Another chilly day has lead me to adopt a new favorite into my daily morning routine, and that is oatmeal. It is healthy, filling and low in calories. This morning's breakfast consisted of apple cinnamon oatmeal and a banana.

Today, while I was at the gym I started thinking about how there are so much different media out there about how you should eat, what you should look like, etc., etc. But not many women or men hear the truth and that is that eating healthy and working out is the best thing that you can do. No "fad" diets or fasting necessary. Of course I am not a nutritionist or an expert, so the information I am giving you is coming from mere experience.

I have tried fad diets and fasting before and you know what, it really doesn't help, you end up feeling empty and hungry all of the time on top of feeling guilty for eating a piece of bread. Why in the world should you ever feel guilty for eating anything? That is my philosophy. Of course if you are eating 10 snickers bars or 3 pieces of cake in a day, you might want to step back and really contemplate the meaning behind eating these unnecessary junk foods.

The secret to staying fit and healthy is not skipping meals or only eating pea soup for a week, but eating foods that are rich in nutrients, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh grains and lean protein.

Here's a look at lunch:

Vegetarian spinach wrap

Delicious!

• 25 minutes on the stair climber, setting "Fat Burner" at level 12
• 10 minutes of a variety of ab exercises
• abductor/adductor machine - 2 sets of 18 on each
• A variety of other leg and butt workouts

Topped with a raspberry vinegaret dressing