Strengthening your Core II

For the side plank, aim to keep your body in a perfect line for 1 minute straight. My first round lasted 12 seconds. Don’t worry, you’ll improve in a matter of days.

If there is one exercise to give you the fastest results, it is this. They are elbow and side planks, and they are phenomenal for strengthening your core. You'll walk taller, sit straighter and feel stronger. And don't worry women, it won't give you powerhouse abs, it will however get you tone in a matter of weeks.

Strengthening your Core I

Can you do this exercise? Try it.

The goal is to tighten your abs and keep your back in a straight line for two minutes. Easy right? Not at all. If you fall after 30 seconds, take a 45-second break and get back up there until you reach a total of two minutes all together.

5 Eat-Right Rules For Weightloss

Rule 5: Drink Often

Many people mistake thirst for hunger. Staying hydrated helps to keep you feeling fuller and keeps your metabolism in high gear.

Choose naturally calorie-free drinks like water, sparkling water, herbal green or black teas and coffee. Limit caffeinated drinks to two per day.

5 Eat-Right Rules For Weightloss

Rule 3: You should have 3 ounces of protein for both lunch and dinner. If you're on a 1,700-calorie plan, eat up to 4 ounces.

Rule 4: Be sure to schedule healthy go-to snacks to replace that midmorning bagel or 3pm vending machine visit.

5 Eat-Right Rules For Weightloss

Rule 2: Eat every 4 hours

Going longer than that can cause your blood sugar and energy levels to plummet and leave you more vulnerable to poor eating choices. Every day you should have a 400-calorie breakfast, 300-calorie lunch, 500-calorie dinner, plus a 100- and 200-calorie snack.

5 Eat-Right Rules For Weightloss

Rule 1: Stick to 1,500 calories a day

If you weigh more than 200 pounds, increase your daily intake to 1,700 calories.

The best way to do this is add a single 200-calorie snack or two 100-calorie snacks a day, or increase your protein serving at lunch or dinner to 4 ounces.

Wrap your Water Heater

An electric blanket for your hot water heater can make a big difference at the end of the year.

Hot water heaters use a lot of energy and generate a lot of CO2. A blanket costs less than $18 and can cut your home's CO2 emissions by nearly 4 1/2 percent.

Change Your Filters

Changing the air filters in your heating and cooling systems regularly can cut 2 percent off of your CO2 output every year.

Plus, it can make a big difference during allergy season, and is just plain good for your safety as buildup can be a fire hazard.

Turn down that thermostat!

A great upgrade to any environmentally friendly home is a programmable thermostat.

Setting your thermostat to a little cooler in the winter and a little warmer in the summer, especially when you're not in the house, can make a big difference; 2 degrees can reduce a home's CO2 emissions by up to 9 percent over the course of the year.

Solar Power Your Garden

Outdoor solar lighting is one of the easiest, environmentally-friendly home products you can purchase when working on the landscaping. They are cheap (less than $20), don't burn electricity (which saves you money), and don't produce any CO2. On top of all of that, they come in a variety of styles, which makes them the best outdoor lighting option.

Make the Switch to Fluorescent Bulbs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (or CFL) are slightly more expensive than the traditional variety, but last 5-7 years and use less than half the energy! If every household switched five regular bulbs for five CFL's, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off of the highway for one year.