Weight management interests most of us, even the currently slender. Even they will discover that as people age it is "normal" to tend to gain weight. A pound a year is the current norm, or ten pounds per decade. If you weighed 160 pounds at age 21, expect to weigh 190 by the time you are 51. If you were 115 when you were married, you will probably move up to 151 or more -- unless you do something about it. The skinny teen all too quickly becomes normally overweight. It doesn't take long. Plus, drugs such as steroids, some antidepressants and environmental toxins all can contribute to weight gain beyond the healthy norm.

TIP #1: Give your mind a strong inner picture. With your eyes closed, visualize yourself at your ideal weight and spend several minutes stepping into the picture and wearing that body for awhile until you are not only comfortable, but ecstatic.

MORE IS BETTER?

Most of us have been conditioned to consume more. Through advertising and our culture, our eating habits have spawned a growth industry with food as its full focus and fixation. Our food habits are recorded, examined and analyzed so that we can be sold and made to eat more. Then we are sold a lifetime supply of remedies to "cure" the ailments caused by overeating. Most often, these remedies fail us.

TIP #2: Eat only small portions. And eat smaller portion throughout the day.

RICHES OF INFORMATION

Equally impressive in its sheer volume is a wealth of information about what you should eat along with how, where, what time and in what order. Some of this advice may be sound, but the problem is that recommendations are often made to a general audience without any regard to individual differences. At times, "expert opinions" are either conflicting or confusing. Worst of all, some of the information we receive is simply inaccurate, outdated and ignorant.

Tip #3: Eat intuitively. Ask you body what it wants, then honor that and eat it, in smaller portions.