Stress is a part of our every day life, so either we let it get to the best of us or learn how to control it.  Some people may stress more than others, but in the end stress is stress, and it's not healthy.  Try using these tips from Prevention to help you live a less stressed life:

Cut Cortisol Elevation 66%

Make a great iPod mix Music can have a calming effect on the brain, especially while you're facing down a major stressor. When doctors at Japan's Osaka Medical Center played tunes for a group of patients undergoing colonoscopies, the patients' cortisol levels rose less than those of others who underwent the same procedure in a quiet room. Even if an invasive gastrointestinal exam isn't in your immediate future, you can forestall cortisol spikes in other stressful situations--when hosting dinner for your in-laws, for instance--by queueing up background music. And to wind down faster at bedtime, listen to something soothing instead of watching TV.

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If you struggle with keeping that healthy new year's resolution, try 10 easy steps to a healthier way of eating.  Here's a few:

1. Avoid heavy breakfasts packed with saturated fat like ham, bacon and eggs; instead, start your day with lighter alternatives like high-fiber, hearty oatmeal and delicious yogurt and granola parfaits.

7. Eating healthier doesn’t necessarily mean giving up all your favorite foods. Even bad-rep pizza can be healthy. Avoid frozen or takeout pies and make your own. Go lighter on the cheeses and high-fat meats; top with loads of veggies like spinach, olives, and artichokes.

So try making this:

Chicken Garlic Pizza

PREP TIME 15 Min, COOK TIME 20 Min, READY IN 35 Min

INGREDIENTS 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast half 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons chopped green onion 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough 2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Add to Recipe Box Add to Shopping List Add a Personal Note

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OK, so I'm not saying get blasted every night, but studies show that there are benefits of drinking alcohol.   According to Women's Health,

A healthy happy-hour habit is linked to a 25 to 50 percent lower risk of heart disease and diabetes in women, says Eric Rimm, Sc.D., associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Your gray matter gets lucky too, since the occasional cocktail may also keep memory intact. And no need to worry about your butt spilling over the bar stool -- a little imbibing may help you avoid excess flab.

The rest of the article is interesting and makes me feel less guilty about my New Year's Eve partying habits - however, remember - everything in moderation!  

Celebrity trainer, David Kirsch, is owner of the Madison Square Club in New York City, author of three books, including Ultimate New York Body Plan, and regular guest expert on Extreme Makeover.  He doesn't want to hear an excuse that you're too busy to exercise, so he shares his secrets with Weight Watchers that you can do anytime, anywhere.   

What better clientele to have just for that than busy New Yorkers...so here are ways to get your butt moving in a New York minute:

If you're stuck in the office for more than eight hours a day,

Forward Bend (Good Mornings) Says Kirsch, “One of the toughest things about being stuck at the office is not moving. I find that getting out of my chair and away from my desk, even if it’s for a few minutes, really helps me get reenergized and refocused.” We agree.

DO IT NOW: Start with your hands behind your head, feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale as you bend down at the waist and exhale as you lift back to starting position. Keep a flat back and tight abs. The key is to work your abs and core. 15 repetitions

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It was only a matter of time, and who else better to introduce it than Ali Vincent, The Biggest Loser's first female winner.

She will be showcasing The Biggest Loser's line of healthy lifestyle products on QVC as part of the two-hour debut of The Blggest Loser: Couples, which airs on Jan. 6. 

"I am excited to appear on QVC and help others achieve their health goals," Ali says. "I know that making lifestyle changes, no matter how big or how small, is a difficult process. 'The Biggest Loser''s products take the guesswork out of the decisions we make and help us stay on track."

Among the products that Ali, who lost 112 pounds during her tenure on the show, will be selling are: "The Biggest Loser" 30-Day Jump Start, a day-to-day planner designed by "The Biggest Loser"'s fitness and nutritional experts, "The Biggest Loser" Stability Ball with Resistance Band and two DVDs and "The Biggest Loser" Body Fat Digital Scale.

I don't even know what to say, Alanis Morissette, looks amazing to say the least - I wouldn't even recognize her!  In an OK! Magazine exclusive, Morissette shares her secrets for slimming down and losing up to 20 pounds in just a few months.  

After eating a lot of processed foods, and feeling unhealthy, she turned to Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, which is a vegan diet (consuming fruit, vegetables, beans and nuts, and avoiding meat and dairy product). 

Here's a small glimpse of the interview,

OK!: Why did you overeat?

All the restrictions and limitations I’d placed upon myself for many years were let loose. I think it was a rite of passage for me. At 21, I was touring with Jagged Little Pill, so I didn’t experience the footloose and fancy-free passage that most people do in their teens and early 20s. My whole life I’ve been overly responsible. So I was fantastically indulgent for a good nine months. I knew it would be a temporary thing, and it was fun. There was a sexiness to my curvier self that I loved.

There's a catch!  Only those who can show a gym membership card on Jan. 15 will get a free scoop of ice cream.  Why would Baskin Robbins promote such a thing?!...

Their latest addition of healthy choice ice cream called, BRight Choice, has been unveiled this January.  These flavors are not accounted for as being health foods, but a healtier choice when consumed in the suggested serving size. 

Lately any snack seems to have been shrunken into a 100 calorie pack, and now so has ice cream.

...the 90-calorie scoop of vanilla yogurt with 0 grams of fat seems like a pretty rational choice for a 2.5 ounce scoop, as does the 80 calorie strawberry sorbet. The 140-calorie raspberry chip and 130-calorie chocoloate are a little more dicey, but still something a lot of people could justify for an evening treat (be sure to ask if the cone count in the calories, because the BR press release is unclear).

I'm not sure how true this is, it also depends on your commitment and hard work - but, Mind, Body & Spirit Fitness Magazine says they will help you lose 10lbs in 30 days for free!

Just sign up with your name and email address, and you'll be on your way to a healthier, fitter you.  Here's what you'll get:

• Find a workout buddy and keep track of your friends
• Stay on track with daily workouts and easy meal plans
• Customize your own fitness video
• Keep a food diary
• Stay motivated with weekly playlists
• Track your progress

Hey, you have nothing to lose if it's free, so why not give it a try?!   Worse case scenario you may get some good healthy tips and recipes. 

If you're debating about joining a gym, or doing exercises alone, here's 10 reasons why you should at least be moving.  Working out isn't just about weight and physical appearance, it's about an overall healthier you, and according to Prevention here's 2 out of 10 reasons why: 

See Clearly What's good for your heart is good for your eyes. An active lifestyle can cut your risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 70%, according to a British Journal of Ophthalmology study of 4,000 adults. This incurable disease makes reading, driving, and seeing fine details difficult, and it's the most common cause of blindness after age 60. Do this Keep active by walking at least 12 blocks (about a mile) a day, and wear UVA/UVB-blocking sunglasses during outdoor activities all year long.

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In a recent article from FemaleFirst, child obesity may be able to be prevented before birth.  Susie Orbach, a leading food campaigner, has been trying to tackle child obesity in primary schools, suggesting that the problem starts with the mother. 

"Mothers themselves are troubled by erratic eating, fear of food, preoccupation with body size, frequent dieting and bingeing"

She says that if women learn to control their own eating habits, they can set a better example for their children. However, mothers often use food as an incentive to reinforce good behaviour from children, and children tend to mirror the eating habits of their parents.

She added: “It shouldn’t surprise us that when children become independent eaters they reflect what they have learnt [from their mothers], not only in their eating choices, but in the emotional feelings of safety, anxiety, fear, pleasure or satisfaction that go with food."