Friday, we asked everyone to share their fitness plans for spring, and we gave away some free fitness books and gear as incentive. It was great to read comments from women all over the country, and one for as far away as China!Click on "Comments" to see the healthy goals from our girlfriends out there - and maybe add your own!

THERESA: Remember the recent scene in "Sex in the City" when Samantha pulled off her wig and an audience full of women rose to do the same thing?

One of those women was Sharon Lynn, a real-life cancer survivor who appears the March issue of Organic Style magazine. The magazine features seven women who embrace one unique feature; for one, it's her freckles, for another it's being tall. For Lynn, 32, it is being bald.

"I was able to bring a group of real cancer patient survivors [on to the set] and there was a woman who hated--past tense--her bald head," she said. "I know that the day with 'Sex' and Kim Catrall changed how she felt about whether or not she still wears a wig. It was so amazing to watch her transitioning as the day progressed. "

In the Organic Style piece, Sharon says, "I had long flowing hair for nearly all my life. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I faced losing it all. How could I say good-bye to something I considered so central to my identity? Then my hair started falling out in clumps, so I shaved it all off. No turning back-I was a bald chick ...

Now cancer-free, I shave my head once a week. I feel more beautiful, more sexy, more me than ever."

That is so cool.

What unique feature about yourself do you embrace, Girlfriends?

JILL: I hope I'm wrong, Theresa, but it wouldn't surprise me if everyone drew a blank. I think we're so focused on our flaws and how to fix them that it seems odd to point to an embraceable attribute. In the case you wrote about, she was embracing her new post-treatment life as symbolized by her baldness, I think. The many cancer survivors I've spoken to are incredibly inspiring in being able to do that, even more so than those of us untouched by such an obvious brush with mortality.

LAURIE: Jill, wise words! Isn't it true that we so rarely celebrate ourselves. The best I could say is that I've become somewhat positive, but hardly celebratory, about something I used to hate - my red hair and freckles. This sort of overcomes the self-loathing I had as a teen because I wasn't blonde and tan. Funny, I can look back at a younger me and see how silly it was to buy into stereotypes, yet I also haven't fully escaped their power. Maybe when we're old we will be able to appreciate our younger selves.

YVONNE W: I'm very lucky. I do not have wrinkle lines in my face. My father died at 76, he also had smooth skin. I have to work hard to get a wrinkle in my forehead.

I have high cheek bones. I can thank my father for that too.

THERESA: You're probably right, Jill, most women don't want to point out their attributes. But hey, give it a try. I know I have lots of flaws, but I gotta say, I have 100 percent embraceable legs. Especially when I'm daring and wear a short skirt and heels...

JENICE: I used to hate being tall. But now I love it!

JILL: OK. My hair is managing to stay dark brown rather than fading to grey and it's got good body. Most stylists beg me to color it because lighter is better for women of a certain age, but I refuse. People who know how old I am are often floored that I don't color my hair.

THERESA: All right, Jill! Stand your ground on this one! Your hair is gorgeous!

JILL: Laurie, that is the irony, isn't it? I also loathed my looks for the most part and now I look back on pictures of years ago and think: I must have been CRAZY! I wasn't gorgeous, but I certainly wasn't unattractive. And I'm sure, decades from now, I'll look back on the me now and say, what a hottie! (Not really, but, you get my drift.)

LAURIE: Yes, Jill! That's it. You think, I really wasn't so fat/thin/tall/short/ugly/freckly or whatever. So, here's what I propose: Let's all start thinking of ourselves as lovely women now. We all have our beautiful aspects, inner and outer. I'm not thinking a national holiday here - just a private accentuation of the positive - especially when we go to buy a new bathing suit.

YVONNE: Yesterday I ran to warm up before I met with my trainer and I think I over-did it. I ran 5 miles instead of just 2 because I haven't run in a while. I stretched after and then my trainer put me right into squats. First set went fine, then we did chest presses. Second set of squats were fine. During the third set my lower back began to ache but I thought it was normal fatigue in the muscles. Pain got gradually worse and by this morning I could barely get up. Tylenol has helped some. Clearly I want to avoid this kind of horror in the future. Ladies, what do you do to protect your back and strengthen it?

THERESA: Back pain is the worst. I talked to April a couple days ago (she's on vacation) and she's also injured her back. I've been there, and in my experience, doctors have a tough time figuring out what specifically causes a sore back. I went to a chiropractor last time and he diagnosed a pulled muscle. He told me to apply ice, not heat, and to basically just wait it out 'til the injury healed. Eventually it did. Whatever pain medication you can get, get (and doctors are helpful with that)

Last time I injured my back, the cause was a combination of stress and lifting heavy luggage the wrong way when I was on a long trip. Running helps me alleviate stress, so I view that as a kind of cushion of protection against back injury. And now I'm very careful about how I lift heavy objects. I'm guessing your chest presses may have been the final straw for you, Yvonne. My sympathies are with you...

What advice or experience can anyone else share about back pain?

THERESA: Check this out: A recent study from the University of Kansas points out something interesting - For women, launching an exercise program alone, without changing one's diet, doesn't result in weight loss. In fact, women often gain a few pounds when they start a new exercise routine. And in the "life ain't fair" category: Men do tend to drop pounds when they start exercising, but women need to significantly cut calories too if they want to lose weight.

The study also shows that most people don't change their diet when they start exercising. Whether you need to lose weight or not, it's important to eat right, cut back on junk food, sugar and saturated fats in favor of healthy foods that provide the nutrients you need.

There are plenty of benefits to exercise beyond controlling weight, as we all know. But if your goal is to lose pounds and keep them off, you can't just exercise alone and hope to do that.

Does that jibe with your experience, Girlfriends?

YVONNE: Not really, because my main form of exercising when I wanted to lose weight was running. And I think most runners find that running done intensely drops weight off very quickly. When I have been doing other exercise as my main cardio, though, the study's findings have reflected my experience - no weight loss unless I cut down on the bad carbs.

THERESA: Running doesn't take off pounds for me. It makes me happier and stronger, but not thinner. Weight training did seem to help me lose pounds, but I cut calories at the same time.

To maintain my current weight, I watch what I eat. I exercise regularly, which allows me to eat a little more than I otherwise would, but I'm past thinking that because I exercise, I can eat whatever I want and not gain weight.

Did you see Art Carey's column in today's Inquirer? It was great. (Go, Amy! You CAN achieve your goal.)

WENDY: I agree -- I think when I am NOT exercising I lose more weight, but in a bad way -- I skip too many meals and feel unhealthy. Plus, the old fat pockets -- ie my thighs -- remain.

LAURIE: Absolutely true for me. I always gain weight when I exercise unless my diet changes. And too often, my appetite increases because of the exercise so I have to struggle not to eat more.

Theresa, that was especially true when I used to work out with weights a lot, so I don't think that kind of exercise is an exception. And of course muscle weighs more. I remember seeing a story about a woman weight lifter who weighed 145 pounds (how do I still remember this?!) and was pretty short, but she looked great (not too pumped, either) because the weight wasn't fat, but muscle.

On the flip side, I can lose weight without exercising if I eat less. But I agree with Wendy that I don't feel as good.

ELLEN: I also gain weight when I start up the old exercise program. Part of it is that I feel great so other appetites are reawakened. (See April, ahem, on this topic.) Eating, particularly, in the morning after exercise is a must.

I need to add aerobics and to keep adding weight each workout to hold the weight stable.

To lose weight, I need to cutback on calories, cut the carbs, cut the alcohol and increase the water. This may be a middle age recipe. In my youth, all I would have to do is ramp up the running for a few weeks and I'd drop 10 pounds. Now my knees won't cooperate with that so I have to get my mouth wired shut.

JENICE: Really depressing. But it's nothing other than what I have observed with myself. These days, I have to eat significantly less AND workout to make the scale budge. Otherwise, I stay at the same weight. One of the hardest things is eating all those small meals as my former trainer advised to keep my metabolism high. You start off doing the apple thing and a couple of weeks later, it's back to junk food. It's so hard.

LAURIE: Oh, Jenice, I SO understand. When I lose a few pounds I start to reward myself with junk food. There's this delay factor in my weight loss/gain, so it takes a little while for it all to catch up with me. Then, pow! I swear I have lost the same 3-5 pounds 50 times!!

Personal trainer Diane Catrambone: If your goal is to lose weight, you most definitely need to combine an exercise regimen and nutritional changes into your lifestyle. In so many cases, women begin to exercise for the first time and then think they can eat more of the foods they are used to eating. Not so. Eating foods that have a high nutritional value is so important at this beginning stage. Your muscles are looking for fuel in the forms of high fiber carbohydrates, lean proteins and high quality fats.

In addition, when you begin a strength training regime, muscles will grow and, I know you are probably tired of hearing this, muscles weigh more than fat. So, if you are not watching your fat intake or if you are eating processed food high in sugar, and your muscles are weighing more, you will gain weight.

Best bet. Combine a healthy eating plan with an exercise regime that combines cardiovascular exercise, strength training and flexibility. To lose weight, reduce your calories and increase your activity level to = out to a 4,000 calorie deficit each week. However, many of us find it too difficult to make too many life changes at once. Take your time. Making these changes that will last for a lifetime is a process. Start exercising right away. Increase your water intake. Cut out processed food. Then, take some time to notice what changes your body is making (or not). You'll figure out what you need to do next!

THERESA: Someone from www.bowl.com sent me a bunch of press material about the merits of bowling to stay in shape. Hmm. I'm skeptical, but hey, a night of bowling with a bunch of friends burns more calories than just sitting at a bar knocking back cocktails.

My family recently went bowling at Chelsea Pier in NYC--- there's a great bowling alley there (right next to the new driving range... Manhattan has become SO family friendly.) Anyway, the bowling alley had all the great lights and bells and whistles and baby bumpers you'll find nowadays that distinguish alleys of today from Rodeo City Lanes, where I used to bowl back West when I was a kid. The place was teeming with people, old, young, hip, big, little. It was fun.

Here are some bowling factoids that you might find interesting:

APRIL: How about we talk about famous women like Marilyn Monroe, or OK, J. Lo, who have higher dress sizes and are fabulous. It seems Hollywood is thankfully relaxing more and more lately. For example, did you catch how Rene Zellweger looked at the Golden Globes?

THERESA: Beyonce is another example of somone who looks great, but is no waif.

It'll be interesting to see whether Rene Zellwegger puts those pounds back on after gaining them on purpose to shoot the sequel to Bridget Jones Diary. The pressure is still on in Hollywood, I think, to be very, very thin. Although apparently Lara Flynn Boyle is so thin that it's hurting her career. She looks so frail. I hope there really is a trend toward more ample curves in Hollywood, after years of stars becoming more and more emaciated. Some TV stars (Jennifer Aniston, for one) got skinnier and skinnier right before our eyes. Teri Hatcher was plenty curvy when she played Jerry's girlfriend Sidra on "Seinfeld," (Remember her famous quote? "They're real and they're FABULOUS!") but she seems to have no curves at all now, just skin and bones.

Super skinny stars not only put their own health at risk, they set a dangerous standard, especially for young women.

ELLEN: I don't know. I was on cable TV last week and when I saw myself in the monitor, I was ready to have my mouth wired shut.

YVONNE W: I was thin all my life and there's a freedom you feel by not carrying extra pounds. However, I only think weight is a problem if your health is affected. If being very thin makes you happy and you're healthy, then why not?

The most important issue is not whether you're carrying a little extra weight or not, but that your health is not affected and your self image is intact.

APRIL: I think there will always be Gweneth Paltrows, but I keep seeing women who are really taking weight training seriously, and they look healthy, not anorexic.

Attend Friday's Sister to Sister Woman's Heart Day Health Fair at the Pennsylvania Convention Friday, and take a step that could save your life.

Just a year ago, Mount Airy resident Byronette Watson , 52, was told at a health fair screening that she had high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and diabetes, three known risk factors for heart disease. She could have reacted complacently or been immobilized by fear. Instead, she immediately took action to regain her life and health.

First, Watson confirmed the results of the free screening with her doctor. “Finding out that I was suffering from the conditions that put you at risk for heart disease really shocked me,” said Watson.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, and African-American women are 72 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease than white women. In addition, Watson's diabetes made her two to three times more likely to have a heart attack.

At first, she felt like a walking time bomb. But once she overcame her fear, Watson committed herself to fixing the problem. And she made incredible progress.

Watson now wakes up early each day to walk on a local track. She also participates in Philadelphia’s Health Trip, a citywide health initiative that offers assessments and fitness classes at a very reasonable cost. For the past year, her exercise routine and healthier diet have resulted in her losing more than 60 pounds, and she's lowered her blood pressure and cholesterol levels to the point that she no longer requires daily medication.

Watson wishes she’d been aware of her precarious health sooner. She encourages Philadelphia women to participate in Friday's heart health fair, which will feature free health screenings and more. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s free and fun and it just might save a life.

If you can't make it Friday, there's a similar event, the Women of Heart Health Fair, on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., also at the Convention Center, sponsored by the American Heart Association.

THERESA: Good news for health-conscious coffee lovers. Apparently we don't need to guzzle water all day long to stay properly hydrated. We can enjoy a cup of joe instead! Jane Brody's column this week in the New York Times points to a new study from Johns Hopkins University that indicates we can let our thirst guide us as to how much water we need, and we can count coffee, juice and other beverages as part of our daily allotment. While the caffeine in coffee is a diuretic, it does not lead to a deficiency of body water, the study concluded. So if you feel guilty because you don't drink eight full glasses of H20 a day (and who really drinks that much?) just enjoy another cup of coffee!

(Nothing wrong with drinking a lot of water, of course. Brody notes that drinking lots of water can help with weight loss, since water fills you up and improves digestion.)

The same study examined salt and potassium intake, and reported (predictably) that Americans eat way too much salt. Most of us need to up our consumption of potassium, which can help to lower blood pressure, blunt the effects of all that salt we're eating, and reduce the risk of kidney stones and bone loss. Good sources of potassium include spinach, cantaloupe, almonds, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, bananas, oranges and orange juice, grapefruits and potatoes, dried fruits, peanut butter, bran, meats, dried beans, peas, tea, cocoa, and (yay!) coffee.

Starbucks, anyone?

APRIL: I just can't say how happy this makes me. I knew I was destined to drink two granda mochas guilt free each day. I love it!

During the summer, I have zero problem drinking tons of water, but during the winter that is replaced by my hot chocolate and coffee cold weather addictions...

YVONNE W: This site is dedicated to educating the reader on the value of water and how much your water intake should be for the day taking into account your activity level.

For instance: Calculating "my weight and exercise activity today" I should drink 72 ounces of water or 7 1/2 glasses. Check it out!

LAURIE: I'm relieved too, April! I drink a fair amount of water but never feel like I'm getting the 15 gallons a day or whatever it is the "experts" recommend. Especially in the morning, it's nice to know that coffee counts. Still, I do want to get enough liquid? Does anybody know what the signs are that you should be drinking more? (Um, and that's NOT more adult beverages!)

THERESA: From Brody's column: "How can you tell if you are getting enough water? Clearly, if you are thirsty, you need to drink more. Likewise, if your skin is shriveled, if you are prone to muscle cramps or if you are chronically constipated, chances are you are not drinking enough."

YVONNE: Don't mean to be a pisser, but nothing clears out the toxins like clear water. And if I am not mistaken, coffee is highly toxic. The easy way to get all your water in is to keep the water bottle within reach. You'll find yourself grabbing for it all day long. And the way you know if you are getting enough water is if your urine is clear.

THERESA: Hmm. I keep waiting for the study that shows coffee is going to shorten my lifespan, but I haven't seen it. Doesn't seem like it should be good for you, but I haven't seen evidence that it's bad either. And I love it. So I'll keep drinking it. Guilt-free. I drink a lot of water too (I especially like sparkling water) and tea, so I think I'm plenty hydrated...

ELLEN: I can tell that I haven’t had enough water when I get highly fatigued for no apparent reason. Once I get back on the water schedule, I feel more alert.

B>LAURIE: Ellen, what's your water schedule?

ELLEN: I am on my high-water regime because I’m trying to drop a few pounds. I wish I was this good all the time because I just feel better. But here’s what I am doing right now.

My husband gets two flats of bottled water when he does the weekly grocery shopping. He puts these near the back door for me.

I get up in the morning and drink two 8-ounce bottles of water. When I go to the gym twice a week, I put these bottles in the car and I drink one on the way there and one on the way home.

On most days, I put two in the car as I head to work. I drink one on the way to work. I drink the remaining one on the way home.

I stash two bottles of water in my office and sneak bottles of water out of any meeting I see that offers refreshments. So that means I drink another two during the day in the office.

If I got out to lunch, I drink the water first then whatever beverage I order.

I usually have a cup of coffee in the morning and I just love to have a diet Coke with lunch. I’m trying to wean myself of the Diet Coke but I do love the new lemon and lime-flavored versions.

I try to drink a cup of water from our filtered water tap at home before bed. And I put a bottle of water next to my bed and drink about half of it during the night.

And I realize that this isn’t as much as I should be drinking but this is as good as it gets!

THERESA: We all know how we feel if we don't get enough sleep, but a new study indicates getting too much sleep is worse than getting too little.

After surveying the health and sleep habits of more than 100,000 people for an average of almost 10 years, Japanese researchers have concluded that the lowest mortality risk occurred in people who slept seven hours a day.

The study, led by Dr. Akiko Tamakoshi of the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, appears in the current issue of the journal Sleep. The study also states that married non-smokers have the healthiest sleep habits. I don't remember the last time I slept for more than seven hours straight, so it's not like this study is going to prompt me to cut back on my snooze time or anything.

What's the right amount of sleep for you, Girlfriends? And what factors influence how well you sleep? Exercise? Alcohol? Stress?

YVONNE: If I have too much on mind or I go to bed too early I wake up in the middle of the night. I woke up this morning at 2ish, tossed around for a little bit, watched an hour of TV, then went back to sleep. In general I have been finding it very hard to get up while it is still dark out. Maybe if I set a fun goal for myself in the morning I will want to get up, like leaving my favorite breakfast in the refrigerator the night before. Or cueing up"The Simpsons" in the VCR so I can watch it while I dress.

ELLEN: I sleep better when I have exercised. The rest of the advice about when you drink alcohol or eat a big meal or watch a violent TV show don't apply to me.

The trouble here is how to find the time to exercise.

LAURIE: It takes a lot to keep me awake, but when I do have toss-and-turn nights, I find that putting one foot out of the covers somehow helps. My grandmother taught me this - I am not making it up! 7.5 or 8 hours seems to be what I need to feel my best.

THERESA: I cannot go to sleep without reading or working a crossword puzzle for a few minutes after I climb into bed. That usually puts me right out. I go through periods when I wake up a lot during the night; almost always related to stress. I used to try to do my crossword puzzles after I'd wake up (I'm a crossword puzzle addict) but that's perilous-- you can do serious damage to a nightgown when you fall asleep holding an uncapped felt-tipped pen!

I generally feel fine with about six or seven hours a night. I think it's common for couples to fall out of sleep sync with each other, and one person's restlessness can make it impossible for the other to get any sleep. (At my house, one of us will just sleepily but promptly head to the spare bedroom whenever that happens!) And I know wine is supposed to make you drowsy, but sometimes drinking a couple glasses makes me more restless than usual during the night.

HEATHER: For some reason I require little to no sleep. Seriously, I usually get 2-4 hours of sound sleep and spend the remainder of the night tossing, thinking, or up and getting things done. About once every 3-4 weeks I hit the wall and sleep a solid 8-10 hours and usually wake up not feeling as refreshed as having had 2-4.

For me to even have a chance at catching a little more than 4 hours, exercise is imperative.

ELLEN: My biggest concern is the younger generation. I heard that the pipes at a local co-ed college are ruined because of all the vomiting from young female students. They are using that as a weight loss strategy. How do we reach the young women?

THERESA: That is so scary. I also worry about young college women. They are at particular risk for eating disorders at a time in their lives when they are under a lot of pressure in so many ways. My daughter frets so much about her studying and her friends that she doesn't any take time to take care of herself. And she makes no time to exercise, though in high school she ran track and cross country.

At the very least, I think health and nutrition courses should be required for college students, don't you?

APRIL: I saw so many women with this problem in college. Being away from home for the first time, along with incredible stress from classes, forced a lot of women to seek perfection in totally unhealthy ways.

What advice can anyone offer for parents and for young women to deal with these issues?

THERESA: By the way, next week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The National Eating Disorders Association has some excellent advice about self-image and anorexia, bulimia and other threats to women's health. Their information and referral helpline is 1-800-931-2237. Health clinics at colleges around the country offer screenings and other resources if you think a young woman you know may have an eating disorder, or simply if you think she's stressed or depressed and could use some clinical help.

THERESA: What do you all want for Valentine's Day, ladies? Anything healthy?

JILL: I'd like a couple of funny cards, some flowers and most importantly, chocolate. I know it's all commercialized nonsense, but I'm conditioned to expect some show of affection from my husband. It would mean more if he did it one day spontaneously, of course, but that's never going to happen. So I'll settle for Valentine's Day.

APRIL: I would like an incredibly romantic evening, dinner and they maybe ice skating or a chance to sit at a fun martini bar and talk.

YVONNE W: I am going to spend Valentine's Day with my Aunt. Saturday is her birthday. I'm not that much into Valentine's Day because I have many friends that love me (male and female) and they are incredibly kind and generous to me the entire year. I also try to let them know how much I love them throughout the year.

However, I do enjoy receiving Valentine cards and gifts, but I get the same amount of pleasure when I give gifts and send cards to the people I care about. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYONE!!!

ELLEN: When I was a young, foolish Food Editor, I wrote an hour-by-hour guide for husbands/partners about how to create a perfect evening at home for Valentines. It involved synchronizing the timing of a bubble bath, cooking a special dish and packing off the toddlers to a relative's home. I'm a cheap date now with the children almost out of the nest and more worries about retirement than day care bills. I'd love a quiet night at home with a fire, some brie cheese and fruit, a great California Chardonnay and a foot rub. It could get interesting after that...

JENICE: A little bling bling from from Tiffany's would make me happy.

THERESA: The Saturday forecast is 46 degrees and sunshine. A good day to hit the running trail with my Valentine for a nice outdoor run. It's a been a long winter.

LAURIE: The traditional flowers and candy work for me. And, like Jen says, the traditional something from Tiffany's.

JULIE: Snuggling in front of a warm fire. Sexy music, maybe some Al Green or even some sappy Classical...Champagne, strawberries and well....you get the picture.

THERESA: We do love romance. I hope lots of guys check out the Girlfriends site today, for inspiration!

JILL: When I go to buy a bathing suit is when I discover that I'm the victim of theft. Not identity theft, but body theft. Sometime during the winter and/or the intervening years, someone took off with my flat belly, my flabless legs, my toned midriff. I've called the police to no avail. What are my options? One of those skirted bathing suits that my grandmother used to wear? Not on your life. Cover-ups? Too hot. So I stand there and lament, along with every other woman of a certain age.

JENICE: Hey, I just read a stat in the March issue of Health magazine that said that of 40-year-old American women, 69 percent enjoy shopping for swimwear. Isn't that interesting? Who'd they interview? But I do want one of those cute short sets with the tiny little short this year. They look like something I wouldn't feel self conscious walking around in.  Now, hear's a question for you girlfriends - Would you ever wear a thong bikini?    

YVONNE: I thank God that longer women's suits are in style. The tankini is my best friend.

THERESA: It's not an age thing, Jill. I've never had a flat midriff in my life. But you know what? I really want to buy a sexy two-piece suit this season. I tried a few bikinis on last year, but anything I tried on just made me look too pootchy. So I'm going to hit the gym with new resolve and then shop all over the East Coast this season 'til I find just the right suit!

   On a related note, my weight training has gone to hell this winter. I'm hoping the thought of buying skimpy spring and summerwear will  motivate me. 

LAURIE: I like to body surf, so I have to wear a one-piece suit with some kind of cross straps or halter. Which also happen to be the most body-flaw-friendly kinds of suits. Of course, my thighs still show...so I stay in the deep water! Not really.

My fave beach cover-up and sun shield is an oversized man's shirt. Chambray work shirts are great, and the collar protects your neck from sunburn, too. 

WENDY: Got bad news, gals: If you want a really good swimsuit, you need to shop...now. This is bad for those of us who have a little shapin' to do before pool time. But if you wait, the suits are picked over and the wrong size and just bad. Trust me, I know from experience.

JENICE: Jill, what about those sheer sarongs? I've got a yellow one that I just looooove. They cover you up, without mummifying you.

JILL: A sheer sarong is fine for walking around, but I don't want to be shrouded when I'm sitting there trying to soak up the sun. The high-leg cut of most of the bathing suits are perfect for Barbie dolls and other flawless creatures and so many others are really matronly. Most of us learned how to dress to conceal our shortcomings, but bathing suits highlight every figure problem we have. Bathing suit shopping is definitely a high-stress activity and I don't believe that survey for a minute.

THERESA: I do think a high-cut leg is actually more flattering than a traditional cut on most women. Makes the leg look longer and slimmer. And in answer to Jenice's question, no, I'd never wear a thong. They just look uncomfortable to me.

   Has anyone had luck buying swimwear on line? Victoria's Secret's website features some really cool swimsuits. And here's a photo of a cute mom-style suit from Eddie Bauer.

LAURIE: I think Land's End has lots of nice suits that fit a variety of body types. They have three different leg cuts, for example, and a body shape guide so you can see which suits would flatter you. Of course, I am of the theory that NO swimsuit flatters a real woman's body!

JENICE: If you're looking for a swimsuit, I highly recommend Venus Swimwear. I've ordered a couple from them and not only do they fit well, but the color and selection is great. My friends swear by them, too.  Their stuff has a sexy cut and you don't have to tug at it all day. You put it on and go.

THERESA: And when you order online, you don't have difficulty getting the right size?

JENICE: I've never had a problem. And I can be hard to fit! All they sell is swimwear so they really know their stuff. What I like best is they give you that sexy look - and cover you up, too.

WENDY: I suppose I have to buy a new suit, because when I swim I wear a Nike one-piece suit for exercise purposes.  It's a no-frills suit that allows me to move effortlessly thru the water.  I think I look cute in it, however I still believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

I think I'd like a suit with a color that pops!! Each summer my skin gets darker and I love the richness of the deep mahogony tones. A suit with great color should look good against my skin.

However, Naomi Sims, the first African American super model has mahogany skin and she recommends pastels for woman with my skin tone.

THERESA: I think pink is going to be really big this season. I'm noticing it everywhere already and I feel like buying some myself....

THERESA:  A professor at Harvard Medical School is urging doctors to be more pushy with their patients about exercise and nutrition. "It may be the most important prescription the clinician writes that day,'' says Dr. JoAnn Manson. "Clinicians spend so much time managing hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and all of these are related to obesity, but more time should be spent on prevention so patients wouldn't have these health risks.''  

Girlfriends,  do you think it's your doctor's job to coach you about fitness and nutrition?  Do you get good advice from your doctor about exercise and eating right? And do you make time to see your doctor when you need to, to get the usual tests we all need, to check in about any problems you might have?

 (And we welcome comments from any doctors who might be checking in today!)

ELLEN: I would love to have health benefits that covered sessions with a nutritionist and a personal trainer!

JENICE: I'm not sure that some doctors know that much about exercise and nutrition themselves. So much of their training is focused on curing disease, not disease prevention.

YVONNE: I do think doctors should speak up when a patient is overweight. Docotors tend to be detached emotionally from us more so than family and friends and will therefore speak more frankly. My doctor is always blunt with me and after I get over the initial hurt I am appreciative.

THERESA:  The doctors I've had have been pretty encouraging. I like it when they're very matter of fact. "You want to lose weight? You gotta exercise!" 

I love Ellen's idea about health benefits. You'd think employers and insurers would see a huge financial benefit from preventive care. They'd be smart to cover all kinds of programs to get workers into shape!

Yesterday April talked about the challenge of eating healthy at business lunches. This got us talking about the perils of restaurant meals. It's tough to eat right when you're dining out! Here are some tips:

YVONNE: Stay away from any sauces and creamy dressings in restaurants. Also, move that bread basket away from you. Eat your meat first, not the rice or pasta. Then when it is time to go to those things you are almost full. You don't want to leave the meat on your plate but the starches. Let the wait staff keep your water glass filled and keep emptying it while you dine.

APRIL: That's awesome advice...I do all the opposite!!!

JILL: That is wonderful advice, Yvonne. But I lose all discipline when I go out to eat. I'm a "food opportunist," as a friend of mine puts it and can't pass up the chance to order what I want and eat all of it. My philosophy of life is to maximize each moment and that includes making the most of eating out. Maybe if we ate out more, I'd find a way to control myself, but we don't. This weekend, we went to a wonderful Italian restaurant with our friends and she ordered a fish dish while I was up to my elbows in spicy red pasta. I admired her but couldn't bring myself to pass up the opportunity to indulge myself.

WENDY: I heard a good tip recently, which I think I sent to this group: Pick one vice: Wine, bread or dessert. You can only have one. That helps you moderate. And I love Yvonne's "meat first" tip...

LAURIE: Wendy, that's a good one! You get a reward for eating semi-wisely. Yvonne, great suggestion to eat meat first. My main strategy is not to eat everything that's served, unless portions are really small. And if you must eat bread, have it without butter. You probably won't eat as much...

JILL: My version of Wendy's would be to have the bread, wine and dessert and skip everything else.

WENDY: Aha, you have identified the problem with this suggestion: ACTUALLY DOING IT. Also, after you have the wine, who really says no to the bread and dessert?

My tactic has been to enlist my hubbo, who helps me say no (and I do the same for him).

THERESA: Would it help you all if calories and carb counts were listed on restaurant menues? Should restaurants be required to provide that info?

LAURIE: No! Ignorance is bliss.

YVONNE: Not really, I think. Most of us know what to avoid, it's just we let temptation take over. Anything on the menu in oil, fried, and/or in sauce is trouble.

WENDY: One more thought, and those of you who have seen what I eat can vouch for the fact that I actually do this one.

When I have a big lunch, like a business lunch, I have only the lightest of snacks for dinner.

No, it's not a great idea for daily health. But doing it even once a week really does NOT hurt. Just put something in your tummy -- carrots or popcorn are two of my favorites -- and go to bed. If you have totally pigged out, this will keep your total calories down.

Now, I open the floor to rants about what a bad strategy this is. WARNING: I am prepared to defend it.

LAURIE: Sounds like a great strategy, based on the first rule for keeping pounds off: Don't eat so much!

THERESA: Now that both my kids are off at college, I eat far fewer restaurant meals. Used to be when I'd get home late and have to feed them, the quickest, easiest option was going out. Now I rarely go out for dinner, and that makes eating light at suppertime a lot easier. When I go out for a business lunch, I usually am pretty disciplined. I'll get a big salad or a fish dish. Today I had the jambalaya at Rose Tattoo (but with TWO pieces of bread to help cut the spiciness of the soup!) I almost never have dessert at a restaurant, unless it's a big night out.

When we go to a diner or a fast food restaurant, I'm usually appalled at how unhealthy the menu choices are. And then I order up a big cheesesteak and fries.

YVONNE W: Try not to go into the restaurant too hungry. Eat something light before you leave home. Also, drink lots of water, eat plenty of veggies and if you must have dessert order the dessert, but eat only one or two, if you must, tablespoons.

Calories count, and women are eating a lot more calories on average than we did 30 years ago, according to a new and disturbing study. The government recommends that women need around 1,600 calories a day. That's going to vary depending on activity level, and if you exercise a lot you get to eat more, of course. You can figure out your own needs with an online calculator.

In recent decades, many of us bought into a "Fat is Bad" mindset and overloaded on carbs. Now the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction, and we're being bombarded by marketing that tells us carbs are bad. Let's face it, both are bad in excess. And if you snack at all on cookies, chips, ice cream -- or (if you've cut back on carbs) bacon, cheese, mayonnaise --- if you eat fast food, if you drink soda, if you frequently buy vending machine treats at work, it's hard not to exceed that 1,600 calories.

It's a sad fact; We can't just eat whatever we want whenever we want and stay trim and healthy. What are your thoughts about this study, Girlfriends and what new hints can you share to keep your food intake under control?

THERESA: I used to think I had a slow metabolism, and that someone like Wendy, who's quite thin, had a faster metabolism. Then Wendy and compared weeklong food diaries about a year ago when I was bummed about my weight, and it turned out she was taking in a lot fewer calories on average than I did. I cut back to about 1,400 a day of healthier foods for a few months, lost the weight I needed to, increased my intake to around 1,900 but stuck to eating healthy foods. And the weight has stayed off for nearly a year now. I feel like it's gone for good.

What kind of healthy foods do I really like? Sweet potatoes. I'll bake one for an hour and have it nice and hot with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and call it dinner. Delicious, filling, nutritious.

Spinach salads with low-fat dressing. Cherry tomatoes. Anything cooked up with beans.

And dessert once in awhile, one helping after dinner, no seconds. If I don't eat much sugary stuff, I don't crave sugary stuff.

Also, I take inventory whenever I'm at the checkout line at the grocery store to make sure I'm buying fresh, healthy food and not junk.

YVONNE: I drink hot water with lemon all day long. (I know that makes me an old lady). Also, no more trips to the snack machine. I keep protein bars in my desk and my work bag so when I get hungry I open one of them, eat a few bites and eat the rest later because they tend to have a lot of sugar. I eat a lot all day, won't lie, but it's usually three meals split in half to make six.

ELLEN: Most of you girlfriends know that I was quite ill last year and lost a good 20 pounds in addition to the 30 I lost a couple of years ago. I was getting back to my fighting weight this fall when BLAMMO! I don’t know what kicked in but I put back on that 20 pounds in about four weeks. I’m afraid to say it has something to do with the change of life. I just couldn’t stop eating. I wanted to eat ALL THE TIME.

After the holidays, I got hold of myself and I’m now back to drinking a lot of water and eating a lot of fruit. I don’t know what this does but it helps me control my appetite.

I sense that there is something about this time of life that helps you put on weight. Almost all my skinny friends put on weight at this time. They seem to lose it when they go through the pause. I remember a former boss who gave away all her clothes because despite exercising an hour a day, she just couldn’t get into her Size 6 business suits. Two years later she was back to the Size 6 set.

So I am cutting way back on my calories, increasing my exercise (Girlfriends will be glad to know that I am starting to jog on my home treadmill. Ugh.) and continuing with the strength training twice a week. I am also just going with the flow on the weight gain. Maybe it’s water; maybe it’s hormonal; maybe it’s because my kid went to college and I’m having some sort of weird reaction to loss. Or maybe it’s some reptilian instinct to bulk up because the young ones are about to put me on an ice floe and send me out to sea. I feel fit. If I’m a little fat, that’s ok.

LAURIE: I have lost 15 pounds since September simply because my dislocated jaw made eating painful, and there were lots of foods I couldn't eat, most of them carbo-loaded things like pasta and bread. But it seems to have changed my eating pattern in some way. I don't eat as much as I used to, and I don't want to. Smaller portions, not so many second helpings. And I consciously stop when I feel full, where I used to keep eating and feel over-full a lot after meals. Pain - it's the new Atkins!

I keep thinking I'll gain it back, but I'm trying to stay aware of portion sizes and carb-heavy meals.

THERESA: This is not sexy, but today I want to chat about bloating. I'm feeling bloated in the past few days and I haven't felt this way since the last time I was eight months pregnant. April says it could be because of the weather. And I'm using a ton of moisturizer these days--- and April says that could be blocking my pores. Could I be eating too much salt? I never think about my salt intake. Or is this related to the dreaded M-word (I am getting to an age where I'm starting to think along those lines....sigh!) I have skipped a few gym days in a row--- could my body be reacting to not sweating enough?

JILL: I've never heard that using moisturizer blocks your pores and causes bloating. Could we hear more about that, April? I don't know about salt, either, although Theresa, you should be more sensitive to salt intake, especially if there's any blood pressure history in your family. I often feel bloated, too, and I'm past the "dreaded M word." I always assume it's because I drink too much water or eat too much roughage. But, if it continues, not to be an alarmist, I'd talk to my gynecologist.

YVONNE: If you are using an oil-free or light moisturizer with UV protection I don't think that's blocking your pores or making you feel bloated. Your instinct about the lack of sweating may be right. Also, if you are eating a lot of fiber these days that could be affecting you.

WENDY: I did hear recently from a woman at Origins (who was trying to sell me expensive stuff) that moisturizer, especially around the eyes, DOES cause puffiness. And I think she's onto something -- I have stopped using it there and my INCREDIBLY puffy eyes are getting better...

LAURIE: Wow, my eyes are always puffy, too. In fact, I started using some new cream and they are more so lately, now that you bring this up. I'm going to try using less cream there. Thanks, Wendy.

YVONNE: Ladies, we're not supposed to put moisturizer directly under the eyes. The skin is way too thin there. All the reaction you are getting is from everything under that very thin layer. You either use specific eye treatments there or nothing at all. I vote for nothing.

THERESA: So Yvonne, I can't extrapolate from this to conclude that my HANDS are puffy these days because I'm using too much hand cream?

I'm heading down to the gym to sweat for an hour. I think that'll make me feel better.

LAURIE: Theresa, I agree with Jill that you should watch the bloating and go to doctor if it continues.

THERESA: Good idea. I will, if this continues.

I do wonder about salt. It's bad because it increases the risk of high blood pressure, right? Are there other reasons to avoid salt? I don't have a family history of high blood pressure, but I tend to think salt is bad for me, and I know Americans eat too much of the stuff. But it is a health and nutrition issue I don't think much about.

APRIL: I remember doing story about the Eagles and learning they drank pickle juice to avoid losing too much water during games. It surprised me but apparently it's common with intense athletic activity like that.

WENDY: Check out this Web MD article on salt.

YVONNE: Salt is bad IN EXCESS, like all other parts of the diet. But people who sweat a lot need to replenish that sodium. So don't deprive yourself. I tend to under-salt also because high blood pressure and hypertension are prevalent in my family. But lack of sodium in the body can also be detrimental, especially to your equilibrium and thyroid.

YVONNE W: I think about eating too much salt, but I'm addicted to it. I hope being involved in the Girlfriends site will help me change many of my bad habits and work toward positive goals.

I have the belief that if I make my goals and desires, as well as my bad habits public information, I will be motivated to reach inside myself for the strength and discipline it will take to change my life for the better.

The intake of salt is something I need to consider because one of my goals is to run the Broad Street Run at least 15 pounds lighter than I am. Since I decided to accept this challenge, I have lost 6 pounds the hard way. Less calories and more exercise. So I'm on my way.

Heather,

In my first pregnancy, I gained 65 pounds, had a c-section, and did not lose much weight after I delivered. Since then, I've had a vaginal birth and another c-section (and much better controlled weight gain with those pregnancies.) My question is this. I have what some call the "apron". It is skin that hangs over, not uncommon after c-sections. I've been told that I will never get rid of it; which has decreased my motivation for working out. I walk frequently, but do not do any weight training. Is there anything that I can do to get rid of this, or am I stuck with it the rest of my life?

Jackie

Jackie, Congratulations on the birth of your second child! Losing "the apron" that you referred too as well as redefining the rest of your body will take lots of hard work both in the gym and with regard to your diet. It is imperative that you combine a low-fat diet with a cardiovascular and strength training regimen. You may want to consult a nutritionist to help you revamp your diet based on your current weight and activity level. Additionally, a personal trainer can tailor a program that will meet your current fitness status and assist you with creating a program that will meet both your strength training and cardiovascular training needs. Remember that you can not "spot reduce" an area, therefore a total body workout is necessary for you to see change. Bodyfat can be lost in any area of the body regardless of the type of child birth that you have had. However, if you had significant weight gain and now have worked your way down to achieving minimal bodyfat, you may have excess skin from this process. Surgical removal of the skin then becomes your option for obtaining a pouch-free abdominal area. Remember, with hard work and discipline you can achieve body fat loss. If you have any other specific questions don't hesitate to contact me. Best wishes-- You can do it!

YVONNE: Today's temperature teases to the fact that we only have one more month of awful weather and then we can get back to our spring routines. What new things are people thinking about doing this spring?

APRIL: Yesterday when I walked out of work, the sky was clearing and it had just finished raining and it was a balmy 40 degrees. That was awesome! It made me really want this month to fly. I always feel that when February's up, it's only downhill from there.

LAURIE: This time of year I like to buy flowering plants at the supermarket and put them around the house to make me think of spring. They're so cheap but really lift my mood.

JENICE: Well, this spring, I'm thinking of getting my nipple pierced.

THERESA: Oh my, Jenice thanks for sharing!

APRIL: Jenice, for my birthday this summer I promised myself I'd do something like that and did my belly button. You go Jenice!

JENICE: Hey, I was only KIDDING!

THERESA: Hey, you're so hip and that's become so mainstream it would NOT surprise me!

APRIL: OOPS! That 's the story of my, ahem, life on this website.

LAURIE: OK! Let's talk about body piercing. Though I'm afraid except for ONE of us (ahem, April!), it'd be a short riff!

JILL: I think the key to living a fun life is being "outrageous." But I think body piercings are genuinely unattractive, for the most part. So I've been thinking more along the lines of a tattoo somewhere. I know this isn't considered daring and wild by the younger set, but it would be for me. I'm still wrestling with my (old-fashioned) notion that it's very trashy. Any thoughts about it, girlfriends?

LAURIE: Just be sure the tattoo place uses fresh needles AND fresh ink cartridges. That way no dangers of getting hepatitis C. I'm too chicken to get a tattoo! But I agree that outrageousness is a necessary ingredient to a great life, however you define it for yourself.

JILL: That's the problem. It's so hard to define. I'd love to hear from all of you on the value of being outrageous -- and just how you think we can do it.

WENDY: Sorry, I vote for... trashy!

THERESA: Oh, I so disagree. A small, artfully crafted tattoo is perfectly cool. The hard part for me would be selecting just the right image. I think tattoos are a much better option than a tongue stud or a nipple ring. And personally, if I were going to do it, I'd play it safe enough to get a tattoo on some body part where I could cover the tattoo if I wanted to hide it. My very upstanding daughter has a cool little tattoo on the small of her back. I like it!

JULIE: Gals, as a matter of fact, my husband and I have decided to each get tattoos for Valentine's Day. He just went yesterday to check out a place. I'm a bit nervous, but I think it will definitely be very sexy. I haven't decided where to get it, though...My husband thinks it would be sexy to have one on my very lower back, but I was thinking of a small one on my ankle....I never thought I would do something so crazy, but hey, you only live once!

LAURIE: Oh, you crazy kids! But, Julie, it's really hard to hide an ankle tattoo (unless you start wearing anklets).

JENICE: So, Theresa, does this mean that you're going to get a tattoo?

THERESA: Hmm. If Jill's up for it, yeah, I'd probably do it...

JILL: So what would make a cool tattoo for us? The Daily News logo?

THERESA: GAWD NO.

LAURIE: No way!!!!

JULIE: Jill, why don't we go together?

JILL: So, who will pay for my divorce attorney? Actually, I think it would be hilarious if we all got tiny tattoos together. Now THAT's pretty outrageous.

JULIE: I think we'd have to all have some cocktails first, what do you think?

JILL: How about a morphine drip?

JULIE: I talked to (Inquirer reporter) Tommy Gibbons about it (he has them) and he said it's not that bad.

JENICE: Julie, what about the back of your shoulder? My girlfriend got one on her ankle and lived to regret it.

JULIE: What's the point of having a tattoo if you can't see it? I think as long as it's something small and delicate, it would be ok for people to see it, don't you?

LAURIE: I think if it's visible, it would be like an accessory you could never change.

THERESA: I'd probably get one on my front side, at hip pocket level, so it would be visible at the beach or if I were wearing low-rider jeans (gotta get me a pair of those!) and a shortie top.

JENICE: You go, girrrrrl!

JULIE: Yeah, that would be cool. The only problem with that location for me is that I am very ticklish there...I would probably giggle so hard the needle would be all over the place!

YVONNE W: I already have a tattoo, but would be more than happy to get another one. One of the secrets of being outrageous is to not listen to comments and opinions from others, especially people that do not know you or took the time to get to know you.

Someone commented the other day about my tattoo and how I was following a fad and no one over 25 should get a tattoo. This person was only interested in their narrow minded opinion of what life should be about and the limitations I should place on myself because of my age.

Women can be a little outrageous and courageous. I don't want to live in a box that some dull person prescribed for me. I want to be fabulous in my 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's.

I started running at 49. Dating interesting men at 50. Karate at 52. Dancing salsa at 54 and also got a butterfly tattoo on my left shoulder and took a train from Phila. to Calif. It was an incredible trip. Swimming at 55 for the first time in 28 years. I see my life as just beginning a new era. I'm very excited.

THERESA: One of the most important reasons to exercise and eat right -- and to encourage other women to do the same -- is to protect ourselves from heart disease, which kills 500,000 women in America each year. This is serious stuff. I was surprised by these statistics from the Heart Association (which I pulled from a story by my Montana friend, health writer Ginny Merriam):

THERESA: About the Justin Timberlake-Janet Jackson Super Bowl moment: do you think Janet knew ahead of time that Justin was going to expose her breast in front of however many millions of Super Bowl viewers?

On another note, what is about seeing a woman's bare breast (or not exactly bare, what with Janet's elaborate nipple jewelry and all) that sends an entire nation into apoplectic shock?

YVONNE: I have no problem with the whole exposure, but then I don't have children. I think this country is phony when it comes to sex and nudity and what it claims it feels is appropriate. Many places in Europe have virtually no sexually based crimes because they revere the human body, enjoy it and teach respect for it and women at an early age. I had a British friend here who told me she used to sunbathe at the beach topless in front of her brothers and it was no big deal. This country has serious issues.

APRIL: I think it was totally premeditated. I think MTV is grasping at straws for the biggest shock factors possible. And I was talking to some folks earlier today who believe Janet has successfully deflected attention from her brother (and promoted her new album in a pretty hip way)

JILL: I have absolutely no doubt that this was a completely staged event. Jackson had promised a "shocking moment" in pre-show interviews, or so I've read. And why else would someone wear nipple jewelry that looked like it hurt like hell? Justin's lame excuse that it was "costume failure" or something idiotic like that is totally not credible. What I can't figure out is why they're lying about it and apologizing for it when it was clearly all by design. And the poor wounded NFL is crying foul at the MTV production. What did they think they'd get with that cast of entertainers? Chamber music?

THERESA: Back in my Earth Mother days, I thought nothing of breastfeeding in public. I was selfish about it-- if I was with friends having a good time, I didn't want to go have to go hide in some private place and miss out on any fun just 'cause my child was hungry. I was sort of discreet-- I usually threw a blanket over the baby's head, you know, but looking back on it, I'm sure it bothered people.

Jenice Armstrong: Janet's starburst has shined for years (today's Daily News)

THERESA: Don't get me wrong, I think it was totally inappropriate, you're right. But it's interesting to me that the female breast still packs such shock value.

JILL: I think in this setting, any sudden unexpected flesh exposure would have had the same impact: a naked butt would have elicited the same reaction. I don't think this has anything to do with the particular body part, but rather shocking an unsuspecting audience. I think it's a mistake to use this episode as some commentary on American attitudes towards the female anatomy.

WENDY: Are we avoiding the truly interesting question: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT THING she was wearing? Did it hurt? Would it get snagged on your clothes? Sorry to be so purient, but what's attractive about something so pointy in that area??

LAURIE: It's so silly. Football is such a violent game, the hype around the Super Bowl is America at its inane, greedy and self-indulgent best, and the issue is a flash of somebody's bare breast? Anyway, it wasn't bare. In fact, Janet Jackson was less exposed than Li'l Kim is on a typical "Entertainment Tonight" broadcast, or some actresses are at the Oscars. Remember Julia Roberts' see-through dress?

THERESA: No wonder we feel good after working out! Exercise makes you feel as happy as a box of chocolates! This story got me to thinking, as Valentine's Day approaches, about our relationship to chocolate. I love it, but it makes me more hyper than coffee, so I go easy on the stuff. And three pieces of Russell Stover dark chocolates have 190 calories! (And let's be realistic, after you open a big heart-shaped box, who stops at three?)

There are low-carb chocolates on the market. Russell Stover markets a whole line of 'em. That company's CEO describes himself as a "low-carb person" but the calorie count on these candies is about the same as the company's standard chocolates. So those don't interest me.

What about you, Girlfriends? Do you love chocolate? If so, how do you work it into your healthy lifestyle? And are there low-calorie chocolate treats you can recommend?

YVONNE W: My problem is I not only have a relationship with chocolate, but all things "SWEET".

LAURIE: I sometimes have to have some chocolate. If I'm anxious, or around certain times of the month, even a little bit gives me a lift. I used to try to eat something else, but then I'd just eat something else AND chocolate.

Now I keep a Cadbury dark chocolate bar around the house (and at my desk, Girlfriends!), or some of those little Dove Bar chocolates, for when I need a fix. It's gotta be a chemical thing because I instantly feel better.

WENDY: Is there anyone in the whole wide world who doesn't love chocolate? (Other than people with allergies or something, which would be very rough.) There are some things that are worth the calories. (This is reminding me of our Girl Scout cookie riff!)

ELLEN: As I said yesterday, I’ve got M&Ms on my desk in a mouse-proof container. Please feel free to come by when you need that very necessary choco-lift. I’m noticing monthly patterns among our male colleagues. ;)

THERESA: Theresa: I used to eat so much chocolate when I was younger. A Butterfingers bar or a bag of peanut M&Ms or a Mr. Goodbar was a regular snack for me. I never indulge like that now (though I do munch on the M&Ms in Ellen's office from time to time!) Maybe that's why a big hit of chocolate now makes me feel kind of edgy.

JILL: I have a T-shirt in my office that say: "Hand over the chocolate and no one will get hurt." I absolutely have to have chocolate every day or life ain't worth living. I buy a couple of one-bite candies at the WaWa regularly to avoid eating huge amounts of it. Chocolate and bread are the two things I have problems controlling. I'll actually reduce my food intake to make room for chocolate calories. Sometimes, there's just no substitute.

THERESA: Jill, you'd love the cookbook my son gave me for Christmas, "1001 Chocolate Treats." (I think the boy feels chocolate-deprived.) I rewarded his generosity with a big batch of double chocolate chip cookies.

JENICE: All this chocolate talk has got me craving some!