The Atkins Diet, The South Beach Diet, Body for Life, Slim Fast … there are more diet plans out there than ever. But if you really want to change your health this year, now is not the time for fads.

Befriend the Carbs

First off, let’s get one thing straight: carbohydrates are not bad. They are fuel for your body. A diet high in carbohydrates won’t make you gain weight. In fact, it is a sure fire way to lose weight. So instead of cutting out the carbs, choose the right ones and fill your diet with rich, leafy greens, ripe fruit and whole grains.

Trim the Fat

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Watch out for fat and cholesterol by watching how you eat your meat. Cut unhealthy fats by trimming the skin. Choosing leaner cuts of beef, chicken and pork can also help you avoid unnecessary fats.

Switch Up Your Protein

Substituting chicken, beef and pork with fish, seafood and soy products will be beneficial as well. Fish and nuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart, skin and hair.

Get Milk

Calcium is a necessity for women under 35. This is the time in your life where your body is storing this important component. Make sure to eat plenty of dairy, but don’t compromise your waistline by sticking to low or non-fat versions.

*All these foods are important in fighting disease, help keep the body in top condition and promote ultimate weight loss:

Broccoli

Cabbage

Kale

Carrots

Mango

Winter Squash

Citrus Fruit

Apples

Garlic

Onions

Grapefruit

Peppers

Tomatoes

Grapes

Berries

Spinach

Avocado

Stay away from processed food, fast food and sugar and you will be on your way to a new year of diet success. Good luck and Happy New Year!

So I’ve had this thing for a guy for a while, a year to be exact. It’s been a relationship fueled by text messages at 2am… “Hey, what’s up. Wanna come over?” And I always say yes! When we got back to school this fall, we started hooking up again and I can’t kick him. Thing is, I like him. A lot. And by a lot I mean I want to be in a relationship with him. We can’t keep our hands off of each other but I definitely want something more and DO NOT know how to go about it. HELP!!!!

As a rule of thumb, anytime you have a sexual relationship before the actual, emotional one, you can’t count on much more in the future. No matter how regular or random the sex, it’s simply an equation that doesn’t add up to much. Physical affection is an outward expression of an inward feeling, and expressing yourself physically before he sees your true feelings sends a confusing message. It’s like a friend who promises a lot but never makes follows through — you’ve said you feel strongly about him but never said anything until now.

I’d move on and learn from the lesson. Chances are he won’t take you seriously when you tell him how you feel. And, if he does decide to date you, he’ll feel the relationship has a gaping hole after the first date since nothing will be new – after all, you’ve been doing it for a year already. Next time, don’t put the cart before the horse. You’ll find the road you travel to be a much, much easier one.

So you are headed home for the holidays and between the family obligations, travel congestion, resurrected high school dramas and last minute present stress, you may feel like making a beeline for the rent’s alcohol cabinet to cope.

Drowning that anxiety in cocktails may be an appealing instant solution but maybe it would be better to actually deal with all of that stress so you can kick back, enjoy the holidays and head to school refreshed. After all, this is your vacation. Here are some simple tips for a truly happy and healthy Holiday:

1) Learn how to say “no”. Over committing will only leave you feeling exhausted and guilty for not truly spending quality time.

2) Remember that you need “you” time: go for a jog, take a nap, read a book, watch some bad TV. This is your break from school. If you overdo it with holiday social gatherings (and yes, booze) you are increasing the risk of rundown and illness — so balance out the boozin with some good ol quality Zen time.

3) Don’t stress the gifts. Hello, you are a college student (a.k.a. buried in bills), and everyone understands this. The best gifts are simple reminders of how much you care. So get creative, spend some time, say many ‘I love you’s and you will not only save dollars, but feel better about it too.

My boyfriend hates my friends. I don’t love all of his, but at least I make an effort! I don’t want to choose either my friends or him, so how can I make him at least see that they’re not bad people?

Chances are your boyfriend doesn’t hate them. Maybe he’s jealous that the time spent with them is not time spent with him. Or, it could be as simple that he doesn’t know them, like you do, so he can’t appreciate them for who they are. Either way, it shouldn’t be too hard to get him to see things your way. After all, he’s discovered you’re a class-act girl, and he’s smart enough to know good things travel in packs. Try and find more things to do in groups, maybe bring one or two of your friends along and he can do the same. I’m sure there’s some activity he and his boys are passionate about that they’d share with you. And what could be hotter than that? Watching your boyfriend show you something he loves – not only do you get to see him happy and in his element, but you get to know him better. And, I guarantee he’ll respect you more for caring about his world, which will only make him more interested in what you and your friends are all about.

You, friend, are notorious for your perpetual lateness. Now at least you can be fashionably late.

From the oh-so-creative mind of style fire-starter Gwen Stefani comes – in the form of sugary sweet Japanastyle wrist wear – the latest and greatest addition to her so-precious-it-hurts Harajuku Lovers collection. This cute and colorful line is bursting with personality and charm (don’t you wish you could say the same about your last blind date) and are a worthy and wonderful addition to your accessories repertoire.

Gwenny takes the cake with this line by combining Japanese cartoon art with retro watch shapes for a collection that is suitable for the stylista that you truly are. And with shiny, happy price tags to match, you won&#8217t have to overspend … your money, that is.

The way you spend your time is a different story altogether.

$55 to $95, available at www.80spurple.com.

It’s the holiday season, and the trees and menorahs are up, the cookies are out and holiday parties line the pages of your planner. And, yet, you are having trouble getting out of bed and you are overcome by feelings of sadness. Does this strike a familiar chord?

Do not fret: What you are feeling could be more than a fleeting case of the “winter blues.” There is a real treatable condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) that afflicts more than half a million people each year during winter months.

SAD is caused by a chemical imbalance due to the shortened days and the lack of sunlight. Symptoms include: sleep problems, lethargy, overeating, loss of libido, depression and mood swings. These symptoms are not to be confused with a bad bout of PMS because SAD is treated with light therapy (get that vitamin E you are missing!) where sufferers spend a few hours a day doing a stationary activity in front of a specific lamp (other treatments include counseling or anti-depressants).

So if you feel like you are missing out on the holiday spirit, make a call on your doctor and, soon, you can feel like your cheery self again.

I’ve been seeing this guy for a while, but we’re both super busy so we can’t see each other as often as I’d like. I’m convinced that the relationship is only about sex, even though we’ve talked about this, and he says it’s not. How do I know if he’s telling the truth?

The better question to ask yourself is “was it just about sex when we first started sleeping together?” If it seemed rushed – he was pushy about it or didn’t give much credence to your desire to wait a bit longer – then the answer is yes. When the relationship gets up to a speed that’s uncomfortable for you, like now, it’s hard to slow it down. So if you feel like the relationship is going somewhere you don’t like, and fast (like being all about sex) then the only options are slow down or ditch the ‘ship. If he really cares about you and you tell him the way he’s expressing himself physically isn’t what you want, then he’ll stop in a heartbeat. Otherwise, kick the guy to the curb. Anyone who doesn’t see your heart as the most valuable thing in the world isn’t worth wasting your time on.

Those “morning after” chats with the girls may lead you to believe that everyone talks about sex – all the time. After all, you do. And your guy friends definitely do. But, it turns out, not everyone outside of the collegiate world does.

Well, except for Dr. Dean Edell. This radio personality and best-selling sex author, always wants to talk about sex. At least until Americans stop blushing, fidgeting or giggling at the mention of “it.”

So, a doctor promoting sex? Obviously, we like him already.

Here’s how he sees it. Sex is the closest thing to ecstasy we can achieve. But years of negative press have turned the act into “a menace,” even though it’s how we all came to live. Also, sex can be good for your health. This is due to the energy expended, its effects on your overall well-being and the reduction of stress.

But all of these great upshots don’t come from one-night stands or casual relationships. Monogamy is key. Research from the University of Chicago showed that people find the most satisfaction and physical pleasure when they’re having sex with their long-term partner. Dr. Edell says the best sex is found in the “context of a committed, loving relationship.” (Aw, now if only we could find one of those.)

Above all, Dr. Edell wants us to be open about our sexuality, not embarrassed by or ashamed of it, “We have a real problem here, and I refuse to stop talking about it.”

Looks like your morning-after chats really are a good thing. Talk it up.

Making the first move isn’t usually your m.o. You prefer the old-fashioned “boys must act first” rule.

But you’re feeling evolved this season (well, at least since you got home for Christmas break and spotted your high school crush). Since you’ve grown older and wiser, maybe it’s about time you got him to notice you (hey, you’ll never know if you don’t give it a whirl).

Get over any fear of rejection and become the ballsy diva you usually are.

Rule One: Thanks to the wonders of anatomy, you automatically have the upper hand because you are a girl – which means you have boobs and the ability to show them off (and if you don’t, one word: Wonderbra). Add a dangly necklace, shiny lip gloss and perfectly coifed hair, and he&#8217s likely to think he’s hit the jackpot. After all, you smell much better than his frat brothers.

Rule Two: Always be able to hold a conversation. As long as you have something to say (stuttering is never a turn-on), you’ll be able to keep McHottie’s attention. Remember that guys always like to give their opinion, so go up and ask him what he thinks of a bet you and your girl friend made. Grab your wing woman, drag her towards the eye candy and start asking McHottie to chime in. After a few minutes and a little laughter, you’ll know you’ve got him reeled in.

Don’t think that guys are turned off if you make the first move – they actually think it’s a turn-on! So channel your inner girl power and go for it. What do you have to lose?

My guy friend and I probably went too far the first time we hooked up. I really like him, though, and know I made a mistake. Is it too late to salvage a real relationship?

Yeah, throwing that Nani at us too early can definatley screw things up for the future. It’s hard to have your eye on the prize when you have already spent the prize money.

The problem is, guys look at things as best-case scenarios. He probably went to one of his buddy’s rooms and told him what happened. And they both most likely decided that you wanted to remain friends, but hook up on the side. They may have even decided that you would like to ask your hot roommate to join in (I know, we’re idiots).

It can be salvaged if you are honest with each other. You need to be upfront with what you want out of the relationship. If you are looking for a boyfriend, tell him that because otherwise you are going to get hurt when he comes home wasted and ends up spooning that chubby, home-schooled girl from the first floor.

I’ve been in this situation, and nothing positive came from it because of a lack of communication. And because that home-schooled chick seemed like a good idea after 18 games of beer pong.