Despite all the talk, women still spend twice as much time as men doing housework -- scrubbing, vacuuming, laundry. The really surprising news: These chores actually count as exercise and may help women live longer.

Recently researchers surveyed thousands of men and women about their exercise habits. At first, many women described themselves as sedentary -- they said they rarely got exercise. But when the investigators dug deeper, they found that these allegedly sedentary women were burning lots of calories right at home. Scouring pots for 15 minutes, for instance, eats up 35 calories; a half-hour of sweeping burns 75.

Add it all up, the scientists say, and all that elbow grease amounts to a significant exercise program. But for men, the research raises a tough question: Would you rather die young...or do the dishes?

Mind What You Eat:
Too often, we eat without noticing or appreciating the food. Think about your last meal. Can you recall if you enjoyed it? Can you recall it at all? Simply being inattentive to what you eat does not translate into eating less. A healthy alternative is to do what we call eating "mindfully," paying careful attention to what we eat.

Motivate Yourself:
If you have decided to start losing weight, it is absolutely necessary to take the time to motivate yourself. First, draw a clear picture of why you want to lose weight. Write down three specific reasons. For many people the main reason is health. For others it may be an emotional decision. You want to be pleased with what you see in the mirror.

Set Realistic Goals:
A healthy short-term goal is to lose half-pound to one pound per week. Given that, look at a calendar and determine when you can expect to reach your weight goal. Write the date down. Now you have a weight goal within a reasonable time frame. Don't get angry at yourself if you don't lose weight on your schedule. And don't depend on a rigid diet designed exclusively for weight loss to do it. Anyone who is sufficiently motivated can follow such a strict, low-calorie regimen for two weeks, maybe even a month but eventually boredom sets in and then come the familiar lamentations: "I can't follow this diet." " I have no willpower."

Select the Right Food:
Think of the typical American dinner plate: heavy on calories, fat and protein and light on carbohydrates. By contrast, a healthy low-fat diet will give lots of space on your plate to starch-pasta, potatoes, rice or other grain and vegetables. Put thought and time on the preparation of your grains and vegetables. This will help you de-emphasize meat, chicken or fish, which should be limited to three- to five-per servings.