Note: This is the fifth of a series of seven articles that will help you gear up for a healthy, active, and fit New Year.

So, you've got your plan of action to attack your health and fitness goals before the holidays season is here! Congrats, you will be well ahead of new year resolutions and on your way to a happier and healthier New Year. Your plan is developed and ready to go. (If you need to catch up quickly, go to the Fit and Healthy Blog posts here.) Now it's time to put that plan into action. Here is a quick exercise to take all of the planning, the commitment and ideas -- and kick them into action.

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Barrow, Alaska, saw the last of the sun a few days ago. It won’t return until January 23^rd.  When I read that in the newspaper, I tried to imagine what it would be like to go through the entire day in darkness, day after day. It was depressing simply to contemplate the possibility. And depression is exactly what many people feel as the hours of daylight shrink in the lower 48 and darkness takes over more and more of our waking time.

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Note: This is the fourth of a series of seven articles that will help you gear up for a healthy, active, and fit New Year.

The holiday season is almost upon us, soon to be followed by non-stop New Year resolution weight loss advertising. Even with all of the valuable advice offered here on the DietDectivecom site, it is easy to be tempted to dive into the quickest, most accessible "diet" or "fitness plan" you see. Don't make that same old mistake! This time, get a plan that is based on evidence and results -- not just hype and gimmicks. And it should be designed for your body and your lifestyle. So take the time to do a bit of research in order to find the most accurate, scientific information. It's the accurate, scientific and specific-to-you programs that will work to get you -- and keep you -- healthy.

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Janet Podleski is one half of the sister act that wrote the bestselling cookbooks, Looneyspoons, Crazy Plates and their latest, Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! Janet and her sister, Greta, are also monthly columnists for Canada's number-one magazine, Reader's Digest, and were voted into Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2000. The sisters and their inspirational, self-publishing success story have been featured on dozens of national TV programs such as The Today Show, CNN, Canada A.M. and QVC, as well as on hundreds of radio shows, and in magazines and newspapers across North America. In addition to a B.A. in Psychology, she has also earned a degree as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.

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Brenda J. Ponichtera is a registered dietitian and author of several award-winning cookbooks, all designed to prove that "healthful eating doesn't have to take a lot of time in the kitchen."

As a medical professional and nutrition and diabetes counselor, Ponichtera has specialized in helping people develop healthful, lifelong eating habits. An active member of the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association, she received the American Dietetic Association’s Mary Abbott Hess Award and the Award of Merit from the Oregon Dietetic Association. These awards honor her outstanding achievement and contribution as a health professional and author. She is also an editorial advisor for the popular publication, Today’s Diet and Nutrition.

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Calorie Bargain: Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt

The Why: This fantastic Greek Yogurt from Stonyfield Farms is fat-free, has only 90 calories, and contains only a handful of natural ingredients. Although Greek Yogurt is a bit of an acquired taste if you are used to eating other brands of artificially-flavored yogurt, you’ll love it once you get hooked. Add part of a sliced banana or some sliced strawberries, and you’ve got a delicious mega-healthy snack.

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Calorie Bargain: Green Mountain Gringo Mild Salsa

The Why: We get all kinds of salsa to sample around here, but the Green Mountain Gringo Mild Salsa is pretty darn amazing and some of the best we’ve tasted. It’s so tasty you’ll be searching high and low for more veggies to dip in it.

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