some clothing articles can still act as a decent monitor for weight gain, Dr. Oz advises people to depend more on their waist size and numbers on a scale for greater accuracy. The rule of thumb he espouses is that your waist should be no more than ½ your height. So a woman who is 5’4” (64 inches) should have a waist size less than 32 inches for better health.

What do you think about vanity clothing sizes? A delightful boost to the ego, or a real health risk?

Despite how they are depicted by NeNe Leakes, Star Jones or any other woman on a Donald Trump-infused reality show, I believe girlfriends are wonderful.  My buddies are cheerleaders, secret-keepers, sources of wisdom and snarky wit. I’ve turned to them for just about everything in the past, from surviving breakups to fashion advice.  And now, I’m getting an unexpected assist in an area near and dear to my heart (literally, for cardiovascular reasons) – exercise.

Girlfriends initially piqued my interest in step aerobics back in 1992, which started my weight loss journey. But since that time, I’ve gone it alone for the most part.  You know, like Rocky running up those stairs in Philadelphia – only without the raw egg drinks, boxing practice using sides of meat and yeah, the actual running part itself. Even after joining buddies in spin classes, everything else would be done to the beat of my own drum. And that tune, lately, has gotten pretty boring. Until help came in the form of my triathletes buddies at the gym – Marsha, Kate and Janelle.

Ranging in age from their early thirties to their late fifties, they are amazing.  These “steel magnolias” with six packs run and cycle distances I’d have trouble covering in my car.  Despite winning age category awards and staying on the cutting edge of fitness, what really motivates these ladies is having fun. Almost a month ago they invited me to join their regular strength training sessions. I was excited and a bit intimidated – did they drag ship anchors or execute thousands of one-handed push-ups?  

I showed up anyway to the session, which involved a smart combination of free weights and core exercises. Sure it bitch-slapped my lactic acid into overdrive.  But it was fun. Like singing lyrics from “We will rock you” or “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt” during squats or cracking corny jokes while executing hard core movements. Now I’m committed to joining them about once a week, which keeps moves fresh and makes exercise overall more interesting.  

When it comes to exercise, do you prefer to go solo or seek a group dynamic to stay motivated?  How have your friends helped you overcome a challenge or issue lately?

Let’s play a quick game of word association. When I say “life saver,” what comes to your mind? Flotation devices or a fire extinguisher?  Perhaps a First Aid kit, cell phone hands-free device, or for those feeling a bit literal, a roll of primary-colored hard candies bearing the same name? Well according to new research reported today from the University of Oxford, eating more fruits and vegetables can actually save your life, not just your waistline. So grab a Granny Smith apple and read on.

Reported today by ABC News, researchers found that people who consumed eight or more servings a day of fruit or veggies were 22% less likely to die from heart disease. But you don’t have to go that far to lower your health risk. For every serving of nature’s goodness eaten above two per day, these super-smart scientists observed a 4% decrease in the rate of heart disease deaths. And we’re not talking about a small, skewed study conducted at someone’s family reunion. The largest of its type, this research featured over 300,000 participants.

If trying to consume just five servings a day sends you into a Pop-tart or pizza-eating frenzy, don't worry. You don't have to slug constant shots from the juicer or eat enough bananas to be mistaken for an extra from Planet of the Apes. It turns out that hitting eight daily servings isn’t that hard. As the article notes, that translates into about 23 ounces of produce. A large orange or apple may weigh eight ounces. So add a salad and side veggie at dinner and you are there.

Does the opportunity to live a longer, healthier life motivate you to eat more fruits and vegetables? What are some of your favorites in the produce department and how do you plan to eat them more frequently?

Thanksgiving has long been considered the bad boy of calories when it comes to overeating. But Turkey Day is about to lose that title, at least for me. I’ve just read The London Sun’s list of the “World’s Worst Jumbo Junk Foods.” And now that dubious honor is clearly going to the Quadruple Bypass Burger at the Heat Attack Grill in Chandler, Arizona. At 8,000 calories, it pretty much embodies everything that’s wrong with the American appetite.

As a marketing concept, the Heart Attack Grill is brilliant. They use humor to stay in the headlines. Customers over 350 pounds eat free, waitresses don sexy nurses uniforms and Founder Jon Basso jokes about side effects like sudden weight gain, the development of man breasts, loss of sexual partners and mild death from eating off their menu.  Basso himself is a former nutrionist who used to run a Jenny Craig Center. Sounds like the perfect fodder for a Saturday Night Live skit. 

Have to admit that it all cracks me up. But, as a reformed junk food junkie, I’m not planning on chomping down a supersized burger and fries. What concerns me is the person who takes on the Quadruple Bypass Burger, and other things like it, as their Holy Grail. Would they train ahead by eating a couple of Big Macs each day? Stop walking the family dog in order to gain an extra 10 pounds to qualify for the free meal?  In some ways, it is just another step in making excessive eating and obesity the growing norm.

Don’t think I’ve just got a bone to pick with that burger joint. Of the 11 items pictured on the list, nine hail from the United States.  You’ve got a milkshake with 131 fat grams, a 72 oz steak, the Kitchen Sink Ice Cream Sundae and the Blooming Onion appetizer making an appearance.  Now I love when the U.S. pioneers scientific discoveries or leads the world in space exploration. But this is one overachieving category I’m not so proud of.

Do you think bad boy calorie dishes are just a clever marketing tool or a slippery slope to higher obesity levels?

Throughout the United States, people are getting ready to talk turkey. You know, except for those stalwarts who try to substitute tofu or quinoa for the venerable bird, fooling no one in the process. Recipes and healthy eating tips are flying back and forth across Twitter and Facebook. Grocery store displays are overtaking entire aisles. But enough already about the food on this day of communal overeating, people! I’m wondering what you plan to wear to the Thanksgiving feast itself.

In case you’re curious, this question didn’t arise because my new issue of InStyle Magazine arrived in today’s mail.  It’s merely a matter of practical planning. According to Spark People, the average American will consume about 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat during Thanksgiving Day. Other estimates I’ve seen online put that number between 5,000 to 6,000 calories. So if you are going to willfully gain a pound or more in one sitting, will your outfit be able to handle it?

When I was heavy, I used to carry a couple of safety pins around in my purse for that very reason. Eat too much at a big meal and presto, it didn’t matter if my pants didn’t completely close anymore. I could always extend the groaning sides of fabric by a half inch or more with that little trick. In those days before Spanx, it felt ingenious...but now, it sounds a little sad in the retelling. Because that safety pin or two kept me from facing the reality of what I was actually consuming.

I’m planning on enjoying great food on Thanksgiving without guilt, eating healthier in the days beforehand to make “room.” And I’ll probably wear my “just right” jeans to our big dinner – the ones that fit nicely without being tight. Every time I’ve donned a bigger pair of pants or larger size skirt, that plate in front of me seems to attract extra helpings of stuffing too. Guess there is a symbiotic relationship, at least in my world.

What are you wearing to your Thanksgiving celebration? Will it have any impact on your eating?

Today is Cookie Monster’s birthday. No, I wasn’t invited to a party on Sesame Street in his honor. I saw a tweet about it and promptly responded with a happy birthday wish that included a snarky comment about eating quinoa and fresh veggies. I don’t expect a response, but you never know. Cookie Monster probably has a publicist handling his social media so he’s got more time to party with Oscar and Kermit. But I digress. The whole purpose of this post is to ponder where our connections with certain foods start.

You see, in a world where most kids uttered “mama” or dada,” my first word was cookie. It’s true, or at least that’s what mom recorded in my baby book over 40 years ago. Don’t know if that came from watching Cookie Monster on television or treats already being stored in our kitchen cupboard. Either way, there was nothing better in my four-year-old world than munching on an actual cookie while Cookie Monster sang his famous “C is for Cookie” song.

I can trace back other food relationships more specifically. My grandmother baked amazing coconut cakes, hence my affection for that treat. Ms. Rainey, the third grade teacher who paddled me for talking too much in class, used to make crabapple jelly…and I’ve never been a fan of the stuff.  Beets topped my list of “gross” foods since I associated it with the nasty borscht drink elderly relatives from the “old country” gulped.  Talk about a big surprise this summer discovering that the root vegetable is delightful roasted with a little olive oil and sea salt.

One thing that’s never changed is my lifelong aversion to mayonnaise. My parents owned a delicatessen.  I decided to keep my dad company on a Sunday afternoon during my elementary school years while he prepared a big batch of fresh potato salad and dipping sauce. When I saw him dump the huge jars of mayo into the mixing bowls, something snapped.  I completely lost all desire to eat anything remotely associated with mayo.  To this day, I have no compunctions about claiming a faux allergy to the stuff in restaurants to ensure it never comes near my plate.

What relationships to specific foods can you trace back to childhood? Do these strong likes or dislikes continue now?

Sure Sophie had a hard choice in the movie role that landed Meryl Streep her first Oscar. In the Archie comic books, we never knew if the title character was going to pick Betty or Veronica. Now, I’ve got a modern day dilemma for this Halloween weekend – should I stock up on candy in a neighborhood typically lacking young trick or treaters, or simply shut off the lights and pretend no one is home?

Before you think I’m the community Scrooge, let me explain. I love Halloween and dig those itsy bitsy versions of beloved candy bars. While living in the ‘burbs over a decade ago, I happily provided the premium candies (Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, mini Hershey’s and Snickers bars) to costumed kids. The constant foot traffic ensured nothing was left over for me to inhale. Fast forward now to two years ago, my first Halloween in a cool, new townhouse community left mostly empty by the housing market collapse. Guess how many kids came by? Zero, to be exact, leaving me with the results.  It’s sad seeing a grown woman bested by a bowl of individually wrapped chocolate treats, people. No wonder I just bailed out completely last year and stayed at my boyfriend’s place.

This year, it seems three or four families with kids have moved in. I’m not a parent, so it’s unclear if they will be trick or treating on Halloween night, attending parties elsewhere or going to a bigger community with more candy collecting options.  Burned by the past, I’m not loading up on bags of my favorite treats. Wouldn’t think of handing out stuff like raisin packets or mini flashlights, because those homes used to get toilet papered during my childhood. That leaves me with two options. I could stock up with a bag of some neon, non-chocolate candy that’s easy to resist, or make sure I’m nowhere near home during prime trick or treating hours.

What do you think? Do you always furnish the treats, or have you ever been the object of a trick for not passing out candy?

When I was single, I had a lot of first dates with guys who prided themselves on being adventure seekers. You know, the sort who went sky-diving or kayaking in Class Five Rapids with the same frequency that I schedule pedicures. When they started talking about how we should go bungee jumping or rock climbing on date two, I knew it wasn’t a fit. My idea of a great view comes from riding in an airplane or helicopter, not being suspended by my knuckles on a hang glider. (Disclaimer – while my dear boyfriend loves extreme scuba diving, he’d be perfectly delighted if I read a book on the beach while he swims with the sharks.)

However, a recent conversation with fitness expert Kelli Calabrese (www.kellicalabrese.com) has opened my eyes to the benefits of adventure.  Turns out that being more adventurous and active is something you can learn.

“People who have a more developed pre-frontal cortex tend to be more adventurous – they find new hiking trails, run through rivers, like to be up and engaged,” Kelli explains. “All of us have this part of our brain and we just have to stimulate it a little more.  Realize that maybe you can ride a bike now even if you fell once at age seven. People become healthier when they open their minds to what’s possible and see the entire world as their playground.”

Ready to get started? Kelli recommended the following ideas:

1. Head to the park and strap on some rollerblades.
2. Dust off your mountain bike and find a historic rail trail.
3.  Go to www.Active.com and find an event that makes your heart race.  It should be out of your reach, but within reason given the training time.
4. Create a new family holiday tradition by enlisting in a 5K event the whole family can do such as a Halloween Hustle, Turkey Trot or Jingle Bell Run.  As Kelli says, “it is a great way to create new family memories, have a feeling of accomplishment and burn off the pumpkin pie.”
5. Try a multi-sport vacation such as the ones put on by Backroads (www.backroads.com).  For example, you can combine white water rafting with hiking a summit and single track mountain biking.

Just typing that list gets my heart pumping. How about you? What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done or plan to do in the future?

Birds of a feather do flock together. This I’ve known since seventh grade, when Audrey, Kim and Susie and I would call each other up to discuss what clothes to wear the next day at school. The jeans had to feature Gloria or Calvin’s signature, and Candies were best worn on our feet instead of served in a dish.   Beyond the adolescent need for conformity, peer groups have often impacted my perspective of what’s "normal."

Drinking heavily in college suited me and my circle of friends, until I landed a part-time job in news that required an early rise every Saturday and Sunday.  When I was 50 pounds overweight and consumed junk food like others breathe air, the man in my life and people I worked with did the same.  I have interviewed so many women for my book that had to make new friends after shedding pounds because former compatriots who used to go out for beer and wings every Friday night didn’t welcome the better looking competition.

Unfortunately, the perception of what’s normal is hurting many Americans. According to a new study, a substantial number of obese people see no need to lose weight - http://tinyurl.com/3y2kdgz. Doctors think that heavy people’s self perceptions may be changing because obesity has become so much more common.

Having a positive body image is great. But when it keeps you in denial about the risks of developing high blood pressure, diabetes or a heart attack, then you’ve got a real problem.  Has your peer group ever made you unhealthier? Or have friends who embraced better eating or exercise encouraged you to pursue wellness?

Some things have gained celebratory status in American culture – self-made successes like Oprah and Steve Jobs, reality TV stars launched by a sex tape or over-developed six pack and the ability to chow down on any kind of food at any time – Mexican fare in a small Iowa town, or fruit imported from a continent thousands of miles away. However, there are food purgatory zones known for cutting off your power of choice. Like prison, airports after 10:00 p.m. or movie theaters if you aren’t craving popcorn, candy bars or paying $6 for a soda. And for most people working the 9 to 5 grind that Dolly Parton sang about, there are work conferences. Held at hotel ballrooms where dim lights make you feel like it could just as easily be 2:00 in the afternoon or the morning, and your body seeks food to stave off the boredom.

I’ve been to some pretty elaborate meetings of this genre in the past. During my early days as a PR person for Days Inns headquarters 20 years ago, the planners went all out to feed attendees during the annual franchisee conference. Food breaks included a full ice cream bar, fresh popcorn standards, pretzels dipping stations and I constantly strategized ways to be first in line.  But typically, the drill includes continental breakfast tables where tired fruit Danish and bear claw rolls are picked over several hours later for a mid-morning coffee break. Lunch with something that looks like chicken, starchy sides and whopping slice of dessert already waiting at your seat so you can’t refuse it. Massive dinners out with your compatriots where the food hangover rivals that from alcohol.

Sound familiar? Currently at my favorite client’s annual conference in New Orleans, my quest is to make this excursion as healthy as possible. That has included waking up early to exercise and loading up on a room service breakfast that includes lots of fresh fruit and egg whites. Chugging water like crazy. Eating the little bags of raw nuts that I packed in my bag for snacks. And while enjoying the fine cuisine this city has to offer for dinner, just saying no to dessert.

How do you deal with eating in places like work conferences and other food purgatory zones?