Rather than promote a diet mentality, Frankel insists that a healthy body weight is a manifestation of the way we think about food. She says our relationship with eating is a series of habits that can be modified without changing who we are. And rather than tell you what to eat, she emphasizes the importance of taste, and points out that a sugar and fat-free menu will likely just make you feel deprived. Frankel also talks about portion control and she explains the virtues of sitting down to enjoy your meal vs. unconsciously putting food in your mouth with no recollection of what it was that you ate.

In summary, I lost five pounds in three weeks after putting several of the Naturally Thin principles into place. And I must emphasize, those five pounds were legitimate weight loss, not the water weight that used to make me fluctuate on a daily basis. For that matter, with my new eating habits in place, water-weight is no longer an issue for me.

Pilates works great for me. It keeps me fit and flexible, and I enjoy it. For others it may be walking. If you have kids — and really do find yourself lifting and running after them all day — you may be getting an adequate amount of daily exercise. However, it’s not unusual for some moms to use childcare responsibilities as an excuse for having too little time to exercise. As I often tell my clients, the requisite for any successful exercise program is that you find something you enjoy doing. Whether it’s walking, aerobics, chasing toddlers or Pilates; if you stay with what makes you feel good, the benefits will come.

The South Beach Diet, Sugarbusters, False Fat Diet, Skinny Bitch and Slim-Fast all work pretty well when your willpower is at its best. Yet inevitably, we all find ourselves at a party or dinner date surrounded with nothing but bad food choices. Under the circumstances, people either shy away from all the food so as not to blow their diet, or (more often) they will decide to “forget about it,” and eat whatever they want without thought.

Before you go to your next cocktail party, take a few minutes to think about what you will eat, and why. If you love eggnog and only drink it during the holidays, then by all means enjoy it! But pass on the chips and salsa in favor of a healthier alternative. A few more suggestions:

Eat a light meal before you go to avoid overeating at your destination. If you are drinking alcohol, have a glass of water between each serving.

Avoid grazing. Instead, fill a plate with foods you enjoy and eat every morsel. Then stay away from the buffet table for the rest of the night.

Go for the greens. Raw vegetables and fruit are every dieter’s friend. Lean meats and seafood are also good choices, but leave the dips and sauces for others.

Choose healthy alternatives. Walnuts, almonds and cashews all have beneficial nutrients. Yes, it would be ideal if they were organic and unsalted, but a handful of nuts will provide you with a small amount of protein and is a much better choice than crackers or chips.

Most importantly, keep the intent and purpose of the holiday season in mind. Good wishes, good company and good food release the feel good endorphins that contribute to long-term health. Grousing about the fat content of the hors d’oeuvre does nothing for your state of mind — or body.