BARBARA, arts, educational & cultural consultant: Your situation is one that many of us face, especially after a summer of cookouts and vacations. But fall is officially here and what better time than a new season to take control of your life and begin again. That’s right. Use the next 12 weeks (the autumn season) to renew, refresh and retrain.

Renew: Set new goals. Determine to reduce sugar and sweets, eliminate salt and sodium, drink more water, reduce or eliminate caffeine, reduce your carbs or eat more fruits and vegetables. (Each of us is different, so plan realistic goals.)

Refresh: Change a few old habits to some fresh new ones. For instance, if you are used to three large meals a day, try “grazing.” That means eating five to six times a day with three lighter main meals and two to three snacks in between... Many “grazers” claim they feel better and experience weight loss.

Retrain: Stimulate the giving spirit and the hidden athlete within by preparing to enter an upcoming charitable run, walk or bike event. Plan to get in shape for it week by week. Then, when the event comes, you’ll be ready and psyched because it’s for a good cause.

Girlfriends, I’m heeding all of my own advice for this week. I’ve set an autumn goal to renew, refresh and retrain. In fact, a friend has invited me to sponsor and join her on an upcoming Alzheimer’s walk. I have accepted the invitation/challenge and I’ll let you know how I’m doing. Good luck to all of you, too. Posted September 24, 2003 02:54 AM