Back when I was doing Jazzercise, this was my jam! (Love how cheesy that sounds). But you know how music can propel you to do more? This song had me dancing like my life depended on it. It's also good for walking and running, and it's one of the songs on Rock My Run's Wogging My World playlist, which I compiled for the awesome site. Go download it, it's free.

(Don't play the video in front of the kiddies; she has a potty mouth in the beginning of it.)

I've written before about Rock My Run, that great site where you can download running mixes. Well, I'm mentioning them again because we have our own mix! I even designed the "cover" for it.

Live today is my Wogging My World mix -- and you can download it for free. It's a combo of Tunes for Tuesday picks plus a few favorites from my iPod workout faves, expertly mixed by DJ Riggz, aka Adam Riggs-Zeigen, founder of Rock My Run. (It had been called Wog My World but a commenter noted that the word "wog" is an offensive term in some countries, so we changed it. Who knew? Obviously, me.)

Consider it my Christmas present to you! Happy wogging!

I'm a rebel without a diet -- I've mentioned that a few times. But does "eating on a whim" help me with weight loss? Hellz, no. So this week, the Weight Shrink suggested that I throw a little structure into my food fairyland. 

We decided to build a plan around smoothies. I find them very filling, they're balanced, they're something I can whip up in a snap, and most importantly, I love them. As much as I try, I can't do something like "the big salad" -- they leave me feeling like a cow grazing on pasture land.

So my goal is smoothies for breakfast and lunch, an afternoon snack (if needed) and the proverbial "sensible dinner."

As luck would have it, the December flood of new diet books is starting at my front door, and one of the books is called The Simple Diet: A Doctor's Science-Based Plan, which is based around meal-replacement shakes. It comes out Dec. 27.

Dr. James W. Anderson, a professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at the University of Kentucky, came up with the plan to automate the process of eating. He writes:

Instead of trying to figure out which foods are "good" or "bad," which are "allowed" or "forbidden," you simply enjoy nutritionally balanced, delicious, premeasured meal replacements along with your favorite fruits and vegetables.

Bingo!

My pantry is chockful of protein powders and we have a constant supply of frozen fruit and various milks (almond, coconut, even sunflower) so smoothies are just plain easy.

I just got the book and am only into the introduction but it sounds like the plan we came up with on Monday might actually be a smart one FOR ME. (I put that in caps because I'm not a medical professional and this is what I'm doing for me. But, hey, it's in book form now, so give it a read when it comes out.)

My Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 notebook

Over on Shrinking Sisters Reviews, I have started a five-week series using Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 for the Xbox. I've tried just about every "exergame" on the market and this one is among the best.

This week's HealthBuzz

And for another dose of healthfullness, check out this week's HealthBuzz:

:

... here's what's in mine (it only looks like we survive on tea, almonds and cereal):

Really wasn't sure I was going to find this video since it's so old (OMG, 15 years old!) but -- hey! -- here it is. 'Member Luscious Jackson? I was cleaning up my CD collection (yes, kids, I still have CDs), and put Fever In Fever Out in the "transfer to iTunes" pile. This one would be great for running:

Hiya!

I've been crazy busy the past week, and I haven't had a chance to come up for air.

It's that time of year.

No, I'm not talking about shopping, baking and partygoing.

I'm talking about the onslaught of press releases, packages and TV plugs devoted to weight loss.

I spent the past week chasing down the Next Big Thing -- the P.I.N.K. Method weight-loss plan (you can read more than enough on that over at my column on Examiner). I've been greeting the UPS and FedEx guys at the door just about every day, their arms laden with items like green kefir (really good!), workout DVDs (Tuesday is a BIG release day, by the way) and even a Shake Weight (the "Pro" edition).

It's enough to make my head spin.

Is this the cure-all for obesity? Is this workout The One? Is the Shake Weight more than a punchline? Is Jane Fonda some kind of antiaging robot?

It's easy to get caught up in the reams of hype and for someone who frequently gets stuck on the scale, the hype can be very tempting.

But I know I am The Rebel Without a Diet and I need to stay true to my "non plan" because that, strangely, works. I take bits and pieces of the scads of plans I have followed and discarded and make my own rules that I can live with. When I start thinking that I need to do something else, I rebel, fall off and stuff my face with Rice Chex.

As long as I track my food and fitness on the totally free and totally awesome SparkPeople.com, I'm good. I've been doubting my "non-plan" the past couple days, and the scale has shown that.

And if you've never checked out SparkPeople, you definitely should. It's amazing how many resources they have and it doesn't cost a cent. You can check it out HERE.

And here's some more good advice, from the weekly HealthBuzz:

We're done with Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a distant, expensive memory, and Dec. 1 is (eek!) today. 

It's the holiday season and we're knee deep in it.

(cue the jingle bells...)

I'm part of BlogHer's Life Well Lived panel and BlogHer posed the question: What are some of your best tips for surviving the season of parties, celebrations and family get-togethers?

Right about now, people who know me are laughing themselves silly because they know that I am not a party animal. My idea of holiday fun is curling up on the sofa and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas with Santa's stash of cookies. But every now and then I can be coaxed out of my yoga pants and into a festive mood.

Be you; don't be "her": If you're a jeans and T-shirt kind of person, you're going to be miserable squeezed into a cocktail dress. Instead, get the most awesome, dressiest jeans you can find, pair them with some great shoes and finish it off with a knockout top. (I am NOT talking about a Christmas sweater.) That's how I roll.

Make your host gift unique: A bottle of wine is a perfectly fine host gift, but if you're into riesling and they're into cabernet it could get tricky. (I am into riesling, if you're stopping by). Instead, pick up something green like a rosemary topiary, which I've seen at natural foods stores and gourmet shops. They aren't expensive, they're fragrant and even if your host doesn't cook much, it's a nice little tabletop Christmas tree.

Have a game plan at the buffet table: This is a weight-loss blog after all, so I feel the need to add this tip. Eat something before you go. If you starve yourself all day because you're going to a party, you'll end up hoovering the cheese cubes, leaving a giant Jenga superstructure of toothpicks in the corner of the room. A container of Greek yogurt, which is high in protein, will keep your hunger dampened enough to sample the hors d'ouvres like a sensible human being. Friends will gather round and swoon, "Oooh, I wish I had your willpower!"

Do good: Millions of Americans are literally starving, and no one should go hungry, especially this time of year. When doing your holiday grocery shopping, take advantage of buy-one-get-one-free deals and give your extra to a food pantry. Many food pantries are in desperate need of high-protein foods like tuna and peanut butter so make sure those are on your list. Take advantage of holiday toy sales and buy items to donate to Toys For Tots or bring to a homeless shelter. If you live in a cold climate, drop off spare blankets, coats, hats and mittens as well.

Don't let your family drive you nuts: If your mom insists on making pot roast when you're a vegetarian, offer to bring your favorite veggie dish. Hang out with your cousins like when you were little kids and make fun light of your relatives -- it's an awesome holiday party game. If things get too ridiculous, grab your sister, say you're "going out for ice," and disappear for a hour. You'll feel much better when you get back.

Just don't forget the ice.

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How do you handle the holiday hustle-bustle? Share your answer in the comment section of the Life Well Lived blog post. While you're there, enter the $250 sweepstakes -- winning would make your holiday extra sweet.